The commutes are over for the Westbank patients of Hamada Orthodontics.
After it was closed for nearly two years due to damage from Hurricane Ida, Hamada’s Luling office has reopened at its 118 Lakewood Drive location. Patients drove to be seen at Hamada’s Destrehan office in the interim, but it will be a far closer trip from here on.
“We’re super happy to be back – we love the community,” said Dr. Allison Hamada, who established her practice in 2004. Everyone’s been through their own version of this (Ida fallout and repair). It’s good to be part of the crowd that’s back in action.”
The office’s roof was completely torn away by the 2021 storm and all of the equipment in the interior ruined. After taking the necessary time to get insurance response situated, an injury to a contractor pushed back repairs.
But it is once again open – new and improved.
“Luling patients had to commute … this should make their lives easier again. We have patients who live right down the street,” Hamada said.
The previously destroyed equipment means everything is brand new going forward: computers, scanners and digital X-Ray machines alike.
There’s another major difference. Hamada noted she now does the vast majority of hands-on work with patients, as opposed to delegating to assistants and supervising.
“It’s a radical change to how we see patients, and much better quality control,” said Hamada.
She noted that orthodontic care is about far more than just teeth these days.
“I’ve had a lot of additional education in the last seven years, and there are results we can achieve that are far above the typical orthodontic office in our area,” Hamada said. “We’re focused on helping kids eliminate airway problems. We’re treating the health of the whole child.”
As part of eliminating those airway issues that can cause long term health hazards like sleep apnea, Hamada uses special orthodontic braces and other methods to be able to accomplish things that were previously done by removing teeth.
“In order to make smiles really wide, you have to expand the palette,” she said. “When you widen out the palette, the tongue lifts up and fits the palette when it’s wide enough. That not only improves your airway but your long term orthodontic stability is improved as well.
“It’s about a lot more than just teeth. It requires a lot more thinking, but we also provide a lot more service to patients through it. I feel really good about what we’re doing these days.”
Hamada Orthodontics has offices in Destrehan (131 Ormond Center Court), Luling (118 Lakewood Drive) and Metairie (123 Metairie Road). For more information or to schedule an appointment, call (985)725-0509.
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