The 1820 House has been a notable fixture in Westlake for over 180 years. Purchased by Dr. Bruce T. Harwood, DDS, MS in 1995, this historic home has been lovingly restored and converted into a modern orthodontic practice while maintaining the historic integrity of the original structure. After receiving his dental and orthodontic degrees from the University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Dr. Harwood joined a local practice with offices in Bay Village, North Olmsted, and Lakewood. After the retirement of the original partners, Dr. Harwood chose The 1820 House as the future home for one of the area's most progressive orthodontic practices. We visited with Dr. Harwood recently and listened as he outlined his practice's offerings;
Our practice specializes in providing orthodontic services for adults and children. In lay terms, this means we straighten teeth and adjust how the teeth fit together. We do this orthodontically by moving teeth around within the jaw structure, and orthopedically by changing jaw positions through modifying growth of the upper and lower jaws. We provide limited treatment of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ), which affects how the lower jaw articulates with the upper. In 2004, we began offering tooth whitening to our clients, utilizing the Zoom!™ system as seen on the popular television series "Extreme Makeover".
From a treatment standpoint, we do a lot interceptive treatment utilizing removable appliances, especially as early treatment with 6 to 11 year olds. It's a very effective method of treatment and allows the second phase of treatment, the wearing of traditional orthodontic appliances, to be a little bit shorter and easier for most patients. We also offer a variety of treatment modalities. We have, of course, the traditional stainless steel braces in addition to ceramic and polycarbonate clear braces. We are a certified provider of Invisalign™, which is an alternative to braces that utilizes a series of retainers instead of fixed orthodontic appliances. Not everyone is a candidate for each of these modalities, but we have them all at our disposal as we strive to find the best way to treat each individual patient.
It's important to remember that no one is ever too old for braces, although it's easier and quicker to affect results during the growing years. I often see patients as young as six years old, and sometimes as early as four years of age. Many times they won't require treatment, but by being able to identify problem areas early, they're easier to correct at the appropriate time.
In the orthodontic field, most offices are pretty similar, but the environment in which the orthodontic care is delivered can be very different. Our choice of locating our practice in an historic building makes a trip to our office rather unique. We offer state-of-the-art orthodontic treatment in a state-of-the-art facility, while still maintaining the historical integrity of the building. I'm rather proud of the fact that we've been able to preserve a structure that has been part of the Westlake scene for nearly two centuries. When I purchased this building in 1995, there were probably a dozen historic homes within a mile of our location. Since then, we've already lost several of them. By maintaining this historic building, we've preserved a piece of history for the Westlake community, and even after we're gone and it no longer houses an orthodontic practice, The 1820 House will still be here.
Dr. Bruce T. Harwood provides state-of-the-art orthodontic care with the same love and attention to detail he devotes to maintaining Westlake's 1820 House. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Harwood today and don't forget to tell him that The Advocate sent you!
