Care and Maintenance of Braces

10 August, 2010 (02:44) | Braces | By: B. Slade

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There are variety of types of orthodontic braces.  They are held in place using spring clips, wires or rubber bands.  To keep the teeth and gums free from bacteria and plaque and to stop decay, proper care and maintenance of braces is an important daily function.   Braces are in place in order to provide stronger and healthier teeth so it must be cleaned and taken cared of.  A skip in the daily hygiene maintenance increases the risk of gum infection and tooth decay.  If you have braces, it is important to clean them every after meal.  The presence of dental  braces mechanism in your teeth can easily trap food particles that can fall thorough and lodged between the teeth.  The food particles increases the possibility of tooth decay and bad breath.

 

Guidelines to your Personal Oral Care

10 July, 2010 (00:03) | Uncategorized | By: editor

by: Jo Harts

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Brushing is not enough to maintain a good oral hygiene. The following tips will guide you to your personal oral care:
1.) In brushing your teeth hold the toothbrush just under the gum-line and move in tiny circles over the teeth and gums for each tooth and for the chewing surface, use a back and fort motion.
2.) Floss everyday. A dental floss removes plaque scrapes at the side of the teeth without hurting your gums.
3.) Massage your gums. Use your index finger and massage in circular motion to increase the blood supply in the gums. This will make your gums firm and healthy.
4.) Clean your tongue. Some food particles are left in our tongue. So to prevent the development of bacteria which could cause bath breath daily cleaning of tongue is advised. Tongue can be cleaned with a tongue cleaner or a toothbrush

Unbiased Dental Reviews on Orthodontics

10 June, 2010 (02:34) | Braces | By: B. Slade

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At one point  in time or another, braces generally become a part of everyone’s life.  Some maybe  lucky and find out during consultation that  they don’t need dental braces to correct teeth or jaw issues.  But for others that are not,  it is beginning in the next few years of dental braces,  retainers and frequent trips to their friendly next door dentist.

It is dreadful for others to put  some shiny metal brackets on their teeth,  others embrace the opportunity to have their teeth straighten in an average period of 2 years. A new  treatment  braces that goes virtually unnoticed being  introduced in the dental industry.  They are the Clear braces calles Invisalign and Ceramic Braces.  Those with  less severe cases will benefit benefit from this treatment.   Highly effective but may require dishing out more expenses is the lingual  braces provided by Ibraces.  They are attched to the  back of the teeth.

Restorative Dentistry

10 May, 2010 (10:52) | General Info | By: editor


Restorative dentistry is designed to repair broken or worn down as well as chapped teeth as a means to give confidence to sport a bright smile. Restorative dentistry is a good way to heighten up a person’s self esteem in more ways the one. For one thing, no amount of make up can cover the fact that a person has a bad set of teeth. Its not only visually unappealing, it is also nasally so.The bad stench emitted by bad teeth, or to put it simply, bad breath cannot be remedied with the use of antiseptic mouth wash. This is because of the fact that the bacteria which lives in the pits of a damaged enamel cannot be countered with a cure but can only be resolved through teeth repair.

Orthodontics Advances

10 April, 2010 (15:18) | General Info | By: B. Slade

2.jpg• Digital Imaging- this procedure is now being practiced by many orthodontists to see the approximate result of the surgery before performing any orthodontic treatment.
• Nickel-titanium and thermal-activated archwires- these wires provide mild constant force so that the teeth can move efficiently to lessen the discomfort of the patients.
• Clear braces- just like the conventional braces, they also bond to the outer surface of the teeth only better because they are less noticed due to their clear natural color.
• In-office lab work- Used by doctors for them to have complete control in performing laboratory works like doing retainers and expanders.

Smile Makeover: The Ultimate in Cosmetic Dentistry (Part 3)

10 March, 2010 (05:59) | Smile Makeover | By: B. Slade

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The Life of Your Smile Makeover

Cosmetic dentistry procedures may require maintenance over time. Teeth whitening must be repeated on occasion in order to maintain brightness. Porcelain veneers may chip or break off and need replacement. Permanent bondings may stain and require enhancement or replacement. Dental crowns typically require replacement after 10 � 15 years. Gummy smile improvements may also require enhancement over time.

Your ceramist, lab technician, and the materials chosen by your dentist also impact the longevity of your Smile Makeover. To achieve the best results, take special care in selecting your cosmetic dentist.

