Retainers- Life After Braces

After your braces are taken off you will have a set of retainers. Your retainers will either be made entirely of plastic or they will have wire that wraps around the teeth with plastic to adhere to the top of your mouth.

The idea of wearing a retainer might seem unpleasant after looking forward to getting your braces off, but these appliances are essential for your teeth to stay in place. The last thing you want is for your  teeth to move around after keeping your braces on for so long.

Once you get your braces off, we will take impressions of your teeth to create your retainers and you will come back to pick them up when they are ready. You must wear them every day for a certain period of time. When ready you will only need to wear them at night while you sleep. If for any reason they break or do not fit, call our office to get a new set.

Orthodontic Checkups for Kids

If you ever had braces, you will probably hope that your children will not need them, either to avoid the inconvenience or the high cost. While straight teeth have a lot to do with genetics, you can keep an eye on your child's dental development to help prevent the need for braces, or even to help make their treatment shorter. Even as children, you will see signs that a child may need to wear braces in the future, and if you take your child for a checkup early, you can catch this and be better prepared.

Learn more about the importance of early orthodontic checkups for children at our website.

Wisdom Teeth

When people hear "wisdom teeth" they might associate the term with painful extractions and swollen "chipmunk" cheeks. While wisdom teeth extractions are not painless, they are often necessary to prevent serious health problems. The development of these molars happen around age 17 to 21, and most adults do not have enough room for them, causing impaction.

Impacted wisdom teeth can cause movement in your teeth alignment, decay, and even cysts and tumors. Because of these complications, and the fact that nine out of ten adults will have at least one impacted wisdom tooth, wisdom teeth removal is a common practice.

If you have your wisdom teeth removed, the recovery time will vary depending on how many are removed and how quickly your gums heal. It usually doesn't take longer than about one week. Try to avoid foods with jagged edges that can puncture the affected area. Eat soft foods whenever possible, and don't forget to take any prescribed antibiotics and painkillers.

Visit our site to learn more about wisdom teeth and why, in some cases, they need to be removed.

Avoid Braces Discomfort

Many associate braces and the teeth straightening process with pain. While the process of straightening teeth with braces isn't completely painless there are many ways to avoid feel sore after adjustment.

Simple tricks like eating soft foods after adjustment and taking an anti inflammatory pain relieves before or after having your braces tightened can significantly affect your braces experience.

Don't shy away from braces if you are interested in teeth straightening but are concerned with the discomfort you might experience. There are ways to avoid pain so that you can reap the aesthetic and functional benefits of straighter teeth. If you have braces and would like more tips on how to avoid and relieve discomfort visit our website for more advice or consult our office at 702-997-7707.