Braces and Aligners
Teeth Whitening
Dental Checkup
It is a way of straightening or moving teeth, to improve the appearance of teeth and their function. It also helps to look after the long-term health of teeth, gums and jaw joints.
Reason for treatment varies from one person to the other. Most commonly cited reasons for treatments are as follows:
Mal-positioned teeth involving either crowding or spacing between tooth.
Teeth with overbite, over jet or cross bite.
Boosting confidence and self-esteem in children.
In children with thumb sucking habit.
Orthodontic problems are typically inherited, but they can also be acquired by developmental factors. Some of the most commonly inherited conditions include crooked teeth, crowded teeth and other irregularities of the teeth and jaw. Acquired problems can be caused by developmental factors such as thumb sucking and the premature loss of baby or permanent teeth.
Patient with orthodontic problem can be benefited at nearly any age. Timely treatment ensures maximum dental health. It's a good idea to get an orthodontic evaluation by the time a child is 7 years old. Best time for child to get dental braces depends on the severity and the cause of the misalignment of your child's teeth.
Orthodontic treatment realigns teeth by applying constant, gentle pressure through brackets, bands, and arch wires attached to the tooth, which is regularly tightened by a dentist or orthodontist to shift teeth into desired position.
Treatment involves three stages:
Planning Stage – first couple of visits include brief medical & dental history, x-rays of mouth and teeth, followed by photographs and impression of the teeth. This ultimately helps in treatment planning.
Active Stage – Active treatment involves visiting orthodontist on a regular basis for adjustments and following specific treatment requirements to ensure successful treatment.
Retention Stage – When treatment is completed, the braces and/or appliances are removed and a new appliance is made. Usually these retainers are removable and will help to maintain the changes made to your teeth if worn as instructed. Treatment and retention times vary depending on each individual case. However, retention is a lifetime process.
Planning Stage – first couple of visits include brief medical & dental history, x-rays of mouth and teeth, followed by photographs and impression of the teeth. This ultimately helps in treatment planning.
Active Stage – Active treatment involves visiting orthodontist on a regular basis for adjustments and following specific treatment requirements to ensure successful treatment.
Retention Stage – When treatment is completed, the braces and/or appliances are removed and a new appliance is made. Usually these retainers are removable and will help to maintain the changes made to your teeth if worn as instructed. Treatment and retention times vary depending on each individual case. However, retention is a lifetime process.
Orthodontists do a careful, detailed analysis to determine the best option for individual situation. An orthodontist won’t recommend an extraction unless he feels it’s the best choice. There are other techniques that can help make room in the mouth without removing any teeth.
Generally braces are fixed appliances used by dentist to correct misaligned teeth. These have brackets and bands temporarily bond to the tooth, through which arch wire is passed and is maintained in place through elastics, bands etc.
The length of treatment depends on severity of the problem and it may take anything from a few months to two-and-a-half years.
Orthodontic problems are typically inherited, but they can also be acquired by developmental factors. Some of the most commonly inherited conditions include crooked teeth, crowded teeth and other irregularities of the teeth and jaw. Acquired problems can be caused by developmental factors such as thumb sucking and the premature loss of baby or permanent teeth.
Orthodontic problems are typically inherited, but they can also be acquired by developmental factors. Some of the most commonly inherited conditions include crooked teeth, crowded teeth and other irregularities of the teeth and jaw. Acquired problems can be caused by developmental factors such as thumb sucking and the premature loss of baby or permanent teeth.
Clear aligners are a good solution for correcting mild to moderately crowded or incorrectly spaced teeth. Aligners are usually effective in correcting simpler or tipping movements of teeth in two dimensions. Clear aligners are usually recommended for adults whose teeth and jaws are fully developed, and not for children.
Newly straightened teeth need a brief retaining period to stabilize to their new position. This is done with new custom made appliance called retainers. These retainers can be fixed or removable.
Frequency of dental visit depends on type of appliance being used. In traditional braces frequency of visit to professional may vary from every 4 to 6 weeks for adjustment of wires and forces; or as recommended by orthodontist. In case of aligner less dental visits are required.
