Common Orthodontic Treatment Options

Straightening your teeth is now more convenient and easier than in the past. New advances in orthodontic technology are now allowing patients to choose from many different systems to suit their needs. Now there’s less physical pressure on the mouth, shorter treatment times, and flexibility with your lifestyle.

Our orthodontist in Torrance can fit you with the right orthodontic treatment for you. Braces in the past were made of stainless steel, attached to the front surfaces of the teeth, and connected with wires. While this option is still available, there are many other convenient options and better-looking ones as well.

The most convenient and probably the most popular option is Invisalign. This system is made of clear plastic aligners that are removable for your convenience. They are worn for most of the day and taken out for eating, drinking, and brushing the teeth. The best part is they are virtually invisible because they are clear. You can smile with confidence knowing that your teeth are being improved without unsightly wires and brackets. As your teeth move and shift into place, the aligners are changed out for new ones. This happens almost weekly.

Another option is ceramic braces. This material is lightweight and resembles the color of your natural teeth. They are much smaller and less noticeable than traditional braces but still get the job done. This is great for people who want to speed up the treatment process as they move the teeth much faster than clear plastic aligners. People with this option must take extra care of their oral hygiene because the brackets can stain easily.

Another great option is lingual braces. These are invisible from the outside because the brackets and wires are placed inside the teeth. They are much like traditional braces in that they can be uncomfortable at first and require regular adjustments. They might also be a little more difficult than traditional braces. With each of these orthodontic treatments, maintaining good oral hygiene is a must. Brushing at least twice a day along with flossing will ensure that your gums and teeth stay healthy while they shift into place.

No matter which option you prefer, talk to our orthodontists about every treatment available to you. We will assess your smile and match you with the appropriate treatment option. Smile with confidence again and schedule an appointment today. 

Signs of Bruxism

Do you clench or grind your teeth? People who do this may have a condition called bruxism. It could happen consciously or unconsciously when you’re awake or during sleep. The sleep form of this order actually might be considered a sleep-related movement disorder such as snoring or sleep apnea. Mild forms of grinding or clenching your teeth do not necessarily require treatment. However some people can have a severe case of this disorder, which can lead to several issues.

It’s good to be aware of the signs and symptoms of this disorder. Signs and symptoms can be teeth grinding and clenching, teeth that are flattened, fractured, chipped or loose teeth, worn enamel, increased tooth pain or sensitivity, tired or tight jaw muscles, jaw, neck or face pain, dull headache, damage to the inside of your cheek from chewing, and sleep disruption. Talk to our dentists if you have these symptoms or other concerns about your teeth.

There are certain factors that may increase your risk of this disorder such as stress, age, personality type, medications and other substances, family members who clench or grind their teeth, and other disorders. Our experts can determine if you are clenching and grinding your teeth during a routine exam. They may check for tenderness in your jaw muscles, broken or missing teeth, and other damage to your teeth examined with the help of x-rays.

There are certain treatment options available such as splints and mouth guards. These keep a barrier between the teeth by separating them to avoid clenching and grinding. In severe cases when the teeth have been worn down or there is inability to chew, our dentist may need to reshape the surfaces of your teeth or use crowns to repair the damage. In many cases, treatment isn’t necessary. There are many adults who don’t clench or grind their teeth badly enough to require treatment. Kids with this disorder often outgrow it.

There are more natural approaches to treating this disorder such as stress or anxiety management, behavior change and biofeedback, which uses monitoring procedures and equipment to teach you to control muscle activity in your jaw. If you believe you have damaged teeth or sensitivity due to clenching or grinding, talk to our dentist. We can examine your mouth over the course of several visits to see if the disorder is progressive, and determine if treatment is necessary.

What is Crown Lengthening?

When a tooth needs to be fixed from breakage or a crown or filling falls out of a tooth, sometimes there is not enough tooth to fix the problem. However there are procedures that can help. A dental professional can talk to you about crown lengthening. This procedure requires a surgeon to remove gum tissue, bone or both to expose more of the tooth that needs to be fixed.

