If you are considering getting braces to improve your smile and the function of your mouth, you might require tooth extractions prior to getting the appliances on your teeth. Your orthodontist may recommend upon consultation that your treatment will be most effective after having some teeth removed. In fact, sometimes tooth extraction is the only way to achieve your goals for orthodontic treatment.
The most common reason for tooth extraction prior to braces is overcrowded teeth, in which space must be created to obtain proper tooth alignment. Doctors often recommend removing the teeth in sets of two or four, taking the same teeth from the top and the bottom at the same time. This helps create a symmetrical smile.
Another problem that can be aided from removing teeth is protrusion, which is when the upper teeth are out too far or the lower teeth are too far back. Tooth extraction can cause needed space to reposition the front teeth and stop the teeth and lips from protruding.
Overbites or underbites also sometimes require tooth extraction. When the upper jaw extends further than the lower jaw (overbite) or the lower jaw extends past the upper jaw (underbite), removing specific teeth can be helpful before moving the remaining teeth into better position. This can help prevent jaw surgery later.
If you and your orthodontist decide tooth extraction is best for you, often you will be referred to an oral surgeon. These specialists are trained to extract teeth with the ideal results and least pain. Usually you can return to your normal activities within a day or two of extraction, while following your doctor’s instructions for eating and oral care. Once your mouth has healed, you can return to your orthodontist to begin your braces treatment.
Braces have traditionally been the way to achieve a beautiful smile, but there’s a new kind of technology available that provides an alternative to metal braces. Invisalign uses a series of clear aligning trays to move your teeth into a better position, while having less impact on your lifestyle and self-confidence.
With Invisalign treatment, you will be custom fitted with trays that fit over your teeth. They are clear, and therefore practically invisible to others. Each aligner is worn for two weeks for twenty hours or more each day. Then you visit your orthodontist to obtain a new aligning tray, and repeat the process. You continue to get new trays every couple of weeks until treatment is complete. The time period for Invisalign treatment varies from patient to patient, but typically the length of treatment is shorter than that of traditional braces.
Invisalign offers some unique benefits compared to traditional braces. Because they are removable, the aligning trays are taken out for meals. Therefore, no food gets stuck like with braces. This also means that oral hygiene is much easier with Invisalign. Your dental care routine is the same as without braces, so it’s simple to brush and floss. Another good thing is that the aligners do not break and there aren’t any wires to break either. Also, the periodic changing of trays does not trigger the amount of soreness that accompanies the tightening of braces. Finally, probably the most popular benefit is that Invisalign trays are invisible, so there is no embarrassment associated with having a mouthful of metal.
As with any type of medical care, the results and specifics of each patient’s treatment varies. Ask your orthodontist about Invisalign and if it can give you the smile that you have always wanted.
Invisalign orthodontist in Sherman Oaks, CA.
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
