Additionally, crooked teeth also have a tendency to shift even more out of alignment as time progresses. One tooth out of place may cause the others to shift as well. Even people who wore braces as children or teens sometimes find that their teeth are shifting.  A beautiful, healthy smile is worth the effort of wearing braces which can be less visible now.

Cosmetically, braces today are generally much smaller and less visible than previously. When full braces are needed, options such as lingual braces placed on the back of the teeth, clear or ceramic braces may be less noticeable than the metal types of appliances. The typical time for an adult to wear braces used to be 2 and one-half years.

Now, with current technologies, the treatment time may be 12 to 18 months. Clear aligner trays such as Invisalign may be an option for some types of bite correction. The trays are worn for a specified period of time and replaced in sequence to align the teeth. Not all types of bite problems can be corrected with clear aligners, thus it’s best to have an orthodontist evaluate your bite to determine if you are a good candidate.

There is nothing like having a straight, beautiful, healthy smile for boosting your self- confidence and making you feel good about yourself. If your smile needs a makeover, contact Lansdowne Orthodontics today to see which options are right for you. At Lansdowne Orthodontics, we provide each patient with multiple options to achieve an ideal result in optimal treatment time. We pride ourselves on delivering exceptional care. Our reputation depends on our good work and your good word.

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You can purchase special types of electronic or manual toothbrushes designed for use with braces. Some models of electronic toothbrushes may have special heads for braces. The toothbrush you use should have extra soft bristles and be compact or smaller to reach the back teeth. Hold the brush at a 45 degree angle and brush each tooth individually for about 10 seconds.  Brush the cheek side and the tongue side of teeth as well as the chewing surfaces. The important thing is to brush frequently, thoroughly and gently. It is best to brush your teeth after each meal so as to prevent cavities and gum disease during braces. The orthodontist and/or orthodontic assistants will demonstrate and teach you how to brush easily with braces to maintain excellent oral hygiene during braces.

Flossing with braces is important to clean in between the surface of your teeth and the wires. You can use special orthodontic floss and a water flosser to give an ideal result with a clean and healthy mouth. It is best to floss your teeth after each meal so as to prevent cavities and gum disease during braces. The orthodontist and/or orthodontic assistants will demonstrate and teach you how to floss easily around
the braces.

Toothpaste and mouth rinses that contain fluoride help to strengthen teeth and prevent decay. Poor brushing while in treatment with braces can cause bad breath, gum disease, cavities and white spots on the teeth, which are actually areas of tooth decay. Frequent, thorough brushing and flossing and fluoride treatments can help to prevent this from happening by strengthening tooth enamel. Again, it is best to brush and floss your teeth after each meal to remove bacteria and food particles. In addition to daily brushing and flossing during braces, an individual should receive a dental cleaning every 3-4 months by a licensed dentist or dental hygienist to ensure that proper oral hygiene is being maintained.

While you are wearing braces, your teeth are moving into alignment so they will look great and ultimately be positioned for easier brushing and flossing than they were before orthodontic treatment. A little extra effort to keep them clean and healthy during braces treatment can ensure a lifetime of healthy teeth and a great smile.

At Lansdowne Orthodontics, we take oral hygiene very seriously as we evaluate and review each patient’s oral hygiene at each patient visit and help each patient make the appropriate adjustments to achieve a beautiful face one smile at a time.

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Most overbites can be corrected with regular braces (clear or metal) or clear aligners such as Invisalign. Clear aligners or Invisalign are not as visible as metal or clear brackets and can also be removed for oral hygiene whereas brackets are fixed for the duration of treatment. Patients are given special instructions on how to brush and floss with metal or clear brackets. For growing patients, there are other appliances that may promote the growth of the lower jaw or reposition it to decrease the discrepancy and resolve the overbite.

If the overbite is severe and is related to poor jaw position in an adult, jaw surgery is the best and sometimes only method for correction. Your orthodontist will recommend the best treatment plan for your dental malocclusion. The goal is to reposition the jaw bones to an ideal facial balance and correct your bite relationship. Your general dentist, orthodontist and oral surgeon will coordinate treatment to help you achieve the most ideal result.

An overbite is corrected when the upper and lower teeth fit correctly and the chewing forces are evenly distributed over all of the teeth. Your teeth, gums and bones will function correctly and remain healthy throughout your life, plus you will enjoy a beautiful smile.

As with our the approach of our practices, Lansdowne Orthodontics and Glow Orthodontics in Northern Virginia, discuss with your orthodontist the multiple options they provide to achieve an ideal result for your overbite in optimal treatment time.

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The primary reason that most people want to address crowded teeth is because they do not like to smile when their teeth are rotated and misaligned. Unfortunately, this is the least of the worries for a person with crowded teeth. In fact, misaligned teeth simply do not function or “bite” correctly and make it difficult to maintain proper oral hygiene.

For instance, floss may be difficult to thread between the teeth. Tooth brushing is difficult when teeth overlap one another. Dental decay may result in the hard to brush and floss areas. Decay left untreated may very likely lead to gum disease. As the problem worsens, it can lead to loss of teeth, pain, difficulty chewing, gum disease, bad breath, etc.

Orthodontic treatment is the key to correcting crowded teeth. Braces can realign teeth allowing for correct bite and proper oral hygiene. An orthodontist will evaluate how best to achieve alignment of teeth and provide one or more options. Unfortunately, there may be circumstances in which extraction of permanent teeth is required to obtain a stable, ideal result. Extraction of teeth is a very serious consideration, selected after careful deliberation and as the only option to correct the bite.

In some cases, the crowding problem is a defect in the jawbone. If the jaw is simply too small to support a full mouth of teeth, then growth modification treatment is appropriate for growing patients. In adults, jaw surgery may be necessary to correct jaw discrepancies.

