An Orthodontics Overview

The root word “ortho” means “straight or upright.” And orthodontics, you guessed it, makes your teeth straight! But oh, how it can do so much more!

A lovely smile with straight teeth and an even bite is equal parts functional and beautiful. And thanks to scientific progress, all this can be yours. Orthodontics is an area of dentistry that focuses on how the bones and teeth of your mouth are placed and fit together.

Dr. Colleran in San Luis Obispo is a professional provider of orthodontic treatments. Read more for our general overview of orthodontics and what teeth straightening can do for you.

How Do Orthodontics Work?

Orthodontics moves the placement of your teeth slowly over time. Appliances (fixed or removable pieces in your mouth) add a tiny bit of pressure to help your mouth and teeth achieve the perfect shape and alignment.

Your mouth is an incredible machine with many parts that work (or should work) in harmony to let you eat, speak, and smile easily. Dentists and orthodontists are trained to make strategic changes in your mouth over a period of time. They are skilled and careful to move your teeth just enough, but not too much, to improve the looks and utility of your mouth.

Depending on your unique needs and treatment methods, orthodontic treatment can take anywhere from six months to two years or more. Slowly, the constant pressure from appliances moves your teeth around in your jaw.  The pressure and movement can cause soreness or a “tight” feeling in the mouth but it’s not generally too painful.

Braces and retainers are common examples of orthodontic appliances. But many people are excited to try less obvious treatment options such as clear braces like Invisalign® and Six Month Smiles®.

Who Needs Orthodontics?

If the alignment of your teeth is getting in the way of your health, your confidence and wellbeing, you should consider orthodontics. Cosmetic dentistry like orthodontics improves appearances and, therefore, improves confidence as well as the important functions of your mouth.

Orthodontics can fix:

  • Bite or Occlusion: A perfect “bite” is when your top teeth rest down comfortably and just a little bit in front of your bottom teeth. Very few people have a naturally perfect bite. If your top teeth rest unevenly, it’s called an improper bite or malocclusion. It’s usually cosmetic but an improper bite can cause jaw pain and make teeth difficult to clean (which increases your risk of decay). Overbite, under bite, buck teeth, and cross bite are all forms of malocclusion.
  • Spacing: Large or uneven gaps between teeth are unhealthy for your teeth, gums and jawbone. Orthodontics can close the gaps for a healthier, more evenly spaced smile.
  • Overcrowding: If your mouth seems too small to comfortably hold all of your teeth, this causes crooked, overlapping and/or protruding teeth. Orthodontics can bring them into alignment.

Orthodontics can help:

  • Children & Teens: The American Association of Orthodontists recommends children get an orthodontic evaluation by age 7. As children grow (and so fast!), their mouth goes through a lot of changes. Pacifiers, thumb sucking, and so many teeth in such a small mouth can lead to problems. And it’s easier to treat kids before they grow up and their problems become permanent.
  • Adults: Even though it’s easier to treat children and prevent problems early on, adults can still benefit a lot from orthodontic treatments. There are plenty of traditional and alternative orthodontic treatments available to help adults straighten their teeth with confidence and achieve a healthier smile.

Choosing an Orthodontist

You can choose to see either an orthodontist or a general dentist for orthodontic treatment. Both are professionals, but an orthodontist has extra training specifically in providing orthodontics.

Orthodontics can be costly. Usually insurance companies cover a portion but not all of the treatment and appliances. The office of Michael Colleran, DDS is happy to offer flexible payment options so that anyone who wants treatment can get the smile of their dreams.

If you’re interested in orthodontics, why wait? Call Michael Colleran, DDS today to make an appointment!

http://ift.tt/2lc42HI

http://ift.tt/2mmGocV

http://ift.tt/1KLo17k



from Dr Michael Colleran DDS http://ift.tt/2mmJbTF

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Help! My Child is Terrified of the Dentist

Image
If you’re the parent of a young child, you know their brains are similar to sponges that soak up everything around them—especially in their first five years, which neuroscientists say is when they’ll do the most learning and developing in their entire life. At this formative time, your child may amaze you with what they notice: your facial expressions, the different tones of your voice, and your habits. If your habits include regular dental visits and an excellent oral hygiene routine, they’ll notice and want to emulate you. If you happen to feel anxious about your dental visits, or you groan when you’ve got to floss and brush, they may synchronize and feel your dread. This could lead to dental fears that stick with them for years—potentially a lifetime! Kids Can Be Courageous If you’re feeling guilty right now, go ahead and put that away as it won’t serve you or your little one. Everyone has some room for improvement, and Coastal Pediatric Dentistry® is here to help show you an...
Read more

Going for the Gold?

Image
On the left is the older allow, on the right the new one that my lab has chosen to use The cost of a penny weight of pure gold is currently $79.53. The cost of a penny weight of pure palladium is $130.6. It used to be that palladium was added instead of gold to the precious metals often used for pfms, but now laboratories are finding that palladium is no longer affordable. The lab that I am using has just changed the formulation of the metal it's using to one that has more gold than palladium. I really do not mind, but metals with more gold are softer and often easier for a dentist to accidentally polish off delicate margins. It is important when polishing "higher gold" formulations to exert less hand pressure when performing the final polishing of the crown's margins. Other wise there should be no problem with this change. Traditionally labs have chosen alloys with higher gold percentages for optimal esthetics, since alloys with higher concentrations of ...
Read more

Lemon Juice – The Good, the Bad, & the Sour

Image
In a great tale of opposites, lemon juice can be both acidic and basic, or alkaline. Read on to find out why people are talking about this, and what it means for your oral and overall health . What is pH and why does it matter? Drinking lemon juice (usually diluted in a glass of water or added to a cup of tea) is a beloved health tonic among fans of natural medicine. Potential benefits include lower cholesterol, lower inflammation in the body, and increased metabolism and energy. Lemon also contains high levels of antioxidants and vitamin C that boost your immune system. On a scale from 0-14, a pH of 7 is neutral (pure water) while numbers below 7 are acidic (unhealthy), and above 7 are basic or alkaline (healthy). Believers in holistic health blame many ailments on the body’s pH being too low or too acidic. Increasing your body’s pH is called “alkalizing.” Lemon juice in its natural state is acidic with a pH of about 2, but once metabolized it actually becomes alkaline with a pH ...
Read more