To replace a filling or crown that has fallen out, a dentist needs to expose more of the tooth. Some patients have a “gummy smile” where they have a lot of gum tissue around their upper teeth. This is where the lengthening procedure can help. Our dentist in Van Nuys can walk you through this process so you can decide if it is appropriate for your smile.

The procedure starts with some preparation. First a patient must visit our periodonist where they will review their medical history and x-rays. A date for the surgery can then be scheduled. It may be recommended to get your teeth cleaned before the surgery can be done. A dentist may put on a temporary crown to protect the tooth during this process. This gives the periodontist an advantage because they will be able to see how much soft tissue or bone needs to be removed.

Once a patient is ready for the procedure, a local anesthesia will be used. The length of time it takes for this surgery depends on the number of teeth that need to be fixed. However, most likely more than one tooth will be affected. It could be as simple as removing a little gum tissue to expose the tooth so the dentist can place a crown filling over it. But in most cases some bone will have to be removed around the roots of the teeth. Once the periodontist has enough tooth to work with, the gums are sanitized and then stitched back together. Not to worry, your dental professional can prescribe pain reliever and mouth rinse once this procedure is done.

A patient will go back to the periodontist 7 to 10 days after the surgery to have the stitches removed. After about 4 to 6 weeks, there will be a follow up visit to make sure the gums have healed nicely. Gums heal in about three months. After this time period the dentist can prepare the tooth for the final crown. 

How Dental Bridges Replace Teeth

All people can relate to the experience of losing teeth as a child. Losing teeth as an adult, however, is abnormal, and opens up to a wide range of possible dental and periodontal risks and complications. If you find yourself missing an adult tooth and are uninterested in dental implants, you will be pleased to know that there is another option available to you if the gap is surrounded by one or more remaining real teeth. Dental bridges are an excellent, natural-looking solution that will last you for years if properly maintained.

An open gap where an adult tooth once was has the potential to exert a sinkhole type of effect on the rest of your mouth – the surrounding teeth, with nothing holding them solidly in place, will all begin to drift toward the empty spot, not only changing the way your smile looks, but in some severe cases actually causing the outward appearance of the face itself to degrade and appear sunken in. Aside from that, many patients report more difficulty chewing, speaking, and swallowing after the loss of the tooth. This is due in part to the fact that a missing tooth redistributes the interplay of forces present on the chewing surface of all the teeth.

A bridge is exactly what it sounds like: using the surrounding teeth as leverage, two caps hold between them a false tooth, also called a pontic, firmly in place where the missing tooth once was. Our dentist will evaluate the area and surrounding tissue, sculpt the teeth to be crowned on either side, and take a physical impression with dental putty. After the crowns and the pontic are designed and put in place, the bridge will be checked against the alignment of your bite, adjusted, and permanently affixed to your jaw. In some cases where there is only one tooth available as the anchoring point, a special type of bridge called a cantilever is used. This exception is usually reserved only for molars, which are less easily jarred during day-to-day activity.

With proper care, a bridge will last for well over a decade. Our dentist in San Francisco will keep a close eye on it and you would need to come back in for regular maintenance appointments.

Benefits of Same Day Dental Treatments

With any type of dental restoration comes a significant amount of commitment, both to the treatment, and to the amount of time it takes to properly administer that treatment. Same-day dentistry seeks to alleviate that burden by wasting very little of the patient’s time and streamlining the process as much as possible.

Whitening, bonding, and all types of professional cleaning can technically be categorized as same-day procedures. With many other types of more complex cosmetic dental treatment comes a significant planning period, usually an interval of time between consultation and operation reserved for a dental lab to take your impressions and turn them into your eventual crown, bridge, veneers, or dental implant. This is to ensure a snug, customized fit for each patient which would be completely impossible if the only option was to pull from one or several pre-determined models. Every mouth is different, and the back and forth does pay off in the long run. In more urgent cases where time is limited, however, that extra time is not always available.

There are many tools at our disposal that can help expedite your treatment. Contemporary scanning technology allows our dentists to learn more about your mouth on the day of your initial appointment than ever before. After gathering the necessary information, specs, and measurements about the tooth or teeth, that information will be used to build a digital model of the restorative fixture to be received by the patient, in some cases without even needing to go through the trouble of taking a physical impression. At that point, it’s simply a matter of feeding that information into a specialized 3D printer where your new implant, veneer, or crown will be created on-site and in under an hour.

