Starting orthodontic treatment can seem a little daunting. Understanding what is involved in having braces may help ease your mind. The following information will help you separate fact from fiction about what to expect from orthodontic therapy.
Myth: Getting braces will hurt.
Truth: You may experience mild soreness after the orthodontist places your braces, but this should subside after the first few days. Over-the-counter pain relievers can help with any discomfort.
Myth: I can’t play an instrument or participate in sports if I have braces.
Truth: Although you may have to get used to how your flute or clarinet feels with braces, you can continue to play your instrument during orthodontic treatment. The same goes for sports, but you need to speak with your orthodontist about a mouth guard. This soft, plastic device covers teeth and protects against injury.
Myth: After I get my braces off, my teeth will stay straight forever.
Truth: Once you finish with the active treatment phase, you will need to wear a retainer to keep teeth in their new position. Your orthodontist will fit you for the custom appliance and provide instructions for use. Often, patients start out wearing their retainers most of the day, but many move to a night-time schedule over time.
Myth: I’m too old for braces.
Truth: You can enjoy a beautiful, straight smile at any age. In fact, roughly 20 percent of orthodontic patients are 18 years or older. With options such as ceramic brackets, lingual braces, and Invisalign clear aligners, adult patients can preserve their mature images while achieving the sensational smiles they desire.
Schedule your appointment today if you are looking for an orthodontist in Sherman Oaks, CA.
The best indication that you should visit an orthodontist is that you hide your smile or resist showing your teeth. If you are embarrassed about your mouth because your teeth are misaligned or crooked, then it’s time to seek the help of an orthodontist who can transform your smile into a straight and healthy one.
How can orthodontists help?
Orthodontists complete four years of dental school, plus several more years specializing in orthodontics. Orthodontists are trained in all aspects of giving you the ideal function and appearance for your mouth. They can treat malocclusion, which means that your bite doesn’t fit together as it should. Not only can you have the way your jaws line up corrected, but also the positioning of your teeth to make them straight and without gaps. Braces, aligner trays, headgear, rubberbands, and retainers are some of the tools that orthodontists may use during treatment.
What are some reasons to see an orthodontist?
You already know that an orthodontist can help straighten your teeth and correct your bite. These improvements will likely also enhance your overall oral health, since some mouth problems contribute to tooth decay, gum disease, or tooth loss. Your ability to speak and chew may also benefit.
At what age should you get orthodontist treatment?
Orthodontic treatment really doesn’t have an age requirement. Parents may begin taking their children for evaluations as young as age 7, just to catch problems early. Most children undergo treatment between ages 9 to 14, but it has grown increasingly common for adults to be treated as well. With advancements being made such as clear braces and hidden lingual braces, adults are more likely to consider orthodontic work. Each patient’s case is unique, but the average length of treatment is 1 to 3 years.
How do you choose an orthodontist?
Asking friends and family for recommendations is a good way to find an orthodontist. Some things to consider include office location, appointment hours, cost, office technology, staff personalities, and proposed treatment plan.
Dr. Fotovat – Orthodontist in Sherman Oaks, CA
More and more adults today are getting braces on their teeth. It may be their first time for orthodontic treatment, or it may be another go-round after their mouth changed after having braces during their youth. No matter the situation, so many adults wear braces these days that it is nothing to be embarrassed about. Adult braces can be a life-changing choice for many people.
Why should adults consider braces?
Some orthodontists report that almost half of their patients are adults. The truth is that at any age, people long for beautiful smiles. Having crooked teeth or misaligned bites can be a detriment in the business world, and certainly people believe there are social advantages to a nice smile as well.
Are there advantages to getting braces as an adult?
Although orthodontics improves the smiles for many children, there are some additional benefits that adults have. Adults tend to be more aware of the effects of foods on their teeth and braces, so they follow their orthodontist’s advice more carefully about diet restrictions. Also, people who are paying for their own treatment instead of relying on their parents usually want the most of their money and are careful with their braces and related guidelines.
Will treatment last longer in adults?
Wearing braces is really only as successful as the follow-through. It is vital to wear your retainer as instructed so that your teeth don’t change. Also, keeping a permanent retainer on for the rest of your life is a great way to make sure your teeth don’t move. As always, proper dental care including regular brushing, flossing, and checkups is the ideal way to maintain your beautiful new smile.
