By Lori Humphreys

Our smile is the first clue to who we are. We smile on camera and off. We smile to ourselves and at others. Our smile is a tool and a spontaneous reaction. It welcomes, approves and changes a face from average to beautiful.

Smiling is so unconscious we don’t think about it – unless our appearance due to physical development or injury forces us to hide our smile, and thus ourselves.

Enter orthodontics, a branch of dentistry that specializes in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of dental and facial irregularities.

Good Orthodontics, with offices in Mt. Lebanon, Pleasant Hills and Washington teams brothers Robert and Ronald Good who have specialized in orthodontics and facial orthopedics together since 1987. They are an energetic, committed duo who are passionate about their work. Their dedication is to improve their patient’s oral health and self image.

“If you give a person a smile you give something they will have their whole life,” Dr. Ronald Good said.

Human beings have worried about their smiles for centuries. The ancient Greek doctor Hippocrates wrote about straightening teeth in 400 B.C. and it is thought that ancients used cat gut to close gaps in teeth.

It can be argued that modern orthodontics began with Dr. Edward Angle’s work in 1890. He linked straightening teeth, the braces and wires stuff, and the need for improving patient’s occlusion, the way teeth touch when closed together, as a necessary result of orthodontic treatment.

Dr. Bob and Dr. Ron, as they are known by their patients and staff, stress that the goal of their treatment is as much healthy function of the teeth and jaws as it is straight teeth and an attractive smile.

Going far beyond providing straight front teeth, they strive to accomplish “orognathic bioesthetic dentistry.” More simply, it’s the marriage of the appearance of the teeth and face (form) and the healthy action of the teeth and jaws (function.)

You would be hard pressed to find two people who enjoy their work more. Their offices are imbued with gaiety and humor.

For all the fun, the doctors Good are trained American Association of Orthodontists board certified professionals who regularly continue their study of dentistry. Dr. Ron takes over as president of the Pennsylvania Association of Orthodontists in June. Dr. Bob is a past president. The practice attracts patients from Russia, California, New York, Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Ohio.

Dr. Bob has even traveled to Haiti on several occasions with other area doctors to perform basic dental procedures on locals at the LaCroix New Testament Mission Hospital. “People hear that we are there, and each morning there are people lined up and camped out waiting for treatment,” he says. “It’s a very eye-opening experience.” While another trip is planned for February.

While in the office each doctor sees every patient and they both evaluate a new patient before treatment begins.

A patient’s first appointment is a complimentary clinical examination that lasts approximately one hour. At this time the doctors determine if treatment is indicated, what may likely be involved, how long treatment may last and an estimate of the financial investment.

When treatment is indicated, the next step is to obtain diagnostic information used to formulate the possible individualized treatment plans. Diagnostic records include facial and intraoral photographs, radiographs, and dental models articulated on a jaw motion simulator. These records allow assessment of the relationship of a patient’s teeth, facial proportions, skeletal architecture and muscle and temporomandibular joint function. Digital imaging and computerized analysis permit growth forecasts and possible treatment outcomes resulting from different treatment modalities. Visualization of the various treatment outcomes allows patients to be better informed and involved in choosing their desired plan of treatment.

An interesting statistic; 35 percent of their patents are adults. Adults present their own unique challenges and most often necessitate an interdisciplinary approach. Adult care usually involves a team consisting of the restorative dentist, periodontist, oral and maxillofacial surgeon as well as the orthodontist.

The practice is also fortunate to have Regina (Gina) Good Romano, their sister, as business administrator and Carole Good, Dr. Ron’s wife, who is a registered dental hygienist.
“We are very blessed to work together. We are a close family in the office and
outside,” Gina said.

Perhaps this is why the doctors view their patients as members of an extended family. They instinctively recognize that when you are treating a patient over time- the average is two years - you form a relationship.

“We are invited to our patient’s weddings, graduations and recently attended the ordination of our patient, Father Stephen Anthony Kresak,” Dr. Ron said.

“Excellence is a Good choice!” and the doctors and their exceptional staff work hard to make parents and patients agree.

But it is Dr. Bob’s definition which captures the guiding principal of Good Orthodontics.

“Hopefully we are making a difference in people’s lives,” he said.