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The post Understanding Orthodontic Options for You and Your Child appeared first on Lovebites Dental.

The post It’s Still Better to Get Orthodontics from a Dentist Than by Mail appeared first on Lovebites Dental.

You know that a dentist can clean your teeth, recommend orthodontia, whiten your smile and fix problems with your teeth (like cavities or cracked teeth). What you may not know is all the other procedures and recommendations that they can make on behalf of your oral health. 

Your Snoring

Chances are your roommate, partner or family have commented on how loud your snoring is, or how sporadic your breathing is at night. Not only is this a concern for the sleeping habits of those around you, but it is also a huge health risk to you. 

It’s also more common than you think. In fact, millions of Americans that are affected by sleep apnea experience interrupted or shallow breathing episodes (lasting about 10 to 60 seconds per episode) regularly during sleep. Some people experience hundreds of these episodes every night. But how can a dentist help?

A dentists can order a sleep test and also get you the treatment you deserve. Whether it’s recommending a OAT(oral appliance therapy) to help position your jaw properly, or, in the most extreme cases, performing surgery to correct the dangerous disorder, a dentist can help. 

Your Game

You probably know that dentists make mouth guards to protect your teeth. When you work with a dental expert, not only will you be able to keep your smile as long as possible, but you will also be able to have a custom fit for the highest levels of protection. What’s so surprising about that? These professional mouth guards not only protect your teeth, they can improve your performance.

A MonsterGuard is a dental mouth guard designed with regards to the latest in neuromuscular dentistry. This cutting-edge technology will keep your smile as pristine as possible for as long as possible. The reason Dr. Safarian and the team at Irresistible Smiles recommends MonsterGuard is because it provides a 293% bigger breathing hole than standard mouth guards.

Your Headaches

 You might be thinking that only a neurologist can treat your headaches, but you’d be wrong. Many people get headache because of temporomandibular joint disorders (called TMJ or TMD). TMJ is particularly linked to migraines, but they can also be associated with tension headaches and other forms.

Properly trained dentists know how to balance your jaw to reduce the pressures that trigger your headaches. You can experience a reduction in headaches as well as in the intensity of your headaches. You’ll also see improvement in other related symptoms like jaw pain, ringing in the ears, vertigo, and jaw popping or clicking.

Contact a San Diego Dentist Today!

Looking for a brighter smile? A way to protect your teeth? No matter what your issue, Dr. Safarian will help you with your dental needs. today and see how they can help you.  

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A good orthodontic dental service is a must for those who wish to improve the appearance of their teeth by correcting their alignment. Although many would think that wearing dental braces look pretty unsightly. And even a bit embarrassing (for some), wearing them for a short period of time can make your teeth straighter. Straight teeth mean a more beautiful smile that makes you feel more confident. Not only that, but it also improves your overall oral health and general well-being.  If you were advised to undergo orthodontic treatment, then it would be a great help for you to learn about the following orthodontist dental services:

Traditional Metal Braces

Dental braces using metal brackets and wires is the standard in orthodontic dental service due to their efficiency in inducing and controlling tooth movement. Their main downside is esthetics, so patients often prefer much more eye-pleasing alternatives like the ones discussed below. But then, with the developments in orthodontics over the years. There are now certain clinics like that of dentist Dr. Safarian’s who offer low-profile metal braces with brackets that are sleeker, smaller, and much less visible. Although smaller, they are as strong as their normal-sized counterparts in terms of efficiency in tooth movement.

Ceramic Braces

Ceramic braces, also called clear braces, work in the same way as your traditional dental braces. But the pressure they exert in moving the teeth is gentler. Thus, it takes a bit longer for this kind of braces to put the teeth into their proper alignment. Esthetics-wise, though, they offer a great choice for those want dental that are less visible.

Lingual Braces

The lingual side or the back surface of teeth is the surface that faces the tongue, while the labial side or front surface is the one that faces the lips. Unfortunately, lingual braces are indicated for specific cases only. These instances include spacing, mild crowding, and minor alignment issues. Dr. Safarian, your highly-skilled orthodontist will tell you if you are a good candidate for this type of orthodontic dental service.

