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Using Invisalign To Change Your Smile

March 6, 2023

Does your smile feel less than attractive due to the way your teeth are spaced? Problems with poor alignment can be embarrassing, but many people are also made uncomfortable at the thought of using braces to fix this issue. What you can find is that a discreet alternative can give you the changes that you hope to show off. Our Richardson, TX orthodontic treatment office has helped many people take on problems with their dental alignment. By offering help with Invisalign aligners, we can make your procedure easier to fit into your life, as your appliances will be difficult to see and easy for you to remove on your own! (more…)

Learn What To Expect From Your Braces

February 6, 2023

You may know what you want from orthodontic treatment, but do you know what approaches to care are available to you? At our Richardson, TX orthodontic practice, we can actually recommend different solutions for problems with uneven smiles. Traditional braces and braces with brackets made with tooth-colored ceramic are both available. You can also learn about the option to wear clear aligners to make desired changes. We can help you understand which approach might be right based on what you need from care and from your concerns about your daily experience with your appliance. (more…)

What to Expect from An Orthodontic Consultation

January 2, 2023

Straight teeth and a great functional bite mean much more than a brilliant smile. Misalignment of teeth can cause crossbites, over and under-bites, and jaw disorders. Over time these problems cause worsening pain and discomfort and make eating and speaking difficult. Orthodontics can resolve these issues, though the earlier you see a specialist dentist, the better. Here’s what to expect from an orthodontic consultation.

What Happens at an Orthodontic Consultation?

Your family dentist may refer you to an orthodontist, or you may decide to set up an appointment yourself. On your first visit, every tooth and its alignment should be scrutinized. The aim is to identify the best corrective treatment for any disorders.

Attention will be paid to your bite, with an overbite, underbite, or crossbite. In addition, you’ll be asked about difficulties in biting and chewing food and whether you hear clicking noises in your jaw when eating.

X-rays will be necessary to see the overall structure of your teeth and bite and determine the causes of why teeth need straightening. Molds of your dental structure may be made at this time or scheduled later.

Agreeing Upon Treatment

When your orthodontist has all the data on your teeth, it’s time for a treatment plan. While care options will be put forward, these are up for discussion. You shouldn’t hesitate to probe every little detail about each care option to make an informed decision.

So, for example, while standard braces may straighten your teeth reasonably quickly, you may opt for Invisalign aligners instead. While Invisalign is usually a slower method for straightening, they are more convenient and comfortable. This may matter more to you than a quicker result.

Ongoing Appointments

When the treatment plan is agreed upon, your orthodontist professional will order braces or aligners and confirm a date for the next orthodontic consultation. If you’re getting standard braces, they can take up to two hours to be fitted. Invisalign appointments are shorter but can take up to an hour. After your braces or aligners are fitted, regular appointments are scheduled to monitor progress and make any necessary adjustments.

Are You Ready for Better Teeth?

If it’s time for you to fix bite problems or straighten up your smile, Fleming Orthodontics offers the best in professional expert care. Get in touch to discuss treatment options and begin restoring your bite and smile.

3 Unexpected Reasons Why Orthodontic Treatments Are Worth the Investment

December 5, 2022

Orthodontic treatments have long-term benefits and various advantages. Obviously, you can expect to straighten crooked teeth and perfect your smile. From small gaps to major overbites, orthodontics are THE solution for teeth straightening. But there are other perks to exploring orthodontics. Today, we’ll share three additional advantages to consider, making braces, aligners, and retainers all well worth the investment. Number two might surprise you!

1. Halts Cavities and Teeth Decay

If you have overlapping teeth, you have tight crevices that are harder to reach when you brush. Those nooks and crannies associated with your misaligned teeth increase your risk of tartar build-up, cavities, and even tooth decay. So when you explore orthodontic treatments and straighten your teeth, you essentially make them easier to keep clean and healthy.

2. Reduce Other Health Risks with Orthodontic Treatments

Misaligned teeth for some patients cause them to poorly chew their food. If you’re worried about biting down or can’t align your molars properly to masticate your meals, you could be opening yourself up for digestive problems. Additionally, straining to chew on one side or to clench unnaturally can result in jaw strains, leading to TMJ. And with a neglected area of tartar build-up along hard-to-reach places, you could be putting yourself at risk of infections capable of traveling throughout your bloodstream. Aligning your teeth with orthodontics treatments can be a sound investment in your overall health and well-being.

3. Corrects Speech Concerns

When your teeth aren’t properly aligned, it could impact your speech. Particularly a concern for children, braces, and orthodontics can help reposition the bite and straighten the teeth, allowing for proper speech. But even adults can enjoy normal and easy speaking again when their teeth are straightened. If speech is a concern for you or your kids, start exploring how orthodontics can help!

