David Hughes Orthodontics

Dr. Hughes is a competent orthodontist. Unfortunately, he’s got too many patients and cannot provide customer service. It’s almost impossible to schedule an appointment outside of school hours. Even after he cancelled an appointment, the next available after-​school appt was 4 months out.
This is my third kid in braces and I’ve never had such difficulty with making appointments.
Stay away. Stay far away.

Absolutely wonderful with visible results already. My son had an initial consultation last year but was recommended to delay the braces for two more years. My son was a little self conscious about his teeth so we came back a year later which was this past December. I expressed my sons concern to Dr. Hughes and he came up with an effective plan which showed results within weeks. My son has a confident smile now even with the braces on. Thank you Dr. Hughes. Sam, the treatment coordinator was also very patient, friendly and helpful too. As well as the assistants and front desk. Everyone has been amazing!

I just finished my Invisalign treatment, and I couldn’t be more pleased with the results. Dr. Hughes and the entire Smiles team were wonderful to work with throughout the treatment process. They always answered my questions thoroughly and worked with me to address any concerns. I finally have the perfect smile I have been dreaming of!

Everyone was very professional — from me checking in, to signing the contract and paying for my services, to getting the scan completed on my teeth for Invisalign. Very happy I went with Dr. Hughes and his team. Will update this review when my Invisalign treatment is complete in about a year to a year-​and-​a-​half.

A friend whose son goes to Dr. Hughes highly recommended him. My daughter does not yet have braces (we are waiting for the rest of her baby teeth to move out and the adult teeth to move in) but in our two visits there (first one for the work-​up and second one for a check-​in), I have to say that not only did Dr. Hughes and his team make me and my daughter feel comfortable, but we were impressed at how bright, cheerful and clean the office space is. From the second you walk in and see a set of computers ready for kids to do a little gaming to being notified that they have free wi-​fi, it is obvious that this group cares about each person’s time. Dr. Hughes and his team were very attentive to my daughter’s needs and answered all of my questions with honesty and intelligence. I never thought I would say this but I am looking forward to my daughter’s journey toward a beautiful smile!

So, after my treatment from Dr. Hughes, I still had spaces in my teeth that he attempted to close with a wire retainer. This did not work, so he eventually told me that my it was the shape of my teeth and that’s why my spaces weren’t closing. He basically said I’d always have spaces.
I eventually tried another orthodontist, Dr. Tisseront, in Reston that a coworker referred me to. I was immediately impressed with his office and staff. Though, Dr. Tisseront is a little more expensive, his service was great! My teeth are PERFECT!
I’m really sorry I wasted money and time with Dr. Hughes.

I began my treatment plan with Dr. Hughes in August 2011 and am nearing the end of my treatment. I’m so excited and definitely looking forward to the removal of my braces! Since my first visit to this establishment, I took notice of the especially outgoing and friendly staff. The early morning appts are made easier by this perky staff! The only request I would make is for more of a prompt consultation based on time of arrival/​appointment time. Overall, however, I’m certain that I made a GREAT investment in Hughes Orthodontics.