With this alternative way of planning and performing the procedure, the patient spends less time in the chair and is exposed to anesthesia and local numbing agents the fewest times possible. It also enables our dentist to make choices that enable them to be as precise as possible, often allowing them to remove much less of the original tooth than would otherwise be acceptable using traditional means of restoration alone.

Most patients assume intuitively that the more time goes into the process, the better the results will turn out. This is not necessarily the case; keeping every step of the process so close to home will ensure that our San Francisco dentist has as much control over the outcome as possible. Eliminating that intermediary step between lab and office not only saves you an extraordinary amount of time, but also minimizes the opportunity for accidental mix-ups between patients and clerical errors.

How to Fight Gum Disease

Taking care of your teeth and gums is a top priority. More than 75 percent of Americans over the age of 35 have some type of gum disease. Gum and periodontal disease describe a bacterial growth and production of factors that eventually destroy the tissue surrounding the teeth. When this happens, the teeth decay and fall out. Simply following good oral hygiene routine everyday can help you avoid tooth decay. It’s important to be mindful of plaque and other factors such as bacteria that can cause the gums and teeth to become unhealthy.

Brushing and flossing the teeth every day can help keep plaque for building up on the teeth and gums. Plaque is a colorless sticky film that can wreak havoc on your mouth causing the gums to become irritated, swell and even bleed. If left untreated, patients can lose their teeth because bone and connective tissue become destroyed. Arming yourself with the knowledge to fight plaque and bacteria will help keep your gums and teeth as healthy as possible.

Gingivitis is also a symptom of this disease. In the early stages of gingivitis, the gums become red and swollen and easily bleed especially during brushing. Left untreated, this can turn into periodontitis. The inner layer of the gum and bone recede and form pockets. These pockets can become infected as they collect debris. Other signs of periodontitis are loose or shifting teeth, changes in the way the teeth fit together on biting and persistent bad breath or bad taste in the mouth. However, these issues along with others, are very preventable.

If you are not consistent with good oral hygiene but you have no symptoms, you may still have some form of gum issue. Some patients have isolated problems in the back of the mouth where they cannot see. Our dentists can recognize and determine the severity of these issues during a routine visit. During an exam, our experts will check for swelling, firmness and bleeding along with movement and sensitivity of the teeth. Your bite may also be looked at in case it has shifted. X-rays can also determine the breakdown of bone around the teeth.

When you brush and floss twice a day and get professional cleanings at our office at least twice a year, your gums and teeth will thank you. You can actually reverse the early stages of this disease by being diligent with your oral health so that you can keep your teeth for a lifetime. Schedule an appointment with us today.

How Dental Bonding Restores Teeth

A slightly damaged tooth might not seem serious enough to make a big difference to your smile, but it can affect your smile’s aesthetics and function. That chip can collect plaque and debris, and because it’s difficult to clean, the tooth will be more likely to decay. A little crack can absorb stains and create an unsightly situation. Dental bonding can prevent these issues and make your smile look new again.

Bonding is a versatile cosmetic and restorative procedure as well as one of the most affordable and minimally invasive treatment options that we offer. To perform bonding, we apply composite resin to the tooth to repair and restore it. The resin is cured in a way that creates a strong chemical bond with the dental enamel.

You might be a candidate for bonding if you have:

·        A chipped tooth

·        A small crack in your tooth

·        A gap between your teeth

·        A small cavity

·        Stains

·        Exposed tooth roots

·        A misshapen tooth

We can finish bonding a tooth in a single dental appointment. Once the bonding is complete, you can get the most out of it by caring for your restored tooth just like you care for your other teeth. Call our East LA dentist today to learn more about restoration options or to schedule an appointment.

Who Needs a Smile Makeover?

When you’re not happy with your smile, that dissatisfaction can affect other areas of your life, too. You might not feel confident enough to engage with new people or speak in public. You might avoid smiling in public or in photos. You might even cover your mouth when you smile, laugh or talk. If this describes you, it might be time to make over your smile.

