How to Know you Need an Orthodontist and How to Find One

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

Changing Your Smile with Invisible Braces

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.

The Trend of Diastema

While most people want to close gaps between their teeth, a new trend is emerging in the fashion industry. Models with a diastema, the term used to describe the space between two teeth, are considered in vogue. In fact, the top faces for companies like Calvin Klein and Chanel have considerable gaps between their teeth.

Approximately 50 percent of kids ages six to eight have an opening between their teeth. Usually, the space closes after permanent teeth erupt. If the diastema remains after the permanent incisors and canine teeth come in, you should consult an orthodontist for further evaluation. The most common diastema is the space between the front teeth.

Other conditions can also contribute to gaps between teeth, including:

  • Missing teeth, which may create extra space
  • Lip biting because it can enable front teeth to drift apart
  • Tongue thrusting, pushing your tongue against front teeth, may result in a gap
  • Abnormal jaw bone structure may prevent the upper incisors from touching normally

Though certain celebrities have left the openings in their smiles, the average person will need orthodontic treatment to close the gap. After a complete assessment, your orthodontist can recommend the best treatment. Braces can be used to move teeth together and create a flawless smile. Orthodontic treatment of a gap between teeth will provide a permanent result, but it can take a year of longer to work, especially in the case of larger spaces.

Orthodontist in Sherman Oaks CA

Do Straight Teeth Mean Healthy Teeth?

Achieving perfect teeth so that you have a beautiful smile is a goal for many people. But straightening your teeth also brings benefits in addition to an attractive appearance. Straight teeth can reduce your risks for tooth and gum problems. The inability for you, or even your dentist, to remove plaque and bacteria from your teeth and gums can increase your risk of developing gingivitis or periodontal disease.

Problems

  • Overcrowding – teeth that are too close together are hard to clean, which leads to accumulation of plaque, tartar, and harmful bacteria.
  • Malocclusion – teeth that aren’t aligned correctly are referred to as malocclusion. Sometimes this means that teeth hit each other improperly when they bite together, which may cause wear or chipping. With time, damaged teeth can expose the bottom tooth layer called dentin. This creates sensitivity and promotes decay.
  • Traumatic occlusion – injury to parts of the mouth can result from closing the jaw repeatedly and with excessive force. It can cause undesired spaces to develop between the teeth, which leads to food buildup and tender gums. If not removed completely, tooth decay will occur.

Solutions
Attempting to create a straight smile with restorations like veneers or crowns may not be the best choice, because they don’t address the underlying problem. Your dentist may suggest straightening your teeth with orthodontic treatment. This may involve traditional braces, Invisalign, retainers, appliances, or a combination of treatments. The goal is to correct your teeth so that it becomes easier to maintain good dental hygiene, and therefore lower your risk of gum disease or tooth decay.

Dr. Fotovat is an Orthodontist in Sherman Oaks, CA

Achieving a Winning Smile

A smile can say so many things, from expressing feelings like joy to love to laughter. When you’re unhappy with your smile, however, it can mask your feelings if you’re unwilling to express yourself in that way. The good news is that modern dentistry can transform your smile into one that’s dazzling and beautiful, that you can be proud to show off. Dentists no longer just deal with tooth decay and root canals, but they can perform entire smile makeovers.

What is a smile makeover?
A smile makeover means creating a brand new smile for you. It’s similar to going to your hairstylist or makeup artist, who both can alter your appearance to meet your desires. Having your dentist alter your smile may be more time-consuming than those examples, but the results will likely be dramatic and amazing.

What are some smile makeover techniques?
•    Teeth whitening – if your teeth are stained or discolored, the first place to start is with teeth whitening. Your dentist can offer tips about a variety of whitening possibilities and the one that might work best for you.
•    Veneers – tooth-colored porcelain veneers may be bonded to the front of your teeth to improve their appearance. Veneers can change the shape and color of your teeth that can create a perfect smile and more youthful appearance.
•    Gum contouring – if your gums are either too high or too low on your teeth, gum contouring can even out your gum lines. This corrects the appearance that your teeth are too long due to receding gums, or the look that your teeth are too small because your gums are covering more of your teeth than they should.

How do I begin the smile makeover process?
The first step is to see your dentist to discuss your desires and which dental treatments might help you achieve a winning smile. Many improvements are possible with modern technology and equipment, so it’s just a matter of working with your dentist to create your new smile.