Invisalign

Another esthetic option when it comes to orthodontic dental services is Invisalign which, as its name suggests, is an invisible aligner. True to its name, this appliance is made up of medical-grade clear plastic and looks pretty much like a mouthguard. The only difference is that it works to produce a gentle, incremental tooth.  Movement without the inconvenience caused by brackets and wires. Much like lingual braces, Invisalign is able to do minor corrections only.

With quality orthodontic dental services including the ones discussed here. The good doctor is a skilled orthodontist who has handled lots of orthodontic cases before. Dr. Safarian provides only the highest-quality comprehensive care to ensure the best, long-lasting results no less.

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Accelerated orthodontics dentistry is a relatively new approach in Orthodontic Dental Services that works in pretty much the same way as your traditional braces but requires much less time to produce the desired tooth movement. This new form of treatment is becoming increasingly popular in adults. As it promises to straighten teeth in just a couple of months instead of several years with regular orthodontics.

If you have crooked teeth and are suffering from the difficult consequence of such, then this speedier way of straightening your teeth may very well be the solution you’re looking for. Find out more about this treatment below.

Duration of Treatment

Traditional Orthodontic Dental Services requires a patient to wear braces for at least two years. With accelerated orthodontics, however, this period is shortened to as little as three months to a maximum of eight months. The end result is just the same – you get a perfect smile and an overall improved dental health.

Dental Braces:

Just like traditional orthodontics, accelerated orthodontics also makes use of braces to force the teeth to shift into their desired position. There are three types of orthodontic braces – metal, ceramic, and lingual. Anyone of these may be utilized in accelerated Orthodontic Dental Services.

Metal and ceramic braces tend to work better than lingual braces. Ceramic braces are not as esthetic as lingual braces, but it isn’t as noticeable as metal braces either.

Surgery Required:

While it has the upper hand when it comes to treatment duration, the main disadvantage of accelerated orthodontics is that it may require some minor surgical procedure. The surgery may be performed by the orthodontist himself, an oral surgeon, or a periodontist (a gum specialist). It is usually done in a clinic setting, about a week after the braces are installed. It involves altering the bone and gum tissue that supports the teeth to be moved. Such alteration decreases the amount of supporting bone, thus allowing the teeth to shift into their desired positions more quickly.

The surgery is done under local anesthesia and causes just about the same level of discomfort as your typical dental cleaning. Some patients report an itching sensation because of the faster movement of the teeth.

Post-Treatment:

Once your teeth are in their desired alignment, you’ll also be required to use a retainer to prevent the teeth from moving back to their pre-treatment position.

Orthodontic Dental Services Treatment Cost:

This is because of the surgery required to produce faster tooth movement. Expect the price to be at least $2,000. This already includes the fee for the periodontist who will perform the surgery.

Unfortunately, most insurance companies do not cover accelerated Orthodontic Dental Services, but there are orthodontists who offer flexible payment terms.

To sum it up, accelerated orthodontics is a very promising option if you want to have your teeth straightened yet you dread the idea of wearing braces for several years.

To learn more about this treatment and find out if you are suitable for it, consult your orthodontist now for proper assessment.

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A retainer is an appliance that keeps your teeth in place after treatment with dental braces. For more information about orthodontic services retainers, check out this article. In here, we will discuss the different types retainers your dentist may recommend and how each one work.’

Removable Orthodontic Retainers

Retainers are classified as either removable or fixed. Which one works better depends on the wants, needs, and compliance of the patient.

Removable retainers are more commonly used. They usually consist of plastic or a combination of wire and acrylic material. The wire may run across the front or back surface of the teeth.

The main advantage of removable retainers is that they much easier to clean, owing to the fact that you can remove them from your teeth whenever you want to.

The disadvantage, however, is that it relies on patient compliance and there’s a chance that some patients won’t wear it as prescribed by their orthodontist. It also gets lost easily, especially you if leave it lying around and wrapped in a tissue. You can have it replaced, but you will have to spend as much as $300 for the new one.

Their two most common popular examples of removable retainers are the Hawley and Essix retainers.

