Dr. Hughes performs the May Trick of the Month!

Check out Dr. Herb Hughes' Trick of the Month - Uncle Freddie - at Hughes Orthodontics! More fun stuff ahead, and check out some of other cool video clips on our very own YouTube channel!

Happy St. Patrick's Day, from Dr. Hughes and team!

Dr. Hughes hopes you remembered to wear green when you stepped out the door this morning? Whether Irish or not, millions of people around the world celebrate St. Patrick's Day with toasts, parades and "the wearing of the green." Here are some fun facts about St. Patty’s Day our team at Hughes Orthodontics know you will enjoy:

• St. Patrick’s Day is observed on March 17th because that is the feast day of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. It is also a worldwide celebration of Irish culture and history.

• The name “lephrechaun” has several origins. It could be from the Irish Gaelic word “leipreachan,” which means “a kind of aqueous sprite.” Or, it could be from “leath bhrogan,” which simply means “shoemaker.”

• Some American towns have Irish names. They include: Shamrock Lakes, Indiana; Shamrock, Oklahoma; Shamrock, Texas; Dublin, California and Dublin, Ohio and Mount Gay-Shamrock, West Virginia.

• Despite what you may have heard, St. Patrick never banished snakes from Ireland. In fact, no snakes exist or ever existed in Ireland. Ireland is surrounded by icy ocean waters, much too cold to allow snakes to migrate from Britain or anywhere else.

• St. Patrick's Day was first celebrated in Boston, in 1737. Approximately 34 million Americans claim Irish ancestry. That’s almost nine times the population of Ireland, which has 4.1 million people.

What are patients saying about Hughes Orthodontics?

Last month, the team at Hughes Orthodontics asked you, our fantastic patients, what you liked most about our office. Well, we received some pretty great reviews and thought we'd share a few with you this afternoon! Have a great rest of the week!

"Dr. Hughes is the most friendly and caring doctor that we have used ever. He enjoys his profession and people and it shows. He always tries to make the kids and his patients comfortable and at ease, all the while accomplishing what needs to be done in a very professional and effective manner. I highly recommend him to anyone seeking an orthodontist." ~ John C.

"I love the personal service & fun, friendly atmosphere! My daughter loves going there and has a fantastic attitude about her orthodontic work. I feel this is largely due to the excellent staff, "magical" atmosphere, positive attitude, and the fun contests. They make us feel very welcome." ~ Wendy M.

"He's great - I am very impressed with the office. I have been to two different Orthodonists (one in Canada and one in Maryland), this one is far the best." ~ Augustin S.

"The entire staff is very friendly and considerate! I appreciate your promptness of being seen at the appointed time ~ this is a very important part of your excellent customer service!! You seem to value our time as much as we value yours ~ and we all LOVE the magic tricks!!" ~ Juliana G.

"He is an amazing man who really enjoys his job and it shows." ~ Patty K.

What puts you at ease at Hughes Orthodontics?

Dr. Hughes understands not everyone is thrilled to see their orthodontist. But he wants you to know that he and his team strive to bring you the best and most comforting experience at each visit. We’d like to know: What is it about Hughes Orthodontics that makes you comfortable or puts you at ease? Is it something about our pleasant environment? Our friendly staff? Dr. Hughes himself?

Let us know by posting here or by giving us a call! Happy Wednesday!

Season’s Greetings from Hughes Orthodontics

In this season given to tidings of comfort and joy, and as Dr. Hughes and his team at Hughes Orthodontics reflect on the year that was, we’d like to ask you, our anazing patients: What did you love about the holidays this year? Being with your loved ones? Getting a clean slate for 2010? Opening presents by the fireplace? All the delicious food you ate? Also, what gift did you cherish the most?

We’d love if you shared with us all the things you love about the holidays. Stay warm, and don’t forget to stay away from those sweets!

Happy New Year from the entire team at Hughes Orthodontics!

Hughes Orthodontics at the historic George Washington Mount Vernon Estate!

For our Christmas party, Dr. Hughes and team visited George Washington's Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens, where George Washington lived, now an educational tourist attraction and the most popular historic estate in America.