A smile makeover incorporates a variety of restorative and cosmetic treatments to give you the smile you have always wanted. At your consultation, you will spend time with our Northridge cosmetic dentist explaining what you do and do not like about your smile. We will explain your options and how they can change your smile. Many treatments can be incorporated into a makeover, including whitening, veneers, crowns, tooth-colored fillings and implants.

You might need a makeover if you:

·        Have suffered oral trauma

·        Have had inadequate dental care in the past

·        Grind or clench your teeth

·        Have orthodontic problems or an uneven bite

·        Have serious dental problems, such as chipped, cracked or decayed teeth

·        Have stained or badly discolored teeth

·        Are missing teeth

·        Suffer from acid reflux

Other issues can also lead to the need for a makeover. Call us today to learn more about cosmetic dentistry or to schedule an appointment with our team.

Do I Need a Sleep Study?

Americans are among the most overworked people on earth, and some of the least rested. Insufficient sleep, while a drag on productivity, can also become a health concern. Glucose levels can rise if sleep is frequently interrupted or if stress levels during sleep remain high. And bad glucose readings can result in a diabetes diagnosis you don’t want.

In as many as 18 million Americans, the cause of insufficient sleep is an actual disorder. It’s called obstructive sleep apnea, or OSA. This disorder interrupts sleep with little breathing accidents, called apneas. For many of them, you stop breathing entirely, causing the brain to startle you awake. This can be terrifying, or as commonly as the need to get up to urinate. While getting up to urinate can be a marker of sleep apnea, know that you’re getting up for the wrong reason (urination) and not simply because your airflow was deprived.

Despite an array of risk pools—obesity, being male, being middle-aged, being alcoholic—sleep apnea can be hard to diagnose. The symptoms, at least, are clear and may include any or all of the following: multiple wakeups per night, morning headaches or sore throat, drowsiness or fatigue during the day, reduced concentration, irritability, and lowered libido.

Many physicians prefer to observe sleep patterns up close before their determination. To do this, they may commission a sleep study—either in a clinic, or at home. This process is called polysomnography and is used to diagnose sleep disorders across the board—REM sleep behavior disorder, sleepwalking, insomnia, restless legs syndrome. It’s also very reliable in picking a treatment course for sleep apnea patients.

With the help of your at-home or clinical test, we can put you on the road to recovery, with better sleep and better health. Even if it’s only a lifestyle fix—eating better and/or losing weight—getting a diagnosis is the first step toward managing a subtle and disruptive health issue.

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How Losing Teeth Can Affect Your Memory

Research suggests that tooth loss could be linked to memory loss. This may seem like an odd relationship. However, the science behind this theory says that the memory loss may be because of reduced sensory input to the nervous system through the connective fibers that attach the teeth to the bone. The research also suggests that people who tend to avoid nutrient dense foods; proteins and calories that keep the brain active will also lose teeth.

There are several sensory impulses sent to our brain with the movement of the jaw and teeth. These impulses are fed to the brain in the area that forms and retrieves memories. People who have fewer teeth send fewer signals to this region of the brain called the hippocampus. Individuals were tested on their performance on memory tests where they recall events from the past. According to this study, older people scored higher on this test who had most of their own teeth than those without.

One way the study can be interpreted is through an individual’s chewing ability. Chewing actually increases blood flow to the brain, which in turn increases activity to help with function and recall memories. It is also possible that brain activity changes due to diet. Those who have less teeth or use dentures tend to eat foods that are not as nutrient dense and full of vitamins. This too can affect how the brain works. Nutrient dense foods such as vegetables and fruits promote healthy brain activity, so it’s important to eat them.

It’s important for individuals to maintain proper oral hygiene to maintain optimal health. If tooth loss does occur, dental implants could be an option. These implants function just as natural teeth do. While there is a gradual process to getting these implants, it will be well worth a patient’s time. This could help them avoid issues such as memory loss or a poor diet.

There is no alternative to eating healthy. Patients who receive prosthetic teeth should be encouraged to eat a wide variety of foods. This will ensure that they stay as healthy as possible and avoid any issues associated with tooth decay, tooth loss or even memory loss. If you are missing some teeth, talk to our dentist about the options available to you.  Our dentist will be able to not only improve your smile, but keep your mouth and brain healthier for the long term. 

