Braces (Orthodontia)
Dental braces are placed on the teeth and used to help align and straighten teeth and reposition poorly aligned jaws.
Crooked teeth and misaligned jaws can be caused by a number of different things, such as inheritance, injury, or thumb-sucking. Typically, dentists begin examining and screening children for the possibility of braces between the ages of 7 and 14, because the bones and features in their faces are not fully developed yet, and there are more malleable.
About Braces
Orthodontics is a specialty of dentistry that deals with adjustments to the teeth, mouth, and jaw. There are three main types of braces which are:
- Metal braces, also known as traditional braces, use metal brackets, which are put on the front of the teeth, and flexible metal wire that is placed through the brackets.
- Ceramic braces, use ceramic brackets and flexible wires that are both the same color as natural teeth, making them less noticeable.
- Lingual Braces are similar to traditional braces because they use brackets and metal wires, but the difference is that they are put on the back of the teeth instead of the front, making them virtually unnoticeable.
Procedures
The process of getting braces is complex, but nothing a trained orthodontist cannot handle. First, they will make an impression of your teeth and x-ray both the head and the mouth. Then a second appointment is made for the actual placement of the braces. Before this second appointment you should make sure that your teeth are completely clean from plaque. Then the brackets, wires, and bands are placed on your teeth and tightened. If you feel some mild discomfort in your mouth afterwards, don’t worry, it is completely normal. Once your braces have been put in your mouth, occasionally you will need to return to the orthodontist’s office to have them adjusted and tightened, so that they can adjust your teeth and make sure that they get in the correct position. Finally, after your braces are off, after approximately two years, you will need to continue to wear a retainer so that you can ensure that your teeth stay in place.
Hygiene Issues
When someone has braces it complicates a person’s regular dental hygiene routine a little bit. Food is more likely to get stuck in between the brackets and wires, so the person wearing the braces needs to make sure to always at least rinse their mouth out with water after they eat in order to dislodge some of the debris that may have gotten stuck and they need to try and not eat super sticky, chewy, or crunchy foods. If the teeth are not properly cleaned on a daily basis, you will run the risk of stains developing on the enamel around the bracket.
Space Maintainers
Space maintainers are custom-made dental devices that are usually either acrylic or metal and they keep the space open in a child’s mouth so that the permanent tooth has a place to come in to when it is time. These are usually used when a child unexpectedly loses a primary tooth early on. If a space maintainer is not used, the child runs the risk of their permanent tooth not having enough room, which runs the risk of the child having crooked teeth.
Sealants
A sealant is a thin plastic coating that is painted on the surface of teeth, quickly bonding and forming a protective layer over the enamel. This acts as a barrier for plaque and acids, preventing tooth decay. Scientists developed the first sealants in the 1950’s, but they weren’t available commercially until the 1970’s.
Sealants are recommended for people of all ages, but especially for children and teenagers. This will help them from getting cavities on their permanent teeth, while they are still learning and remembering to follow through with good dental hygiene practices.
Missing Teeth
If you have missing teeth, there are a few different options that you have. Fixed bridges, crowns, implants, and bridges are all common and effective procedures for correcting bite problems and replacing missing teeth.
Bridges
Bridges are natural-looking dental prosthesis that are created to replace the gap made by one or more missing teeth. Bridges are custom-made and are barely noticeable since they are formed and then bonded to your existing teeth or implants. They can help to improve the natural curve of teeth and can promote a healthy bite relationship between the teeth in the upper and lower jaw.
Bridges, also known as fixed partial dentures, are bonded to the existing teeth or implants and are semi-permanent. There are several different types of bridges, which include conventional fixed bridges, resin-bonded bridges, and cantilever bridges.
Bridges usually require a few office visits in order to fully complete the procedure. First, the teeth are prepared by re-contouring and removing part of the enamel. Then an accurate impression of the teeth are made, which a lab then uses to construct the bridge. Next the new synthetic bridge is placed in the mouth and periodically adjusted in order to ensure a proper fit. Finally the bridge is cemented into place.
Crowns
Crowns are commonly confused with veneers, but in fact are very different. Crowns are synthetic natural-looking tooth-shaped caps, commonly made of either porcelain, ceramic or resin, and are cemented on top of a tooth. They are used in a variety of different situations which can include: correcting sever discoloration, protecting a cracked or weak tooth after severe decay, cosmetically modifying a tooth, sealing a tooth with a large filling, restoring a broken tooth, covering a dental implant, securing a dental bridge, among others.
Procedures
In order for a crown to be placed, a tooth must first be filed down, and the size reduced. Then an impression is formed from the existing tooth and is sent to a special lab who then make a customized crown. In certain cases, a temporary crown may need to be placed on the tooth and then is removed once the permanent crown is finished and cemented into place.
Caring For Your Crowns
With proper dental hygiene and care, a high-quality crown can last up to ten years. Paying special attention when brushing and flossing around the area of the crown is very important in order to avoid excess plaque buildup or particles or debris getting caught around the remodeled area. It is also important to avoid eating ice, hard candy, or brittle foods so that the crown does not get damaged. If a patient clenches their jaw or grinds their teeth a lot, preventative measures should be taken since those behaviors can significantly cut down on the overall life of a crown.
Root Canal Therapy
Root canal therapy is a procedure that relieves pain by treating the unhealthy pulp of a tooth in order to both prevent the spread of current, and protect from future, infection. A tooth's pulp is made up of cellular entities, nerve tissues, and blood vessels which are found below the enamel of your teeth and spread from the crown to the bottom tip of the root.