The success of the treatment depends on the commitment, enthusiasm, and helpfulness of the patient along with skill and experience of dentist. Even after retention, it is normal for minor tooth movements to happen throughout life. So, no permanent guarantee can be given. However, it is unusual for teeth to alter enough.
You now have an orthodontic device “glued” to your teeth, so here are some care tips one should follow:
Maintain oral hygiene : use of soft bristle brush , flossing , interdental brush should be part of daily oral care.
Brushing flossing after every meal.
Avoid biting/chewing on hard and sticky food.
Don’t miss dental appointments.
Have patience : treatment do take time.
Tooth whitening can be a very effective way of lightening the natural colour of your teeth without removing any of the tooth surfaces. It cannot make a complete colour change, but it may lighten the existing shade.
There are a number of reasons why you might get your teeth whitened. Everyone is different; and just as our hair and skin color vary, so do our teeth. Very few people have brilliant-white teeth, and our teeth can also become more discolored as we get older.
Your teeth can also be stained on the surface by food and drinks such as tea, coffee, red wine and blackcurrant. Smoking can also stain teeth.
‘Calculus' or tartar can also affect the color of your teeth. Some people may have staining under the surface, which can be caused by certain antibiotics or by tiny cracks in the teeth which take up stains.
Your teeth can also be stained on the surface by food and drinks such as tea, coffee, red wine and blackcurrant. Smoking can also stain teeth.
‘Calculus' or tartar can also affect the color of your teeth. Some people may have staining under the surface, which can be caused by certain antibiotics or by tiny cracks in the teeth which take up stains.
Professional bleaching is the most usual method of tooth whitening. Your dental team will be able to tell you if you are suitable for the treatment, and will supervise it if you are.
First the dental team will put a rubber shield or a gel on your gums to protect them. They will than apply the whitening product on your teeth, using a specially made tray which fits into your mouth like a mouth guard.
The ‘active ingredient' in the product is usually hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. As the active ingredient is broken down, oxygen gets into the enamel on the teeth and the teeth colour is made lighter.
First the dental team will put a rubber shield or a gel on your gums to protect them. They will than apply the whitening product on your teeth, using a specially made tray which fits into your mouth like a mouth guard.
The ‘active ingredient' in the product is usually hydrogen peroxide or carbamide peroxide. As the active ingredient is broken down, oxygen gets into the enamel on the teeth and the teeth colour is made lighter.
The total treatment can usually be done within three to four weeks.
First, you will need two or three visits to the dentist. Your dental team will need to make mouth guard and will take impressions for this at the first appointment. Once your dental team has started the treatment, you will need to continue the treatment at home. This means regularly applying the whitening product over two to four weeks, for 30 minutes to one hour at a time.
However, there are now some new products which can be applied for up to eight hours at a time. This means you can get a satisfactory result in as little as one week.
First, you will need two or three visits to the dentist. Your dental team will need to make mouth guard and will take impressions for this at the first appointment. Once your dental team has started the treatment, you will need to continue the treatment at home. This means regularly applying the whitening product over two to four weeks, for 30 minutes to one hour at a time.
However, there are now some new products which can be applied for up to eight hours at a time. This means you can get a satisfactory result in as little as one week.
There is now laser whitening or power whitening.
During this procedure a rubber dam is put over your teeth to protect the gums, and a bleaching product is painted onto your teeth. Then a light or laser is shown on the teeth to activate the chemical. The light speeds up the reaction of the whitening product and color change can be achieved more quickly. Laser whitening is said to make teeth up to five or six shades lighter.
During this procedure a rubber dam is put over your teeth to protect the gums, and a bleaching product is painted onto your teeth. Then a light or laser is shown on the teeth to activate the chemical. The light speeds up the reaction of the whitening product and color change can be achieved more quickly. Laser whitening is said to make teeth up to five or six shades lighter.
Your dentist will need to assess your teeth to make sure that you are suitable for the treatment. Once it has been agreed, this procedure usually takes about one hour.