How is Invisalign Made?

Are you self-conscious about the state of your teeth? Do you wish there were a way to straighten them out without needing to resort to an ugly, clunky set of metal bracket braces? Are you an adult who feels like it’s too late for your smile?

Your worries are about to become a thing of the past; we’ve helped hundreds of adult patients improve their smiles without the use of traditional braces. Invisalign is a clear alignment retainer that works all night and day to straighten your teeth while you’re free to enjoy the foods and activities you loved before starting the program.

How are they made? In recent years, a technological phenomenon called 3D printing seems to have taken the world of material manufacturing by storm, but it’s actually been around since as early as the eighties. Invisalign utilizes this technology to guarantee your retainers will do exactly what your dentist wants them to throughout the course of your treatment plan; our patented material is engineered to be up to two hundred percent more reliable in terms of mapping out those precise movements so crucial to achieving the perfect smile.

Your Invisalign specialist will use an iTero scanner to get a complete image of your mouth. After that, physical impressions will be made to supplement the information gathered by the scan, and then both will be sent to a dental lab where technicians will follow your dentist’s instructions in terms of what needs improvement. They will use both the impressions and the scan in conjuncture with the 3D printing technology to create your own customized Invisalign alignment retainer, ready for you to use.

If you’re just about ready to give up hope when it comes to your teeth, give our office a call. We’ll match you with a highly-trained LAInvisalign doctor who will be able to guide you along the path of success.

Recognizing TMJ Disorders

The TMJ or temporomandibular joint is one of the most complicated joints in the body because it uses dual action movement such as sliding and pivoting to open the mouth wide. The cartilage discs (between the condyle and the maxilla) act as a cushion to make the movement smooth and protect the working parts. Sometimes the cartilage discs begin to wear out and shift out of place. This is called a TMJ disorder.

Repetitive movements of the jaw such as chewing and biting on hard foods, or bending the head cause TMJ disorders. However, this is not necessarily the sole cause. Patients that are more susceptible to TMJ should take extra caution when eating certain foods to avoid this condition. The cartilage discs mentioned above can pop in and out of place as the jaw closes. When the cartilage is worn down, the nerves become more sensitive to pain. Pain from TMJ disorders can be mild or extreme.

Patients can consult with our dentist if they believe they have TMJ disorder symptoms. Some of the symptoms include pain when opening the mouth; a popping noise when opening the mouth to the point of over-extension and any type of pain the patient might feel in the face or ears (headaches or earaches). This can be an indicator of a TMJ inflammation. The TMJ is used when speaking or eating. If the patient feels pain doing these actions, this may be a sign that they may have a TMJ disorder.

Pain relief is possible for people with TMJ disorder symptoms. Home remedies can make a huge difference. We can also recommend anti-inflammatory medication. For quicker relief, patients can opt for over-the-counter medication. This will ease discomfort by reducing inflammation and swelling of the joints. In addition to this, patients with TMJ symptoms should chew softer foods and smaller sized portions to reduce the stress placed on the temporomandibular joint. In additional to pain relievers, patients can apply a warm compress to the area three to five times a day for 20 minutes. This will help the cartilage discs between the condyle and maxilla slide more easily.

              

It is important to get a consultation from a professional to properly diagnose TMJ disorders. TMJ symptoms can sometimes be confused with other disorders associated with fibromyalgia, Ernest Syndrome, Temporal Tendinitis and Osteonecrosis to name a few. Treatment for TMJ disorders could include mild to more involved surgeries. 

How Braces Work

If you have crooked teeth or a misaligned bite, there are a variety of options to help straighten your teeth including braces and retainers. Schedule an appointment with our dentist to talk about the options available to you. Depending on the severity of your orthodontic issue will depend on the treatments used.

If you opt for traditional straightening, your orthodontist can prescribe an appliance specific to your needs. Traditional braces involve brackets that are cemented to the tops of every tooth and connected by wires. The teeth slowly move into the correct position over time. This treatment can take anywhere from 6 months to a couple years to complete depending on your needs.

