Cleaner Mouth = Better Braces!

Posted by drgracesun on October 30, 2009 under Beautiful Smile, Healthy Smile, Hygiene, Orthodontics | Be the First to Comment

In a recent study released by the Oral Health Journal, a systematic evaluation of patient oral hygiene for orthodontic patients has revealed stunning information that links poor patient oral hygiene with impacted orthodontic treatment quality and treatment times.

When a person seeks out orthodontic treatment to fix a problem (crooked teeth, a misaligned bite, etc…), he or she must realize that the bone is actually being remodeled. Orthodontic treatment rearrange teeth into a proper alignment, which pressure transfer to the roots of the teeth within the jawbone. Bone is actually lost and added during this process as the teeth are repositioned to their proper places as reaching the treatment goal.

Poor oral hygiene will influence  your tooth and gum structures negatively.  The progress of orthodontic treatment consist of inflammatory  and regenerative responses. A  mouth with plaque and tartar build-up will trigger the body’s inflammatory response, amplifying the already inflamed structures associated with orthodontic treatment and can lead to a prolonged inflammatory stage and a delayed regenerative phase within orthodontic treatment. Poor oral hygiene during orthodontic treatment can and will have a damaging affect on your treatment goals as well. Reports have shown that “poor oral hygiene can increase treatment times from 1.2 to 2.2 months – other consequences of poor oral hygiene during orthodontic treatment affect the quality of the end result of treatment.” Whereas standard orthodontic treatment (in a clean mouth) leads to the balanced loss and gain of bone, poor oral hygiene restricts the ability of new bone to grow, affecting the treatment results.

Orthodontic treatment seeks to improve a patient’s oral health, but what every patient must remember is that a treatment plan can only be fully realized if both the doctor and the patient are making concerted efforts to correct a problem and stick with a course of action. A patient’s oral health cannot improve without patient compliance. If a patient sees his or her orthodontic specialist (or physician or dentist) on a regular basis but does not fulfill his or her duties to maintain a clean and healthy oral environment, no improvement will ever be seen. A doctor and a patient must work together to obtain a successful result.

Remember that your dental professional may be a miracle worker, but that does not retract your obligation to maintain proper oral hygiene (or any other instructed daily routines)! Any orthodontic treatment plan is a dual-sided plan that requires dedication from both the physician and the patient. Without proper compliance from the patient, prolonged treatment time and reduced oral improvement will result.

“Am I Too Old for Braces? “

Posted by drgracesun on January 29, 2009 under Beautiful Smile | 2 Comments to Read

If you’re older than 95, then maybe!

The mechanism of the movement is the result of remodeling of the bone that houses the teeth, the pressure on the side bone will disappear (the tension side), and new bone will deposit so the teeth can be guided to the ideal position. As long as you are healthy, there is no age limit! The most common age to receive braces is 9-12. Braces can be very effective to guide the jaws to reach one’s full potential development during the growth spurt period. If a child is diagnosed with teeth and jaw alignment problems at a younger age, an orthodontic appliance can be worn to correct and aid the development of the jaw. If you missed out on braces as a teenager – or you used to wear braces previously – and you now want to do something to improve your smile or dental health (because you teeth are crooked or gaped), discuss all available options to you with your dentist or orthodontist.

Orthodontic treatment can proceed with fixed braces which can be clear (less noticeable); you can also wear a removable appliance to straighten your teeth – friendly for an adult lifestyle! There are several options depending on your own unique situation and the training background of your dentist. The popular wireless Invisalign system often works well to correct crooked teeth, and most people never notice you are wearing an appliance!

Of all the orthodontic treatment recipients in my office, 95% are adults (average age is 35). The oldest patient I have orthodontically treated was 83! Treatment periods vary from three months to two years, with an average duration of 9 months. 60% of patients choose to receive clear braces for specific bite correction, 30% choose Invisalign for correction of crooked teeth and the convenience of not having to come in and see me very often! The remaining 10% choose alternative treatment methods.

Of course, cosmetic procedures like porcelain veneers or bonding can be the answer to your desire of that million dollar smile, as long as the teeth which are the foundation for your cosmetic restoration are reasonably positioned and in reasonably healthy condition. This type of procedure provides instant gratification. One big caution however to this treatment method worth taking is before the alteration treatment starts, imagine you are an architect. Can you build the design of your tooth without blue prints? Proper diagnosis , treatment planning, and / or wax-up and mock-up modeling are all extremely important things to be taken care of right by a trusted dental physician. If you’d like to know more about these terms, visit my YouTube channel for procedural videos, educational material and more.

Dental braces, a common orthodontic appliance used to straighten and properly align a person’s teeth to a person’s bite,  have been used for nearly a century.Whether your teeth are only slightly off-center or are quite crooked, whether you are age 6 or 106, dramatic transformations in your outward appearance can be achieved at any age through teeth straightening! Dont’ be afraid!