Everyone wants a beautiful smile. If you have a smile you are not proud of, social situations can be embarrassing and uncomfortable. Fortunately, advances in dental technology and orthodontic treatments provide many options for you to improve the quality of your smile. One such option for straightening misaligned teeth are SPEED braces.
With SPEED braces, you can get the smile you want with faster treatment times, better aesthetics, and the most comfort possible. By eliminating the need for elastics or bands, SPEED braces use an innovative spring clip to straighten teeth and apply a gentle, continuous force to align teeth into the proper position. With SPEED braces, you will need to visit your orthodontist about every two weeks, but as the name suggests, treatment usually only lasts between three and nine months.
Aesthetically, SPEED braces are less visible than other orthodontic options. The appliances are 1/3 smaller than traditional metal braces, with a sparkling jewel-like appearance. SPEED braces do not give you a “metal mouth” or “railroad track” look, making them especially appealing to adult patients.
Other benefits of the smaller size of SPEED braces are comfort and hygiene. The absence of elastics and the smaller design minimize irritation to the cheeks, gums and lips. The streamlined design also makes it easier to brush and floss and reduces the likelihood of food particles getting stuck in your braces.
With patient cooperation, the amount of time of orthodontic treatment can be drastically decreased utilizing SPEED braces. To determine if you are a candidate for treatment with SPEED braces, contact an orthodontist for an evaluation. With SPEED braces, you could be on your way to straighter, perfect teeth in no time!
Dr. Fotovat is an orthodontist in the Sherman Oaks CA area
Advances in technology have created options for orthodontia beyond traditional metal bracket braces. One of these options is lingual braces. Lingual braces are an “invisible” treatment for misaligned teeth that are similar to traditional braces, with the exception that they are applied to the backside of your teeth. Lingual braces may be an especially attractive option to adults who prefer to avoid the “train track” look of metal braces. Some of the advantages of lingual braces include:
- Lingual braces are virtually invisible to other people.
- Lingual braces are custom fit and created to your needs.
- Lingual braces produce visible improvements in a short amount of time.
- Patients with lingual braces report minimal speech interference or discomfort.
- Lingual braces are suitable for treating a variety of misalignment issues.
- Lingual braces do not interfere with cleaning the front of teeth, eliminating the problem of discoloration.
Some disadvantages of lingual braces include:
- Adjusting your tongue to lingual braces may take several weeks.
- Lingual braces may feel rough at first and slightly affect your speech.
- Due to the placement behind the teeth, lingual braces may be more difficult to keep clean.
- Treatment time with lingual braces may be longer.
- Regular orthodontic check-ups and adjustments may take longer with lingual braces.
While most teens and adults are suitable candidates for lingual braces, consult with orthodontist Dr. Fotovat if you live in the Burbank CA area to find out if lingual braces are a good option for your particular needs. With lingual braces, you can achieve a straighter, more beautiful smile without the whole world knowing your secret.
Are you considering Invisalign to achieve your dream smile? Invisalign aligners are an excellent choice for adults wishing to straighten their teeth. Invisalign has very little impact on the way you lead your life. You take them out to eat, brush and floss. When in the mouth, they are difficult to detect, especially once you have grown accustomed to wearing them.
Orthodontists recommend that you wear your Invisalign aligners between twenty and twenty-two hours each day. Because they are with you continually, it’s important that you learn to care for the aligner trays so that they will last and so your treatment will be successful. Here are some tips for caring for your Invisalign aligners:
- Clean your aligner trays with the provided Invisalign cleaning kit. If you have forgotten your kit or if it’s not handy, run the aligners under warm water and brush them gently with a soft toothbrush. When you brush your teeth, also clean your aligner trays.
- No matter how you cleaned your aligners, rinse them with water before replacing them in your mouth after eating or brushing.
- Don’t use boiling water on your aligners. The water you use should be warm, not hot.
- Never soak your trays in bleach, alcohol or denture solution. This can damage the aligners beyond repair.
- Invisalign has no food restrictions; you may eat what you like. However, it’s vital that you remove the aligners prior to eating or you might damage the trays.
- Don’t smoke, chew gum or use oral tobacco products with the aligners in place. Stop the use of all tobacco products and improve your oral and overall health!
- Sleep in your aligners every night. Allow the aligners to do their work while you rest.
- Protect your mouth during sporting activities by wearing a mouthguard. Remove your aligners if you must, but wear a protective guard.