Orthodontist Dr. Fotovat treats adults, teens, and children from Sherman Oaks, CA and the surrounding areas.
During orthodontic treatment, you need to take special care of teeth and gums. Extra brushing and additional flossing tools may become part of your routine. At the same time, you need to ensure that nothing happens to your braces. The following tips will help you protect your investment:
Eat right
While you have braces, you should avoid certain foods. Hard candy and sticky substances can crack brackets or break off wires. When you have apples or carrots, cut them in bite size pieces just to be safe.
Wear a mouth guard
For sports activities, you need to protect your face and mouth by having a mouth guard. Normally, dentists and orthodontists recommend custom mouth guards, but during orthodontic treatment you need the store-bought appliances so that your mouth guard won’t damage your braces.
Report problems immediately
Even when you do everything right, you may still have a broken bracket or loose wire. Apply dental wax if you experience discomfort and contact your orthodontist for the next step.
Curtail bad habits
Chewing on ice or biting your nails can harm your teeth and cause problems with your orthodontia.
Don’t make adjustments yourself
If your wires or brackets don’t seem right to you, call the orthodontist. Attempting to correct the issue can create bigger problems.
Visit the dentist for checkups
At these appointments, your dentist can make sure teeth and gums are holding up well during your time in braces. If enamel weakens or you develop gum disease, you could have trouble with your brackets and wires.
Burbank Orthodontist
Not everyone is blessed with perfect teeth, so that’s why you see many people wearing braces to correct their smiles. But did you know there are lots more people who wear braces then you realize? New technologies provide orthodontic treatment that you can’t even see without close examination, and the results are just as good as wearing traditional braces.
Why should I get braces?
The most obvious answer to this question is to correct crooked teeth. Braces are more than teeth straightening though. Jaw misalignment is another main reason for braces. There are also side effects of misplaced or overlapping teeth, such as speech difficulties, facial changes, malocclusion, difficulty eating, and tooth decay because you can’t adequately clean all areas of your teeth. A bad bite may cause your teeth to chip or break, and result in pain and headaches associated with temporomandibular joint disorder. Good orthodontic treatment can treat all of these issues.
Are there different kinds?
The traditional metal kind of braces has been around the longest. These involve metal wires pushing your teeth, along with brackets that attach to each tooth. Sometimes rubber bands and other appliances are needed as well. A newer type of braces is the invisible ones that are made of clear plastic. These removable aligner trays move your teeth without having the same aesthetic impacts on your smile during treatment.
What are the benefits of invisible braces?
The near invisibility of clear braces is the reason many patients choose them. Here are some additional reasons that they are popular:
- Comfortable and lightweight with no wires that might poke you
- Convenient to take in and out
- Allows normal brushing and flossing
- No diet restrictions
Visit an orthodontist for Invisalign – Dr. Fotovat is premier preferred provider of Invisalign to patient from Burbank and the surrounding area.
Teenagers are known for being busy and distracted, rushing from one thing to another. They often neglect things that they don’t realize are important parts of keeping healthy. One of the aspects of their lives that teens don’t make time for is properly taking care of their teeth. Here are some ways to help keep your teen’s mouth in good shape.
Brushing and flossing
The best way for your teen to avoid cavities is to brush twice daily with fluoride toothpaste, and floss once a day. Even though teenagers find it tempting to skip these dental hygiene steps, the payoff of having a mouth full of healthy and sparkling teeth will be worth it.
Nutritious diet
Cutting down on sugary foods and drinks is another way to protect teeth. Teens often grab quick snacks on the run, and are inclined to reach for items that don’t have much nutritional value. Try to keep a supply of foods that appeal to your teen without endangering their oral health.
Sealants
Dental sealants are a plastic coating that a dentist applies to teeth to create a barrier that protects teeth from developing cavities. They are usually applied to chewing surfaces of back teeth and to grooves in teeth. It’s a quick and easy process that can provide additional protection against tooth decay.
Mouth guards
Teens who are involved in sports or activities like skateboarding should wear a mouth guard to protect their teeth against injury. They are the best way to avoid broken or knocked out teeth, and also to protect the mouth and face from harm. Your dentist can recommend the best type of mouth guard for your teenager.
Orthodontist for teens in Sherman Oaks and the surrounding area.