The correction of serious crowding of the teeth allows for proper dental care keeping teeth and gums healthy. Frequently without any other serious measures, braces alone may resolve crowding – improving alignment of teeth, bite relationship, chewing efficiency and tooth to lip relationship – your smile!

At Lansdowne Orthodontics, we provide each patient with multiple options to achieve an ideal result in optimal treatment time. We pride ourselves on delivering exceptional care. Our reputation depends on our good work and your good word.

The post What Can Be Done to Correct ‘Crowding of the Teeth’? appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

A gapped smile or crooked baby teeth is just one indication of dental health.  An orthodontist is not only concerned with the health of the teeth and gums, but more importantly with the relationship and structure of the jaws.  Does the growth pattern indicate sufficient development to allow for the permanent teeth waiting to erupt?  Is the lower jaw too far out front of the upper jaw or vice versa indicating a need for growth modification?

What may the orthodontist see when an x-ray is reviewed?  The orthodontist may see too many teeth (supernumerary) or too few teeth (congenitally missing) revealed by a Panoramic X-ray that shows all the teeth in both jaws in one view.  The evaluation may reveal very large teeth about to erupt in a too narrow upper jaw or one or more teeth at a severe angle that may not erupt at all without treatment (impacted).

Your child’s smile reveals a great deal about future needs.  Many times though, it’s what can’t be seen that requires professional guidance.  A comprehensive orthodontic evaluation by 7 years old may indicate that your child exhibits normal growth patterns or exhibits issues that may best be addressed with early (interceptive) treatment.

As we do with patients in our Northern Virginia orthodontic practice, a conversation with your local orthodontist will reassure you that whether with required treatment or if no treatment is necessary, your child’s future smile is going to be great.

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What is an Orthodontist?

Orthodontists specialize in correcting crooked or misaligned teeth and incorrect bite issues related to jaw discrepancies.  Upon completion of dental school, dentists apply for highly coveted spots to receive specialty training for two to three years. This is just the beginning of lifelong continued education to remain current in the field of orthodontics.

Orthodontists may recommend growth modification treatment for patients who are 8 to 12 years of age or recommend starting treatment when all permanent teeth have erupted.  Treatment is individually planned to address such problems as jaw size discrepancies, spacing, crowding, impacted teeth, unerupted teeth, rotated teeth and other issues affecting the bite.  Adults may have similar issues that can be addressed with traditional braces or more extensive treatment requiring surgical procedures.

Orthodontists use many different types of appliances to correct the bite utilizing the latest technological advances in materials, equipment and processes.  Clear brackets, metal brackets, lingual brackets, or clear aligners such as Invisalign may be an option for some patients.  Treatment time can vary from six months to two years. The end result is a beautiful, healthy smile that lasts for a lifetime.

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Orthodontists are trained to spot subtle problems with jaw growth and emerging teeth while some baby teeth are still present.  The advantage for patients of early detection of orthodontic problems is that some problems may be easier to correct if they are found and treated early.

But what are realistic expectations for smile correction? Parents often ask about the lasting impact for their child’s smile, and what can they expect to see?

While the aspects and severity of individual cases can determine the length and success rate for orthodontic treatment, the end result can be dramatic and often can exceed expectations.

But seeing is believing, so view this time lapse video from the American Association of Orthodontists to see firsthand what braces can do for a child’s smile.

The post What results can orthodontic braces deliver for my child’s smile? See for yourself… appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.

Some of the treatment options for adults to straighten their smiles include:

Clear Orthodontic Braces

Clear braces are a popular choice for adults because they are exactly as their name implies: braces that are clear. Therefore, they aren’t as unsightly as traditional metal braces. There are numerous types of clear braces, but they all feature the same basic benefits. They allow you to get the beautiful smile that you’re always wanted without the discomfort of regular braces and without you having to undergo tightening of braces every week or two. Instead, clear braces usually consist of a series of aligners that move your teeth invisibly without anyone even knowing that you have braces.

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Damon Orthodontic Braces

Damon braces are a popular type of clear braces. They employ high technology archwires and tieless braces to move teeth quickly and comfortably. The results that Damon braces offers people can be dramatic, as they allow people to get the smiles that they want discretely, and they also take into account the shape of your face, your profile, what you will look like into your 40s, 50s, and older. The way that Damon braces works is by utilizing a slide mechanism to maintain the archwires in their brackets while still allowing them to move freely. The sliding mechanism reduces any friction and binding so the teeth are permitted to move more quickly and comfortably than they would otherwise.

With Damon braces many patients can begin to see these results with their smile in as little as 10 weeks.

Lingual or Inside the Teeth Braces

Lingual, or inside the teeth braces, are similar to traditional braces except that they are hidden inside your teeth. Rather than the braces being placed on the outside of your teeth, they are placed on the inside where they work in the same manner as they would if they were on the outside. Yet, because they are on the inside of your teeth, nobody even knows that you have braces. Discreet and effective.

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Clear Retainers

Clear retainers are popular ways for adults to get their teeth straightened as well. One of the most popular brands in clear retainers is Invisalign. Clear retainers are designed and modeled specifically for a certain individual’s teeth. They allow you to achieve a straighter smile over time without anyone being any the wiser that you have braces, and they can be easily removed.

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From this overview you can see that modern orthodontic care presents adults with difference treatment options, which provide less discomfort and more convenience to accomodate your lifestyle. The treatment option that is best for you depends upon your individual circumstances and personal preference. If you have been putting off orthodontic care as an adult, discuss the alternatives to traditional metal braces that are available with your orthodontist, and get the smile you want.

The post If Adults think orthodontic braces are only for kids, think again. appeared first on Your Dental Health Resource.