Invisalign will work for you if you follow these simple guidelines. Schedule a consultation with orthodontist Dr. Fotovat if you live in the Sherman Oaks CA area to see if Invisalign aligners are right for you.
The purpose of orthodontic treatment is to improve the appearance and function of the teeth and jaw. This type of treatment is most often performed by an orthodontist, who undergoes specialty training in the field.
Goals
Improving a patient’s smile can mean different things for different people. Common problems that orthodontic treatment addresses are crooked teeth, gaps, misalignment, improper bites, and protruding teeth. Orthodontics focuses on correcting the smile so that it is aesthetically pleasing as well as functional without any pain or other issues. Along with these corrections comes improved self-esteem for the patient.
Patient age
Orthodontic treatment reaches over a wide variety of age ranges. Although many people may associate braces with adolescence, that is no longer true. It has become increasingly popular for adults to seek orthodontic care, especially as technology improvements have made some methods nearly invisible. In some cases, orthodontists wait until permanent teeth have erupted but that is not always true. Early intervention in younger children may be the best approach. Patients should not let age be a barrier for improving their smiles.
Treatment
A consultation with an orthodontist is the first step in treatment. This provides an opportunity for the patient to express what they may dislike about their smile, and the orthodontist will do a thorough examination. X-rays will usually be taken to help in diagnosing any issues. A treatment plan will be created for the patient and orthodontist to discuss and agree upon before any work begins. Then, braces or other appliances will be attached so that the process can get underway. Regular checkups will be necessary to monitor treatment and make adjustments throughout the process.
Burbank area orthodontist.
Your orthodontist has probably given you a general timeframe for your orthodontic treatment plan. Most patients should plan to wear their braces for one to two years, although treatment could range anywhere from nine months to five years. The length of time required for treatment can depend heavily on your daily habits and the care you take of your orthodontic hardware. There are several recommendations you can follow to help achieve the best results in the quickest time possible:
- Be vigilant with your oral home care. Clean, healthy teeth create the proper environment for your orthodontia to do their job.
- Be careful to avoid foods that can damage your braces. Foods such as raw fruits and vegetables, hard bread, and dense meats should be cut into bite-sized pieces.
- Refrain from gnawing on pens, fingernails, ice or straws to avoid damaging your orthodontic hardware.
- Avoid drinking sugary or carbonated beverages that can cause tooth decay.
- Refrain from eating sticky foods, candy or gum that could damage your braces.
- Follow your orthodontist’s orders and wear any prescribed rubber bands as directed to ensure your braces do their job properly.
- Do not delay regular orthodontic appointments. It is vitally important to keep regularly scheduled orthodontic visits for treatment to work efficiently.
Ignoring these recommendations could greatly extend the time necessary for your orthodontia to correct your teeth and bite and achieve the desired results. In cooperation with your orthodontist, following these simple steps can ensure you many years of a bright, new smile in a timely manner.
Braces can provide you with a beautiful, straight smile. While you have them on, however, your oral hygiene can become more involved, and if you don’t care for your teeth properly, can lead to decay or disease. Following a few tips can allow you to enjoy a beautiful, healthy smile when your braces are eventually removed.
If you have just had your braces applied, your mouth is going to be sore. Your gums, cheeks and tongue may have sore spots as your mouth adjusts to the brackets, bands and wire. Have some dental wax on hand. Blot the problematic area with a tissue – the wax won’t stick to a wet surface – and press a ball of wax over the bracket or band, between it and your cheek or tongue. This will provide a smooth surface that will protect the surrounding soft tissues. Treat any minor swelling or pain with over-the-counter pain medications that contain anti-inflammatory properties.
Certain foods must be avoided altogether while your braces are in place. Popcorn, ice, hard candy or other hard or overly crunchy foods should not be consumed. Chewy candies or hunks of thick bread or fruit can become problematic and can tear off brackets or dislodge wires. If you have bad habits such as nail biting or pen or pencil chewing, now is the time to stop. Don’t damage your braces with these habits.
Braces can be very difficult to clean, and food debris may remain following normal brushing. It is vital that you maintain – or begin – good oral hygiene habits after the application of your braces in order to maintain optimal oral health. Brushing and flossing must be continued. A waterpik tool can be very useful in reaching hard-to-reach areas between brackets.
Be sure to follow all of the instructions provided to you by your orthodontist. Wear rubber bands or headgear as recommended. