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- A misalignment such as an overbite or underbite, in which the top front teeth sit behind or in front of the lower front teeth when the jaws come together
- A lateral misalignment that prevents the teeth’s chewing surfaces from making normal contact
- Teeth that crowd together and make dental hygiene difficult
- Unsightly gaps between teeth
- Crooked teeth
- Temporomandibular joint disorder (TMJ), with joint strain and jaw pain related to a bite misalignment
- Genetics, where you are simply born with a jaw that is too small for all your teeth.
- Early tooth loss, where your baby teeth fall out earlier than usual, causing irregular spacing.
- Large or irregular shape teeth, where your teeth don’t quite fit together perfectly because of their size or shape.
- Extra adult teeth, where you naturally grow more teeth, which causes spacing issues in your jaw.
- Braces, which help align teeth for aesthetic as well as functional reasons (improving your bite, for example).
- Veneers, which can correct spacing issues where you have, for example, a particularly small tooth causing others to shift out of place.
- Invisalign, which are an alternative to braces that can’t really be seen but works in similar ways.
- Dentofacial orthopedics, which is a clever way of saying that your jaw bone can be realigned to correct spacing issues in teeth.
- Unsightly smile
- Damage to the teeth
- Greater difficulty in keeping the teeth clean
- Compromised chewing function
- Increased risk of injury to the soft oral tissues
Invisalign: Everything You Need to Know
May 2, 2022
Clear aligners are a great alternative option to getting braces if you want a straighter smile. They can provide the necessary adjustments without having to actually commit to braces.
Keep reading to learn everything you need to know about Invisalign, a clear aligner system that is a great option for correcting and straightening your teeth.
What is Invisalign?
Invisalign is a brand of clear teeth aligners that are transparent and are made specifically to fit your teeth. They are an alternative to braces, giving you a much less noticeable (and more comfortable) teeth-straightening option.
Invisalign typically takes 12 to 18 months to correct your teeth, which is also much faster than braces.
Who needs Invisalign?
Invisalign is perfect for most people looking to correct their teeth to get a straighter smile. These are the perfect alternative to braces as they are less noticeable and are usually a more convenient fit for your lifestyle.
The aligners are removable, so you don’t have to worry about committing to having something attached to your teeth. Invisalign is also perfect for adults who don’t want to get braces.
Key Facts About Invisalign.
Before you make the decision to get Invisalign, you will want to be aware of a few things. A few important facts stand out:
You Wear Them (Almost) Constantly
Invisalign is a teeth-correction method that needs to be worn consistently for an average of 22 hours a day.
You will need to wear these constantly, only taking them out to clean your teeth or to eat. This is a big commitment, so you will need to be prepared to maintain consistency.
You Cannot Eat or Drink With Them
One important fact about Invisalign is that you cannot eat or drink with them in your mouth. You can drink cold water, but other than that, nothing should go in your mouth.
Hot foods or drinks can distort their shape, and chewing with them can affect their quality quickly.
Some Adjustments May Need to be Made
If your teeth are very crooked or one of them is slightly too big, your dentist may need to file it down. This is painless, though it can come as a shock to some patients.
Invisalign is generally made to fit your teeth, but some adjustments may need to be made for a better fit. Your dentist should discuss this with you beforehand.
Conclusion
If you are thinking of getting Invisalign, make sure you take the above facts into consideration. Invisalign aligners are a great alternative option to braces if you want a straighter smile.
If you have any other concerns or questions, your dentist should be able to help.
3 Questions to Ask the Orthodontist Before Getting Braces
March 7, 2022
If you are considering getting braces, there are a few questions that you should first ask your orthodontist. These questions will help you to decide what’s best for you so that you can feel confident getting braces.
This is a big decision, and it’s something you don’t want to jump into before understanding a few things about what it is like to have braces. You will want to make sure you thoroughly discuss the topic with your orthodontist beforehand. Here are 3 questions to ask:
1. What are the Benefits of Getting Braces?
It is important that you fully understand what the benefit of having braces will be for you. Is it to align your teeth, to correct an overbite, or for some other similar issue?
You will want to make sure that your orthodontist fully explains what braces will do for you before making a decision.
It is also important to remember that braces are not just there to give you a straighter smile. They can also help correct jaw issues, make eating easier, and improve your dental hygiene.
2. What are the Lifestyle Changes of Getting Braces?
It is also important that you discuss the lifestyle changes associated with getting braces. You want to be prepared for the changes that you will have to make.
For example, you should ask your orthodontist about how to keep your teeth clean, how to eat, and what you can eat. You also need to understand what kinds of food you may have to avoid.
If you are prepared for the changes you need to make, your treatment will be much more successful. At Fleming Orthodontics, we will make sure you are fully informed.
3. How Long Will You Need to Have Braces?
You will also need to ask your orthodontist just how long you will need to wear your braces. This is important as everyone is different, and you may need to have them for a longer or shorter amount of time than someone else. You don’t want to be surprised by the time it will take after you’ve already committed to the decision.
Serious corrections will take much longer than small issues. Your orthodontist will be able to tell you the severity of your problem and how that affects the length of your treatment plan.
Conclusion
If you are thinking about getting braces, there are a few questions that you should ask your orthodontist before making a decision. This is a big step, and you don’t want to jump into it until you have all the facts. At Fleming Orthodontics, we’re happy to answer all of your questions so you can make the right decision for your life!
