August 26, 2011

Improve your dental and physical health with orthodontic treatment

Patients often consider orthodontics in Fort Worth out of a desire for a more attractive smile, but this treatment can also offer other enduring benefits for a patient’s dental and physical health.

It can be difficult to brush and floss between teeth that are crowded or overlapping, so orthodontic treatment can help patients do a better job of keeping their mouths clean. Brushing and flossing serve a variety of functions, from warding off bacteria to keeping bad breath at bay. When your oral hygiene routine is ineffective because of crowded teeth, you’ll face an increased risk of gum disease and tooth decay.

Gum disease is a particular concern. This condition not only affects oral health, but it has been linked to problems elsewhere in the body, too. The C-reactive proteins associated with inflammation in the gums have also been implicated in diseases ranging from diabetes to cardiovascular disease to pancreatic cancer.

Misaligned teeth can wear unevenly, too, because some teeth may be more stressed or pressured during chewing than others. When an orthodontist straightens the teeth, it also corrects this problem, which can have a negative effect on a patient’s nutrition and diet.

In addition to straightening the teeth, orthodontics can also correct problems with the jaw’s alignment. This benefit of orthodontic treatment may help to prevent or alleviate the symptoms of TMJ disorders, which can also lead to headaches and neck pain in addition to jaw discomfort, when the patient gets older.

The physical benefits of orthodontic treatment are evident, but the psychological lift you get from a straighter smile should not be discounted, either. You’ll have more self-confidence and feel more at ease in social situations. You may even find that you have more energy, since you’re no longer drained with worrying about other people’s opinions of your teeth.

Braces will give you a boost in many ways, so if crooked teeth are bringing you down, visit our orthodontist for a consultation on methods that may enhance your smile.

August 15, 2011

When should I replace my denture?

dentures fort worthDentures are valuable appliances for patients who have lost all of their teeth in the upper or lower arch of their jaw. Dentures help edentulous, or toothless, patients to maintain a normal appearance and replace much of the functionality of their missing teeth.

Yet many patients who wear dentures in Fort Worth notice that the fit of the devices deteriorates over time. This is a natural phenomenon that results from physiological changes that accompany tooth loss.

A denture is custom-designed to fit the unique ridge of the patient’s jaw, so any significant change in that shape will affect the fit of the denture.

If you recently started wearing dentures and they don’t seem to fit properly, visit our dentist to see if a minor adjustment might address your problem. Brand new dentures rarely need to be replaced, but a dentist can re-fit them to make them a bit more comfortable.

Over time, however, the shape of someone’s jawbone, who wears dentures, is altered. When teeth are lost, their roots are no longer present to hold the jaw in place, so the bone wears away and its shape changes. As this process takes place, the shape of the denture remains static, so it no longer fits as well. You may notice that your dentures are slipping out of place more often or that you have to rely more on your jaw muscles to hold them in place. That’s when it’s time to visit our experienced dentists to see if you need a new denture.

More plastic can be added to the denture to accommodate some of the upward shift, but at a certain point, that approach is no longer effective. If your jawbone recedes by more than three millimeters, your dentist should replace the denture. If you don’t replace the denture, your mouth may adapt to the changes in such a way that it throws your jaw joint out of place, potentially creating major problems.

Additionally, the materials in dentures wear down over time, just as a tooth’s natural enamel does, so periodically replacing your dentures will prevent problems in this area, too.

August 4, 2011

Is flossing possible with braces?

When faced with the wires, brackets and elastics that are the centerpiece of orthodontic treatment, many patients who wear braces in Fort Worth feel too overwhelmed to even attempt to floss around all of that hardware.

Fortunately, it’s not as tough to floss with braces as many patients think. Our orthodontists can give you a floss threader, which is a thin plastic loop. You put the piece of floss through the loop and pull the other end of the threader between your teeth under the wire. This device allows you to floss along the gum line despite the wire. Some manufacturers also produce pre-threaded floss pieces. This is a really handy product, too, and each piece of floss is packaged separately.

Not only is flossing possible with orthodontics, it’s an essential step in maintaining your oral health. In addition to presenting an obstacle to flossing, the brackets and hardware involved in orthodontics are havens for food particles and bacteria. If you wear braces, you have to be extra vigilant to keep your mouth clean. After all, your orthodontics goal centers on a more appealing smile, and how can you make that happen if your mouth is cluttered with plaque and tartar?

If you give up on flossing during your orthodontic treatment, bacteria can accumulate in your mouth, increasing your risk of tooth decay and gum disease. These conditions not only have detrimental effects on your oral health, but they may also increase the risk of complications from other systemic conditions, like diabetes.

It does take patience to floss with traditional braces, and some modern orthodontic techniques eliminate the need for wires and brackets, making flossing during your treatment even easier. The Invisalign system straightens patients’ teeth using a series of removable, invisible plastic trays. Because the trays can be removed for brushing and flossing, the patient can just maintain his/her normal cleaning routine. Invisalign has other advantages, too, such as a streamlined course of treatment.  If you have not yet chosen an orthodontic treatment, it’s worth considering Invisalign for the convenience and benefits it offers.