As the teeth move into place, the bone changes shape as pressure is applied. The brackets are like handles holding the arch wires that move the teeth into the correct position. You will visit your dental professional monthly to get these brackets and wires tightened as the teeth move and shift. Some of the adjustments might cause soreness in the mouth, however over-the-counter pain relievers like Tylenol can help relieve the pain.

There are several types of braces including stainless steel, tooth-colored ceramic or even plastic aligners. The plastic aligner option is very popular because they are almost invisible and removable. However, this option is not meant for everyone. Treatments are also available to both children and adults. The main differences between these treatments are that certain corrections in adults may require more than just braces alone.

In addition to brackets and wires, elastics or rubber bands can be used between the upper and lower teeth. They apply pressure to move the upper teeth against the lower teeth to make sure the bite is properly aligned. Headgear is also an additional gadget used to move the upper molars back in the mouth. Not everyone will need headgear however. This will depend on the severity of your orthodontic needs.

There’s also a new option called “mini-braces” which are much smaller than traditional ones and may be an option for certain people. Discuss all these options with your dental professional so you can achieve the best smile possible. No matter which option you choose, the treatment is progressive and will take some time for the teeth to shift into the right place. Rest assure that you will end up with a beautiful smile that will last a lifetime. 

When Do You Need Tooth Whitening?

“Are you insecure about your yellowing teeth? It may comfort you to know that you are not alone – teeth whitening is the #1 most-requested cosmetic service in the United States, and the number of procedures done every year continues to climb. Most assume it’s costly and invasive, but oftentimes this is not the case. To understand what is best for your own particular case, it’s good to take a look at the facts first.

Discoloration of the teeth is a natural and inevitable part of the aging process, no matter how meticulously one works to prevent it.  One misconception is the idea that it is always the outer enamel that darkens, when in reality it could also be the inner core of the tooth called the dentin.  This gives us two potential problems to diagnose: the state of the inside, and the state of the outside. Therefore, there are two types of treatment options available to somebody looking to improve the appearance of their smile: intrinsic for the dentin, and extrinsic for the enamel.

Your approach and plan of attack will depend heavily on the nature of the original issue. Superficial enamel stains from things like coffee and wine are easily solved with the use of whitening and polishing toothpaste. Discoloration of the inner tooth will require the use of a bleaching agent to rectify.

Whitening your teeth doesn’t have to break the bank or exhaust all your patience. If you notice your teeth are discolored, talk to a professional; they’ll be able to tell you whether the stains are on the surface or deeper inside. If you’re unsure, give us a call; our office is home to some of the best teeth whitening dentists in the Los Angeles area.”

Can I Get Dental Implants?

Before dental implants, most restorations were either dentures or bridges. These had the drawbacks of feeling and sometimes looking too artificial. There was no real way to seamlessly put teeth back in the jaw. The advent of implants did not make dentures and bridges obsolete, since there are plenty of cases where they apply. But implants did make it easier to replace teeth with style and naturalism. 

The implant process is driven by the chief element in the implant itself: titanium. Its high compatibility with human bone gives the implant its permanence. A biomechanical process called osseointegration bonds the implant with the bone, and gives the implant its 98 percent success rate. Only rare occurrences like allergy cause the implant to reject.

But how do you know if you can get dental implants? They’re not for everyone, simply because it’s a surgical procedure that needs a strong surgical site. For implants, this means lots of quality jawbone. Plenty of people have bone erosion from tooth loss, tooth decay, periodontal disease, trauma, illness, or genetics. If your jaw doesn’t have enough volume, you may not qualify for dental implants.

There are procedures to ready you for implants. You may qualify for a sinus lift, for example, or a bone graft. At your consult, ask your dental implants expert in Huntington Beach for more about these.

Once you get dental implants, as long as you care for them with normal brushing and flossing techniques, they should last a lifetime. Implants provide the same look and feel as the natural teeth they replace.

You can get a single implant for a single loss, or multiple implants for multiple losses. In some cases, implants are combined with dentures or bridges to simplify treatment. Implants make the plate or bridge more secure and improve the visual element.

Contact our Huntington Beach dentist today.