If root canal therapy is the recommended treatment option for you, there is no need to worry because it is possible for your teeth to survive without the pulp, because the tissues around the tooth continue to nourish it. This particular therapy may be necessary if the pulp of your teeth is inflamed or infected, which could be caused by a crack in the tooth or possible problems with the crown. Failure to treat the infection or inflammation may result in extreme pain and discomfort.
Procedure
First, we use a needle to thoroughly numb your tooth with anesthesia. It may be necessary to apply a dental dam to keep the area clean during the procedure. We will then use tools to access and open up the top part of the affected tooth, using files to get rid of the affected pulp, and reshaping the inner parts of the tooth. We then clean the area and apply a disinfecting solution to prevent any re-occurrence of the problem and to get rid of any remaining bacteria. After cleaning the inside of your tooth, we will fill it temporarily. Later, we will place a permanent crown on your tooth, at which point the treatment is considered complete.
Afterwards, we may prescribe a medicine if the area becomes inflamed after the treatment, because even though we remove the nerves of your tooth, your tooth might still be sensitive. We highly recommend that you practice good oral hygiene and take good care of your teeth and gums after the treatment. We also suggest that you schedule a follow-up appointment to ensure that your tooth is completely treated and that there are no more signs of infection.
Extractions
General Procedure
There are a variety of different reasons as to why someone would need a tooth extraction. Their mouth might be too crowded or other procedures such as a crown, filling, or root canal, was not enough to save the tooth. Before, it was very painful to get a tooth removed, but today, with the help of pain medications and sedatives, the patient only has a slight bit of discomfort, if any at all.
First the dentist usually has the patient take an antibiotic the day before surgery to prevent an infection from occurring. Then on the day of surgery, the patient goes back into the room and the affected area is numbed with an anesthetic (Novocaine). Many times, some form of sedative is also administered before extracting the tooth. After the extraction ibuprofen and ice are recommended and occasionally prescription pain medication is also given.
After the procedure, you should refrain from smoking, brushing or rinsing too hard, and sucking liquids through a straw because all of these things can slow down recovery time and may cause the wound to re-open.
Wisdom Teeth
Wisdom teeth come in last and are located in the very back of your mouth. Some people’s wisdom teeth come in without an issue, other people’s wisdom teeth don’t come in at all, but they don’t experience pain, and lastly there are all of the others who experience some sort of discomfort when their wisdom teeth come in, usually because they are misaligned and are coming in at an angle, putting pressure on the tooth next to it. Unfortunately, when there is pain, that usually is not a good sign; the tooth may be impacted and will need to be removed.
The following are symptoms of an impacted wisdom tooth:
- Swelling of the face
- Infection
- Pain
- Swelling of the gums
Scaling and Root Planing
Scaling and root planing, also known as conventional periodontal therapy, is a type of surgical deep cleaning that removes plaque from the tooth and then smooths the surface. This procedure is needed when a patient has a severe case of gum disease where no other treatments have worked.
First a local anesthetic is administered to the patient, so they can remain calm and comfortable throughout the procedure. Then a scaler (ultrasonic cleaner) removes plaque and tartar buildup by cleaning under the gum line. Finally, the tooth’s root’s surfaces are smoothed out. When this procedure is done, the gums should be able to easily reattach to the tooth structure.
Flap Surgery
Ideally, between the bone and gum tissue in your mouth, they should hug your tooth. But many times, when a person suffers from gum disease, the bone is slowly destroyed which in turn causes pockets to form in the mouth which serve as a breeding ground for bacteria. The more bacteria the area accumulates, the more bone and tissue loss happens until the tooth needs to be extracted.
Flap surgery is a solution that re-constructs the tooth area. Sometimes this procedure is done so that tartar deposits that have accumulated in the pockets can be removed. During the procedure, a section of the gums is lifted back and we go in and remove al of the tartar buildup. We then put the gums back on the tooth and stitch them back together tightly, so they are hugging the tooth, just as they are supposed to.
Dentures
Many people think that dentures are only used when a whole set of teeth is missing, but specialty dentures replace your missing teeth and it is possible to craft them to fit into any size gap in your mouth. Even with today's technological dental advancements and dental health education, many people across the nation still live with tooth loss. Missing teeth may be a source of embarrassment, and can affect a person's nutrition and dental health. Dentures are great option for missing teeth, regardless of the degree of tooth loss and they are appropriate for people who have recently lost their teeth, as well as for people who have been living with tooth loss for many years. Dentures are very popular all around the world because they feel and look like natural teeth.
Types of Dentures
Immediate dentures are temporary and help your muscles to readjust when you are initially getting used to wearing them. You typically use these types of dentures right after a tooth extraction.
Implant-Supported Overdentures get their support from tooth implants, to which they are attached. We recommend these types of dentures when even though they are missing all of their teeth, the patient has sufficient bone in the jaw which can adequately support the implants.
Conventional Full Dentures are made to look exactly like your natural teeth, and after some time, they conform to your jaw and gums feel as good as they look.
Removable partial dentures have a more natural look than transitional partial dentures. Removable partial dentures are very light, and they are made to have a superior fit. It is recommended that you get dentures as soon as you lose your teeth because they not only look great, but also enhance your bite and improve your speech. When you start wearing dentures, they may not feel natural but with time, your mouth will get used to the feeling. It is important to note that your immediate dentures may not have the same fit after a few months, because sometimes the tissues may shrink. You have the option of relining your temporary dentures or buying a new set of dentures that fit better. We recommend the latter option.
Transitional partial dentures are removable. You can use them as temporary replacements for your lost teeth while you recover from a tooth extraction procedure.