Invest in Orthodontic Treatments Today!

Yes, exploring orthodontics treatments will allow you to straighten your teeth, realign your bite, and boost your self-confidence in a big way. But consider these other, less obvious reasons to invest in orthodontics for yourself or your children. It’s more than just a cosmetic solution to what you might consider to be an imperfect smile. It’s an investment with added health benefits worth considering.

So if you have any dental issues that braces or other orthodontics treatments can fix, contact Patricia Fleming from Fleming Orthodontics today at (972) 530-6703! You can also fill out this form so we can contact you to schedule your visit.

3 Tips for Keeping Teeth Clean with Orthodontics

November 7, 2022

If you’ve recently had braces fitted, there are many things to learn about keeping your teeth clean with the newly-mounted orthodontics. While the braces work to correct teeth alignment, it’s important that you learn new ways to keep your teeth clean and healthy.

Braces, with all the grooves and tiny spaces, can trap food particles and cause plaque build-up. Today, we’ll share the teeth cleaning tips and tricks you need to know to ensure your braces can do their job and your teeth remain healthy and strong during the straightening process.

1. Brush After All Your Meals

The wires on your braces are prone to catching food particles. So if you do not brush immediately after meals, this debris might lead to plaque. In addition to food particles, acidic foods and drinks can contribute to plaque and bacteria build-up, including:

Orange or Other Fruit Juices
Pineapples and Other Fruits
Sodas or Carbonated Drinks
Tomatoes and Other Vegetables

2. Get Yourself a Braces-Friendly Toothbrushes

There are specialized toothbrushes designed to keep your enamel clean and effectively brush your teeth with mounted orthodontics. These brushes come with specific features that help brush the teeth without damaging the braces.

So when buying a specialized toothbrush post-braces, make sure that they are:

Soft-bristled that are flexible
Round-headed
Narrow-necked
With flexible handle

These orthodontics toothbrushes are super-effective against plaque and food particles within your braces. And since they are smaller than regular toothbrushes, they can reach the hard-to-reach places around your braces. Check out both manual and electric toothbrushes for the best results.

3. No More than a Drop of Toothpaste

No need to lather your toothbrush with paste to keep teeth clean with orthodontics. All you need is a coin-size amount so it does not create too much foam. Always wet your brush and dab it around your teeth instead of brushing or scrubbing.

The goal is to properly clean your teeth and eliminate any food particles without applying too much pressure to your hardware. So if you scrub, it can make the wires and braces feel uncomfortable. Ask your dentist today about the best toothbrushing techniques for your dental hygiene.

Ask Our Team How to Keep Teeth Clean with Orthodontics

In conclusion, there are some changes in dental hygiene habits post-braces. So if you want to keep your teeth clean with orthodontics, consider these three crucial tips! Contact Dr. Patricia Fleming at (972) 530-6703 for more information on orthodontics and dental specialty.

Adult Braces: 3 Things to Consider

September 5, 2022

If you have to wear or are considering adult braces, there are a few things you should know. Wearing braces as an adult can be a bit challenging from the experience of wearing them as a child. Keep this in mind if your dentist recommends braces as a solution. You can also ask additional questions, pertaining to the process and your unique situation to be better prepared for when you do get your braces. Keep reading to explore three things you should know about getting braces as an adult.

1. Adult Braces Take Longer

If you are an adult exploring braces as an option, it is important to know that your treatment plan could take much longer to execute than it would if you were young. Adult dental procedures may take longer because mature teeth often require more time to align than adolescent adult teeth. In short, expect to wear your braces longer.

Because adult teeth can be more stubborn, they could take longer to shift into a straight position. The braces experience will be different for everyone, but you should be prepared to have them on for two years or a little longer in most cases.

2. A Retainer Is Also Required

Another aspect of braces as an adult that you may not know is that you will likely have to continue treatment after removing them. Talk with your dental professional about retainers or other treatments you can expect after the braces are removed.

You will usually have to wear a retainer prosthetic at night after your braces have been removed. Because your teeth could still move back to their old positions over time, the retainer can prevent the reversing of all the straightening your braces provided. A retainer helps your teeth to stay in their new, straightened positions and not shift around in the future.

3. You May Have to Have Teeth Removed

There are many instances as an adult where you may have to have teeth extracted during your braces treatment. This is because you may have crowding that can hinder your braces from working as intended. Removing one or two teeth can provide your teeth with the room they need to move and straighten with the help of your adult braces.

Conclusion About Adult Braces

If you’ve considered braces to improve your adult smile, keep these three things in mind. It’s a big decision, but knowing what to expect can help you prepare for a more pleasant experience.