The team had lunch at the Mount Vernon Inn, where the servers were dressed in 17th Century-style clothes. Later, the team braved the cold and got a tour of the historic mansion. Then—as part of our tradition—he gave us a present: money to buy presents.

We love Dr. Hughes!

For more pictures, head over to our Facebook fan page!

Stay safe and warm and Happy Holidays!
--From Dr. Hughes and team

Hughes Orthodontics teams up with United Christian Ministries for annual food drive

Dr. Hughes and his team at Hughes Orthodontics loves giving back and being involved in the community. And that's precisely why we are involved in an annual food drive--that runs until December 23--that helps the less fortunate. The food collected is brought to the folks at United Christian Ministries, who then distribute food to the needy in nearby communities. We encourage everyone to bring non-perishable items by giving prizes to the one that bring in the most number of food items. This year we are giving an iPod touch!

Keep checking our blog to find out how we're involved in the Alexandria community!

Happy Wednesday! From the team at Hughes Orthodontics

Featured Patient Review for Dr. Hughes

Last week, we asked our patients, followers and "fans" what they loved most about Hughes Orthodontics. Here's one we really enjoyed. Dr. Hughes and his team love getting patient testimonials! Happy Tuesday!

"My kids and I love Dr. Hughes. He is nice to the kids and he does a great job. It's hard to describe it right now. But I wouldn't take my kids anywhere else for orthodontic care. I have tried to get other people to go there as well. Because I just believe that Dr. Hughes office is the best. I was a patient of his father from 2nd grade through 12th grade. I wouldn't trust anyone else with my kids' mouths. I had one go through there and his teeth are beautiful. I have one currently in care and we love what is happening. Thank you." ~ Melissa B.

What Do You Love About Hughes Orthodontics?

From your very first visit to Hughes Orthodontics, Dr. Hughes and his team strive to provide superior treatment in a pleasant, friendly atmosphere. Have you been especially impressed by Dr. Hughes? Did our team go out of their way to make your day? Do you love your new smile?

Whether you’ve just come in for a consultation or your family has been visiting our office for generations, we’d love to hear your feedback on our networks. Or, you can tell us by giving us a call!

Thank you,
The team at Hughes Orthodontics

Hughes Orthodontics Around the Web

If you've ever visited us at Hughes Orthodontics, you already know that Hughes Orthodontics and the rest of the team love connecting with their patients. We love the ability to communicate with all of you online too! Besides our web site and our blog, Hughes Orthodontics is on many other networks too!

* Share a video with us, or watch one of ours on Youtube

* Become a "fan" of Hughes Orthodontics on Facebook

* View and comment on our photos on MySpace

* Write a review about your Hughes Orthodontics experience on Yelp

See you around the web!

--Hughes Orthodontics

Summer Fun with Hughes Orthodontics!

Its summer here at Hughes Orthodontics, a season full of vacations, adventures and great memories. Whether you are headed to a barbeque, a camping trip, or just having fun in the sun, we want to hear about it! Leave a comment on our blog and tell us about your summer!

Happy Travels,

-From Hughes Orthodontics

Patient Reviews for Hughes Orthodontics

Dr. Hughes and his staff have been receiving some wonderful compliments from our patients, and we wanted to share a few with you.



Dr. Hughes is the most friendly and caring doctor that we have used ever. He enjoys his profession and people and it shows. He always tries to make the kids and his patients comfortable and at ease, all the while accomplishing what needs to be done in a very professional and effective manner. I highly recommend him to anyone seeking an orthodontist. ~ John C.

I love the personal service & fun, friendly atmosphere at Hughes Orthodontics! My daughter loves going there and has a fantastic attitude about her orthodontic work. I feel this is largely due to the excellent staff, "magical" atmosphere, positive attitude, and the fun contests. They make us feel very welcome. ~ Wendy M.

Dr. Hughes' humorous personality is a great asset because it puts my daughter at ease. Because he makes her laugh, going to see Dr. Hughes is a treat for her. I also like his friendly and helpful staff and his spotless office suite. ~ Diana S.