Advantages of Orthodontic Treatment

Braces are not a vanity project. Even ceramic braces or Invisalign products are not just about better smiles. Mouth structures require a delicate balance, and falling out of it can disrupt eating and speaking. Poor habits that begin in childhood, not to mention genetic flaws that are nobody’s fault, can lead to all kinds of bite issues that need addressing. 

The dental term for bad bite is malocclusion. These include the following: 

Crossbite—one or more upper teeth bite inside the lower teeth toward the tongue
Overbite—lower teeth reach the tissue of the upper teeth
Underbite—lower jaw is longer than the upper jaw
Specific to children, other issues can include protrusion of the upper incisors brought about by thumbsucking, and adult teeth erupting out of position. 

The sooner these issues are treated, the more trouble you and your Northridge dentist can dodge. Braces are still a very relevant product, especially since upgrades have improved them visually. Braces pull the teeth into proper alignment using brackets and archwires or, in the case of self-ligating braces, metal clips. Braces handle deeper orthodontic issues as well, and can manipulate a problematic jaw. 

Invisalign straightens teeth with clear plastic aligners that keep your treatment virtually invisible to the public. Invisalign may not get the necessary results for severe cases of malocclusion. That data is still out. However, it remains a recommended treatment for a smile without significant structural defects. 

In any orthodontic scenario, there is a chance of relapse. Teeth can loosen and bone can erode. Teeth can be lost, and the nearby teeth encroach on vacancies. Maybe the last advantage of orthodontics is their continued application throughout life, even for the very old. As lifespans expand, older patients are coming in for orthodontic work. Retreatment may be even more necessary for patients who don’t use their retainer as described, even if it’s thirty years down the line. 

For more, contact our expert in orthodontics in Northridge.

Importance of Invisalign Retainer

Getting braces off or completing Invisalign treatment is exciting. Active orthodontic treatment requires a lot of checkups, scrupulous dental hygiene and occasional discomfort. While you might be ready to show off your new smile free of any appliances, you might be surprised to find out that there is another phase of treatment. Most patients will need to wear a retainer to keep their teeth in the new position. 

Our Orange County cosmetic dentist can explain how often and how long you will need to wear your retainer. During orthodontic treatment, your bone tissue remodels to make way for the roots of the teeth as they move. It takes time for new bone tissue to grow around the roots, and the retainer helps keep your teeth where they need to be while this happens. If you fail to wear your Invisalign retainer, your teeth could shift back to their original positions, a problem called orthodontic relapse. The risk of relapse is highest right after treatment but can continue for months until the position of your teeth has stabilized.

Invisalign retainer looks and feels much like your Invisalign aligners, but it will not put pressure on your teeth. It will simply hold them in their proper position. You might need to wear it all the time at first, but most people will be able to decrease their wear time to nighttime only or less frequently as time passes.

How Does Invisalign Teen Work?

There are plenty of stigmas when it comes to teens and their braces. So many fear the discomfort and aesthetically displeasing appearance accompanied with braces. They not only affect what teens can eat, but what they’re daily habits are. That’s why Invisalign Teen has really come to prominence.

The invisible, plastic aligners can transform misshapen or unbecoming teeth to something quite astounding. Thankfully, teens now have easier access to an Invisalign provider in LA. Often, these perform much better when it comes to rudimentary or simpler orthodontic issues. The gradual shift instigated by the aligners can lead to a more confident grin. The practical advantages, including the doing-away with self-conscious feelings, make Invisalign an incredible solution.

Reshaping a teen’s smile can change what they think about themselves and how they see themselves. Invisalign teen is effectively treating crooked teeth, overcrowding, over and under bites, as well as gaps between the teeth. They work by simply popping the plastic aligner into the mouth and ensuring they’re anchored over the teeth. They are replaced frequently to guarantee that the mouth is continually reshaped. This change only comes from determination, however. A teen must wear Invisalign for at least 22-hours a day. Only through personal effort can a person resolve their dental issues.

Less Risk with Lumineers

Getting a brand new Hollywood smile is easier than you may think. However, many patients would rather not risk losing enamel to achieve their dream look. Unlike veneers, which require a dental professional to shave down natural enamel, lumineers are applied without preparation work. 