I like Dr. Hughes as a person. I adore his front desk staff (they are usually BUSY but ALWAYS friendly) and I like his clinical staff too. Today, I’m IRRITATED with the way I feel I’ve been treated as a patient recently and today’s visit put me over the edge.
I am a middle-​aged patient, not a child, and I went to him following the advice of my dentist to have my top teeth realigned so I can have a crown replaced. Initially, Dr. Hughest told me 8 — 10 months in braces and I’d be good to go. I believed him and I paid him his fee up front. My top teeth realigned fairly quickly.
Currently, I am in month TWENTY. This morning I had an appointment for «Final Detail» and after I sat in his chair waiting for him for FORTY-​FIVE MINUTES into my appointment time (facing the wall like a punished child), he tells me he still doesn’t see progress. Really? I asked him why not and he said «you aren’t wearing your rubber bands enough.» BS!!! I wear them ²⁴⁄₇ taking them off only to brush, floss and eat for at least SIX MONTHS. This is probably the 4^th visit in a row that he’s seen no progress and we’ve argued over whether I’m wearing my rubber bands or not. and he hasn’t changed his course of treatment.
At my last dental appointment, my dentist told me if these braces aren’t taken off soon I’m going to have serious gum issues. I explained this to Dr. Hughes this morning. In one ear and out the other, in my opinion. He then said he could do a procedure called IPR and I reminded him that 4 months ago he told me I’m not a candidate for IPR and his reply was «I can now see … and I’m sure IPR will help you.» Why wouldn’t it have helped last month or the month before? I told him I no longer trust him and my braces will be removed next month because I can not afford to lose gum tissue because he repeats the same treatment over and over even though it didn’t work the first time.
I honestly believe he does not re-​evaluate his options when he is not achieving success but instead blames the patient for not wearing rubber bands even when they are!!! I feel if I had not lost patience today he would not have suggested the IPR or instructed his tech to be more aggressive with today’s treatment.
He doesn’t explain to me what he’s doing to my mouth or what he’s instructing his tech to do and what outcome is expected so when his tech asked him a question today, he answered it and I asked for clarification. He clarified and then said «I was talking to [his tech who shall remain nameless]». Wow! I’m sure he saw my blood pressure shoot up because he replied «but that was a fair question.» I felt chastised for asking a question about my mouth. I feel I have the right to ask questions and be included in the decision process regarding what is going to happen with my mouth.
At several appointments a tech has explained to Dr. Hughes that I am over my estimated treatment time and «we need to get her out of here.» His techs are good so I’m pretty sure they are trying to stear him but the choice of words can make a patient feel unwanted even though I really want to get out of there.
When I first started seeing Dr. Hughes he had early morning and evening appointments suitable for working adults. He’s done away with the evening appointments and the early morning appointments are encouraged to be reserved for school children with adults expected to wait until after 8:00 for appointments. His office hours are now: Monday 8:00 — 5:30; Tuesday and Wednesday 7:00 — 5:30; Thursday 7:00 — 3:00 and CLOSED on Friday. This is near impossible for a commuting working professional to serve their clients while seeking treatment from Dr. Hughes especially when he does not see his appointments on time.
The last buses to the Pentagon leave the Springfield Park & Rides by 9:00 a.m. When the last bus is missed the patient has no choice but to pay an outrageous fee to park at the Metro.
Since I was delayed by his tardiness today, finding a parking space at the Metro was not an option so I had to drive to downtown DC (fighting traffic all the way and I don’t even want to think about what traffic will be like going home tonight), drive around looking for a parking garage that was not full, pay $ 20 to park and then walk 4 blocks to my office wearing a walking cast on my foot. When I got to work, achy foot/​leg and all, I was chastised because I was not here to meet with my appointments scheduled for late this morning so they had to be rescheduled — all because Dr. Hughes’ tardiness delayed my arrival at my office.
I advised my supervisor that I was accused of sabotaging my successful treatment by not wearing my rubber bands and she said «he can call me if he wants because I’ll verify it.»
My braces will be removed next month because I’ve had enough of not being taken seriously. In my opinion, the worst insult you can give someone is to make an appointment with them and then fail to keep it without a good reason.

I went to Dr. Hughes to close a space I had from previous unfinished ortho I had in the past. My teeth were not crooked, they were spacing out. I had been in treatment for 2 years and the space was never closed. I must reiterate that that was the only reason I went to Dr. Hughes. I had metal retainers to continue to work on the space (why was I in braces from the beginning if the retainer could close my space???) anyway, I went for a visit and waited in the waiting room well over 30 minutes which only happened twice and left. A little over a year later, they charge $ 45 dollars to look at a gap that he did not close, did I say that was the reason I went to Dr. Hughes? $ 5000 later, I have the same gap I had 3 years ago.
I honestly think he is a sweetheart and has well intentions. His assistances are very friendly and his office is very maintained. I give him two stars for presentation. The only reason why I rate his work — not his practice low is because my probelm has not been fixed. Now I have to go to yet another orthodontist and fork out more money to fix what I paid his office $ 5000 to repair.
«Hi Mia, I am Dr. David R. Hughes Community Relations Coordinator and when I read your review I wanted to contact you. We are located in Springfield, Va. and don’t have you in our patient base. We hope that possibly you have mistaken us for a doctor close to where you live that has the same last name. We would feel terrible if you left us this unhappy, our patients become part of our orthodontic family. If you need more clarification please feel free to contact us. «
I am 100% certain that it was the office, located near the McDonald’s right behind the Shopping Center with the Giant, CVS, Dollar Tree, etc., I’m not mistaken at all. I’ve been there too many times to be confused. Like I said before, I adore Dr. Hughes and the staff, but to do the same thing and expect different results seems a bit crazy, I will pass.

Clean, friendly, efficient, caring, the latest technology. I’m so happy I did the research and found this place AND they took my government dental insurance. They do a thorough, free evaluation, and I trust them because I did one as well as my daughter, and they didn’t recommend any work for me. My daughter went through about a year and a half of orthodontics — would have been faster if she had worn her rubber bands as she was supposed to. Her teeth look beautiful. I really can’t recommend them highly enough. The front desk staff aren’t that great but the technicians and Dr. Hughes are the best!