Read more »

Orthodontics Questions & Answers (Part 2)

10 February, 2010 (08:03) | Q&A | By: B. Slade

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Question:
I just had a gum lift and 8 porcelain veneers applied to my teeth. I’m curious about a few things. I heard that the preparation and application of veneers is painless and sometimes unnessesary for anasthetic to be used. This is definitely not how my proceedure was. I was subjected to a lot of novacane and a lot of pain. I’m not sure why my case was any different. Although I couldn’t see what the doctor was doing, it seemed as if he ground my natural teeth down drastically. Is this normal? My gums are extremely sore and swollen, and I’m very sensitive to hot and cold. I had my veneers applied just last week, but I’m still confused as to why this was such a painful proceedure. I also had to undergo 3 root canals for the proceedure. Previously, I had a very gummy smile, so I needed the gum lift. Subsequently, the doctor had to “shorten” my teeth. But it felt as though he ground them down to little points and then applied the veneers. I was very choosy when picking my doctor. He is very well know in the Midwest. The veneers look beautiful, but I’m a little nervous about what was done to my natural teeth. Also, will this sensitivity to hot and cold ever go away? Thanks
Answer:
Sometimes veneers can be placed with little to no tooth reduction. Other times, a lot of tooth reduction is required. This is particularly the case when the natural teeth jut out, are twisted, or are rotated. Cases like this are sometimes called “instant orthodontics” because the end result looks like the teeth have been moved (but the illusion is due to porcelain veneers). In short, the more reduction that is required — the more risk that it will be a painful experience and there will be root canals involved. That also provides part of the explaination why one person may have a virtually pain-free experience and another person may have a very different one. Some people just have a higher pain threshold than others. There are a variety of pain reduction devices (e.g., computer controlled anesthetic delivery devices) and techniques that are helping to minimize pain. At this point, however, pain is still a risk when teeth structure is reduced. Ususally, the pain subsides fairly quickly and the residual sensitivity to temperature goes away spontaneously. You should keep in touch with your dentist and have him check it out if the pain continues. You’ll probably just be left with a beautiful smile and feel like it was well worth it.
 
Question:
I have an overbite in which my top jaw covers my bottom jaw. I am wondering what methods are avaible for correction?
Answer:
Your top jaw should cover your lower jaw. If you are referring to a recessive chin or lower jaw, many procedures are available. Many involve orthodontics and surgery. Start with a referral from your general dentist to an oral surgeon.
 
Source: locateadoc.com

Orthodontics Questions & Answers (Part 1)

10 January, 2010 (08:01) | Q&A | By: B. Slade

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Question:
I’ve had braces before, about 14 years ago, but my teeth have started to overlap and are getting worse as time goes by. My dentist said I need to get one of my wisdom teeth taken out but I really want to get braces again. Should I have my wisdom tooth removed first or can I have that done later?
Answer:
Without the benefit of examining you, I cannot tell you what sequence of treatment you should follow. It may very well be that your wisdom teeth are forcing your other teeth together. Here is something else to think about –A lot of adults that do not want to undergo braces have opted for veneers, which give the appearance of perfectly straight teeth and what some call, “instant orthodontics.” This is just one option that you may want to discuss with an accredited cosmetic dentist to see if it is a viable alternative for you. If you have unanswered questions, ask your current dentist or seek a second opinion from a qualified dentist that can examine you.
 
Question:
I was wondering, because I have an over bite and then my teeth are crooked, that would I be able to get this fixed with cosmetic dentistry or do I need to get braces?
Answer:
Thanks for your question. The condition you have described with your overbite is usually correctable. Without the benefit of seeing you, I cannot tell you which treatment options would be best for you. Situations similar to yours are corrected all the time either through restorative dentistry, orthodontics, or a combination of both. We often correct these deep overbites with what we call an “open bite” treatment plan. This consists of reducing your overbite by placing porcelain veneers and onlys on your teeth. I hope this helps and good luck in getting a better smile!
 
Source:  locateadoc.com

Tooth Contouring and Sanding

10 December, 2009 (10:55) | Smile Makeover | By: B. Slade

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Even after getting braces, some people will consider cosmetic dentistry to get that perfect smile. For those who have teeth that are too long or have odd shapes (like round bottoms), tooth contouring can be an option. This method is also used to correct bite issues and teeth grinding.Tooth sanding is usually done on people who have canine teeth that are too long or pointy, but there are also other reasons to get tooth sanding done. If you’re considering getting your teeth sanded, your dentist will first take x-rays of your teeth to figure out where the pulp of your tooth is. This will show the dentist how far he or she can go down and if tooth sanding will work for your teeth or not. Then your tooth will be marked at where you and the dentist agree it should be sanded down to.

Invisiline Braces

5 November, 2009 (10:48) | Braces | By: B. Slade

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If you’ve always wanted straight teeth, try out Invisiline braces. These are an alternative to the traditional track-type braces and work like a mold placed over your teeth. Invisiline braces are shaped according to how your teeth should ideally end up and they gently correct your teeth’s alignment through time. The best part about Invisiline braces is that they’re perfectly translucent, which is great for those who don’t want metal to get in the way of their smile. Ask your dentist about Invisiline braces and get your teeth straightened without the hassle of traditional braces.