Hawley appliance is probably the most common type of retainer you see. It is a combination of acrylic and metal wires.

The wires are formed into clasps, which are then anchored to the acrylic body that sits on the palate. These clasps grasp the teeth to keep the retainer secured in place.

Hawley retainers are adjustable, and can thus be used to further improve the alignment of your teeth.

Essix retainers look pretty much like Invisalign aligners and are therefore most suitable for those who have had that type of orthodontic treatment.

These retainers are made of clear plastic, and hence cannot be seen when worn. They are constructed by your orthodontist using a mold of your teeth and a vacuum appliance. Unlike Hawley retainers, Essix retainers are non-adjustable.

Fixed Orthodontic Retainers

Fixed retainers, on the other hand, are usually made of a thin wire that runs across the back of the teeth.

It is bonded or cemented in place using the same material applied on your brackets. Compared to removable retainers, fixed retainers are quite more difficult to clean, so special cleaning aids are prescribed to keep both the retainer and your teeth free from plaque buildup.

But their biggest advantage is that they tend to produce better outcome because they hold your teeth in place 24/7.

In short, patient compliance is not a problem. Another advantage is that since the wire is at the back of the teeth, it will appear like you’re not wearing a retainer at all.

Regardless of the type of retainer that you use, it is advised that you do routine dental visits to ensure periodic maintenance of the appliance and also to check if your retainer is working or you need another one.

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Yes, we know the feeling, but don’t get disappointed yet because it is for your own good. Learn more about orthodontic retainers and how they can help your now perfect teeth stay that way.

If you have or have had dental braces, then like many people, one of the things that you very much look forward to is that day when your dentist finally gets them off. So you come to your dentist’s clinic for your de-bonding appointment and just like that, your teeth are perfect.

But before you can celebrate, you dentist suddenly ruins your perfectly happy moment by saying that you need to put on your retainers now.

What are Orthodontic Retainers?

Simply put, an orthodontic retainer, as its name suggests, is a custom-made appliance that retains your teeth to their new position after the removal of your dental braces. There are different types of retainers, and you can learn more about them in this article.

Why would I need an Orthodontic Retainer?

Having your braces off doesn’t mean that the whole process of tooth movement is done. The forces that moved your teeth into their perfect alignment will take some time to stop.

If you don’t use retainers, then these forces will continue moving your teeth even after the braces are removed, causing them to be misaligned again.

Also, it may take a while for supporting structures (i.e. bone and periodontal ligament) to remember the new position of your teeth and adapt to other changes.

How do Orthodontic Retainers work?

Retainers prevent further tooth movement basically by acting as “brake” which stops the forces cause the movement. They signal the tooth roots to stay in place, which thereby preserves the correct alignment created by your dental braces.

How long do I have to wear an Orthodontic Retainer?

Orthodontists recommend wearing a retainer for at least six months after the removal of your braces. You must wear your retainer exactly as your orthodontist say especially during the first six months. This period is very critical because it is when tooth movement is still active.

Depending on the case, some patients are even required to wear their retainers for life after the critical period. But don’t worry, if you happen to be one of them, you would only need to wear them at night.  You can walk around and spend your entire daytime without your retainers.

 How do I take care of my Orthodontic Retainer?

Denture cleaners also work. Some retailers can also be cleaned by brushing them using a soft-bristled toothbrush and a tiny amount of toothpaste – ask your orthodontist if your retainer is suitable for this method.

If you wear your retainer 24/7, be sure to clean it every now and then to prevent bacterial buildup.

Wearing your retainers is a must, especially if you wouldn’t want your teeth to go back to their pre-treatment state.

Always follow your Orthodontics recommendations to make sure that all the time and resources you’ve spent on your orthodontic treatment will all be worth it.

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Most people think that dental braces and other forms of orthodontic dental services treatment only work to fix and improve one’s smile. No one can blame them – after all, it is a dental treatment. But there are actually some medical problems. That can be addressed by having your teeth straightened by those wires and brackets.

Temporomandibular Joint Problems

The temporomandibular joint, or simply TMJ, pertains the joint connecting your lower jaw to the rest of the head. A patient who suffers from malocclusion or wrong bite can also experience TMJ problems because the wrong relationship of the upper and lower teeth can also cause the misalignment of the jaw.