Some people may find that their teeth become sensitive to cold during or after the treatment. Others may have discomfort in the gums, a sore throat or white patches on the gum line. These symptoms are usually temporary and should disappear within a few days of the treatment finishing.
There are many home whitening kits available, including paint-on whiteners and strips. How effective these are depends on the amount of whitening agent they contain.
Home kits are cheaper but they are not always assessed for safety and tend to be more acidic. So there is a chance that these products could damage your teeth and gums. Because tooth whitening is a complicated procedure we advise that you always talk to your dentist before starting the treatment.
Home kits are cheaper but they are not always assessed for safety and tend to be more acidic. So there is a chance that these products could damage your teeth and gums. Because tooth whitening is a complicated procedure we advise that you always talk to your dentist before starting the treatment.
The effects of whitening are thought to last up to three years. However, this will vary from person to person. The effect is less likely to last as long if you smoke, or eat or drink products that can stain your teeth. Ask your dental team for their opinion before you start the treatment.
Tooth whitening can only lighten your existing tooth colour. Also it only works on natural teeth. It will not work on any types of ‘false' teeth such as dentures, crowns and veneers.
There are several whitening toothpastes on the market. Although they do not affect the natural colour of your teeth, they may be effective at removing staining. Therefore, they may improve the overall appearance of your teeth. Whitening toothpastes may also help the effect to last, once your teeth have been professionally whitened.
You can help to keep your teeth white by cutting down on the amount of food and drinks you have that can stain teeth.
We recommend the following tips to take care of your teeth:
We recommend the following tips to take care of your teeth:
Brush your teeth, last thing at night and at least one other time during the day, with fluoride toothpaste.
Avoid smoking.
Cut down on how often you have sugary foods and drinks.
Visit your dental team regularly, as often as they recommend.
A check-up allows your dentist to see if you have any dental problems and helps you keep your mouth healthy. Leaving problems untreated could make them more difficult to treat in the future, so it's best to deal with problems early, or, if possible, prevent them altogether.
Examine your teeth, gums and mouth. Ask about your general health and any problems you’ve had with your teeth, mouth or gums. Ask about, and give you advice on, your diet, smoking and alcohol use, teeth-cleaning and brushing habits. Discuss a date for your next visit.
Dental check-ups are generally recommended every six months though it can be different for each individual depending on their oral health needs. After your check-up, your dentist will recommend a date for your next visit. The time to your next check-up could be as short as 3 months or as long as 2 years (or up to 1 year if you're under 18). Generally, the lower your risk of dental problems, the longer you can wait before your next check-up. So, people with good oral health will probably need to attend only once every 12 months, but those with more problems will need check-ups more often.
At the first consultation, your dentist will want to find out about your health, both oral and general. The dentist needs to be aware of your medical background as it may impact the way that they treat and diagnose issues – diabetes, for example, can increase the risk of gum disease and may need different anesthesia. Certain medicines, meanwhile, can cause dry mouth, which can increase your risk of cavities. Importantly, all your medical information will be kept confidential.
It’s also a good time to discuss any dental phobias – for some patients, fear of the dentist starts in childhood after a bad experience. The dentist will take this on board – in fact, just talking about these issues can actually help relieve them. After the first consultation, a full-check-up will take place, followed by a thorough treatment plan.
It’s also a good time to discuss any dental phobias – for some patients, fear of the dentist starts in childhood after a bad experience. The dentist will take this on board – in fact, just talking about these issues can actually help relieve them. After the first consultation, a full-check-up will take place, followed by a thorough treatment plan.
Depending on your oral exam, dental history and any risk for developing cavities, a dental X-ray may be required. An X-ray can give the dentist a good view of your jaw alignment, any decay between teeth as well as identifying any impacted teeth, abscesses, or cysts on the roots of your teeth.
After the examination, the dentist will discuss any treatment recommendations, covering everything from tooth brushing techniques to your diet and nutrition, alcohol intake, and smoking. If there are any complications, a return visit may be required for restoration work, such as a filling or crown. For more complex work, the dentist may need to refer you to a specialist such as an orthodontist, periodontist, oral surgeon or an endodontist.