A lumineer is a thin porcelain shell that is cemented to the front of the tooth to give it a bright, beautiful appearance. Lumineers are much thinner than standard veneers, which is why they require less preparation. When you go in for lumineers, our Los Angeles Lumineers expert will measure for custom lumineers that will fit your smile perfectly. Although lumineers may stick out slightly compared to veneers, your natural teeth will not be altered. Therefore, there will be a quicker turn around to apply your lumineers.
 
To care for your teeth, it is incredibly important to target your gumline. Floss diligently and devote to brushing twice daily. Many patients with lumineers feel it is worth it to have their smiles polished every few months. These actions, along with attending regularly scheduled dental exams, will provide you with long lasting results. Call our office today to find out whether lumineers are a suitable option for you and how to set up a consultation.

Brushing ceramic braces

If your child is considering getting ceramic braces, they may be curious about the daily routine involved. For starters, ceramic braces are very similar to standard metal braces, beyond the fact that they are not nearly as visible. 

Ceramic braces are made up of clear or tooth-colored brackets that keep the archwire in place. Contrary to the belief of some patients, ceramic braces do not stain easily. In fact, the only materials that are particularly prone to staining are the clear rubber ligatures used. For certain self-ligating braces, rubber bands may not be necessary. In order to keep your rubber bands stain-free, you will want to brush after meals and enjoy beverages known to stain through a straw. 

When you care for your ceramic braces, be sure to brush at least twice daily with a soft-bristled toothbrush. Colorless mouthwash is also a great idea to address hard to reach areas. As always with braces, it is paramount to floss regularly and make sure there are no food particles resting in between brackets. Ceramic brackets are quite durable and will stay in place as long as you avoid certain problem foods, such as hard candy and caramel. If you are diligent about taking care of your ceramic braces, you will achieve beautiful results.

Contact our orthodontist in Los Angeles to set up your consultation.

Relief For TMJ Pain

It can be incredibly bothersome dealing with the ratcheting, clacking, and popping of one’s jaw. Even worse is when pain or discomfort accompanies it. If any individual experiences clicking or aches in the jaw or mouth area, then more often than not they have TMJ. A temporomandibular joint disorder, also known as TMJ, can arise when the joint, which acts like a sliding hinge connecting your jawbone to your skull, is injured or damaged. The causes can vary, from misalignment of the teeth, injury, arthritis, stress, and the grinding of teeth. What can’t be overlooked are the health risks that this disorder imposes. 

Finding relief is of the utmost importance. Any good TMJ dentist will verify that. Older age groups are usually far more affected by this disorder, but it can occur in anyone, at any time. Finding relief for TMJ comes in several different forms. Visiting a dentist may be the most immediate and effective way. Prosthodontics, mouth guards, and splints can also help in relieving that pain. Physical therapy can bring a lot of relief, as it will strengthen and give more pliability to the mouth. Even something as simple as relaxation exercises can change how people deal with stress, and thus reduce the tension they carry in their jaw.

Explaining Invisalign Express

Invisalign uses thermoplastic technology to straighten teeth in near-invisibility. The program contrasts with traditional braces both in visuals and in patient comfort. Invisalign requires no brackets or archwires, and doesn’t interfere with your diet. 

Invisalign and braces often line up in terms of treatment length. However, a spinoff product called Invisalign Express can treat patients faster. While basic Invisalign requires 20 to 30 aligners, Invisalign Express requires 10 or fewer. The only requirement is a less severe case.  

Here are some numbers that explain Invisalign Express qualifications:  

Patient must have no more than 2mm of spacing or crowding per arch 

Patient must need no more than 1.5mm of dental expansion per arch 

Patient must need no more than 2mm of midline correction 

These technical terms are best visualized by taking any number of online smile assessment tests. If you questions about your Invisalign Express candidacy, just ask your Beverly Hills Invisalign doctor. 

Invisalign Express is extremely effective for adult patients who may have had orthodontic work as teens, but have experienced dental relapse. It’s very common for teeth to lag toward their old positions, especially if you don’t wear your retainer as directed. 

Call our office today.