Orthodontic treatment like dental braces which help put the teeth into their proper alignment, in turn, can help correct jaw alignment as well.

Headaches and Neck Pain

The head and neck area consists of a complex, yet delicate network of bones, joints, muscles, and tendons that have to work together in harmony for optimum function. And any imbalance in this network results to chronic headaches and neck pain.

If you experience reoccurring pain in the head and neck area that doesn’t seem to go away with your OTC pain meds warrant a visit to a specialist. Your dentist and/or orthodontist are some of the specialists you must consider especially if the pain is originating from behind the eyes, on the temple, or at the back of the head. Your dentist or orthodontist will help determine if the pain is related to your teeth and orthodontic dental services treatment could be the answer.

Sleep Disorders

Difficulty sleeping may result from both TMJ problems and pain in the head and neck. If you jaws are misaligned, chances are, you’ll have trouble sleeping due to breathing problems. If left untreated, the breathing problem may get worse over time. By correcting the alignment of the teeth, breathing will improve, giving you longer and more restful sleep.

Heart Problems

Individuals with malocclusion often have crowded teeth that make oral hygiene a bit of a challenge. If you can’t clean your teeth well, the inability to adequately remove plaque deposits. Can result to gum disease, starting with gingivitis.

Over time, unmanaged gingivitis can advance to a more severe form of gum disease – periodontitis. Numerous studies have proven the link between periodontitis and heart problems.

Having your teeth in their proper alignment will make cleaning them much easier and, in the process, prevent periodontal disease and heart problems.

If you have any of the health issues above. One probable solution would be visiting your dentist or orthodontist to determine. If it is your teeth that’s causing your malady. Your dentist or orthodontist can devise a treatment plan that will help alleviate these problems.

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A lifetime of happy smiles begins by knowing what’s true and what’s not when it comes to orthodontic dental services. Along with these questions are misconceptions about the treatment.

1. Orthodontic treatment can be done by any dentist.

Orthodontists are dentists, but not all dentists are orthodontists. An orthodontist is a certified specialist who had years of additional specialty training in orthodontics. Which include both theoretical and clinical training.

Orthodontic treatment is a very particular dental service that must be done only by specialists.

General dentists have no specialty, they might have taken a few hours of orthodontic courses, but that doesn’t mean that they are already as qualified to do orthodontic treatment as orthodontists are – unless, it is a very simple case.

Orthodontists, on the other hand, are allowed to do everything that a general dentist can.

2. Orthodontic treatment is only for kids and teens.

Orthodontic treatment is for everyone – no one is too old for it. While it is true that you see a lot of young kids when you visit an orthodontic clinic, you’ll also see teenagers, college students, and adults.

In fact, according to the American Association of Orthodontists, one in every five orthodontic patients is adult. Most of them avail of the Invisalign, or the invisible braces.

As long as your bite problem is indicated for the orthodontic treatment and getting such treatment can make you feel better about yourself, then your orthodontist can render it no matter what your age is.

There are a lot of factors that can cause teeth alignment problems, so the need for orthodontic treatment at any age is entirely possible.

3. Orthodontic treatment takes many years.

Orthodontic treatment, in general, takes about two to three years only. This can vary depending on the dental problem that needs to be corrected.

But with the major developments in the field of orthodontics, there are devices and appliances with allow for a much shorter treatment duration.

4. Orthodontic treatment may be continued by other orthodontists.

Each orthodontist handles their orthodontic cases somewhat differently, so it would be best for you and your smile to commit to just one and stick with them.

5. Orthodontic Dental Services treatment is a permanent solution.

Unfortunately, orthodontic treatments are not a 100% permanent solution. Teeth alignment is constantly influenced by natural forces that are ever-present throughout a patient’s life.

That’s why once the orthodontic treatment is completed, the orthodontist asks the patient to wear a retainer to keep the teeth in their corrected alignment.

The type of retainer can be fixed or removable, depending on the case. But regardless of the type, it is important that you wear your retainer exactly as instructed by your orthodontist.

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