Image: Unsplash
Do You Need Braces? Advice From Our Richardson Orthodontist
January 6, 2022
People develop a possible need for braces at different stages of life and for different reasons. In your case, perhaps a longstanding dental alignment error has started to affect your bite, or perhaps you see signs that your child might require braces at some point. The sooner you can recognize this potential need the more effectively our Richardson orthodontist, Dr. Fleming, can tame those errant teeth.Why Do People Wear Braces?
Signs That You or Your Child May Need Braces
Getting Confirmation From the Orthodontist
Content found on this blog is intended for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional judgement, advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please speak with a professional if you have concerns about your oral health.
Do you need an orthodontist for crowded teeth?
November 8, 2021
‘Crowded teeth’ is another way of saying that your teeth overlap or are otherwise too close together, which might mean you have problems with your bite or you get pain in your mouth or jaw. This is a common problem for patients of all ages, but the good news is that there are several crowded teeth solutions that can help you, and Orthodontia for crowded teeth is just one of them. In this post, we introduce how an orthodontist can help you with crowded teeth.
What causes tooth crowding?
Crowded teeth is a common condition, and it affects people for several reasons. The most common reasons are:
How do you fix crowded teeth?
It’s next to impossible to fix crowded teeth at home. Instead, you need to get the support of a dentist. Orthodontists are dental specialists who treat irregularities in the teeth/mouth and are experts in issues related to crowded teeth.
Typical treatments for crowded teeth include:
Where to get more help with crowded teeth
Looking for an orthodontist in Garland? Look no further than Fleming Orthodontics. We are a friendly and trusted provider of common treatments for crowded teeth and other irregular tooth conditions and will be happy to advise you on the process of restoring your smile.
Content found on this blog is intended for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
Are clear braces an option for adults?
September 8, 2021
Clear braces – particularly Invisalign – make a great treatment option for adults looking to straighten their smiles. Invisalign is an effective alternative to traditional metal and wire braces. Our orthodontist offers Invisalign because patients enjoy its discreet appearance, added convenience, and unparalleled comfort.
How Invisalign Works
Invisalign is a type of clear braces. Instead of utilizing fixed orthodontia, Invisalign improves the positioning of teeth through translucent, plastic appliances called “aligners”. These aligners fit over teeth like a retainer. Similar to braces, aligners apply consistent pressure, which generates tooth movement over time.
Every two weeks, patients will switch to a new set of aligners. Each successive set is tighter than the one before. By the end of treatment, patients will see noticeable improvements in the positions of their teeth such as gaps closing and crooked teeth appearing upright. Invisalign can also improve a patient’s bite.
Benefits of Invisalign
Invisalign treatment offers distinct advantages. The most noticeable benefit is that clear braces are much less conspicuous than metal and wire ones. This makes navigating one’s professional and personal life less distracting.
Other helpful advantages to choosing Invisalign include increased comfort and improved oral function. Aligners are smooth and therefore will not irritate the linings of lips and cheeks the way that conventional braces do. Invisalign is also removable. This makes eating meals and performing oral hygiene easy and efficient.
When compared to traditional orthodontia, Invisalign requires less visits to our orthodontist. Invisalign doesn’t require adjustments like metal and wire braces do. For busy professionals, making it to dental appointments can be difficult so having fewer appointments is appealing to many adults.
How to Find Out if Clear Braces Meet Your Needs
Determining if Invisalign meets your needs involves an orthodontic consultation. If you desire a straighter, healthier smile, we invite you to schedule a visit with our orthodontist. During your visit, we can help you select the treatment method that suits your unique circumstances.
Call Fleming Orthodontics today to reserve your appointment.
Do I really need to wear my retainer after orthodontic treatment?
July 12, 2021
The thrill of getting your braces off after a course of orthodontic treatment is cause for celebration, but it doesn’t mean that your treatment is over. The next stage of treatment is wearing a retainer so that your teeth won’t shift back to their previous positions.
It is just as important to follow through with this phase of treatment as it is for you to see your orthodontist as directed during so-called active treatment, as there is a significant risk of relapse if you don’t wear your retainer.
Purpose Of An Orthodontic Retainer
Although orthodontic treatment does successfully reposition your teeth, those results can easily be undone if the teeth begin to shift back to their original positions. Wearing your retainer reinforces the new positioning of the teeth and prevents potential relapse.
Your orthodontist will give you specific instructions of how to wear your retainer. Typically, patients are directed to wear their retainers all day for a period of time. Eventually, you will be given the go-ahead to only wear your retainer while you sleep.
Because the risk of relapse is present for at least several years after your braces come off, you should plan to wear your retainer as directed for at least that amount of time.
Consequences Of Not Wearing A Retainer
When patients don’t wear their retainers as directed after orthodontic treatment and experience a relapse, significant consequences result. This can cause all of the same problems as the original misalignment did, such as:
Ultimately, if you don’t wear your retainer, you may eventually need to go through another round of wearing braces, which will require an additional investment of your time and energy. Furthermore, insurance is unlikely to cover a second round of braces.
If you anticipate any obstacles to wearing your retainer as directed, work with your orthodontist to develop a plan to overcome those obstacles. It is truly essential to the long-term success of your treatment.
For more information or to schedule a consultation, contact Fleming Orthodontics today.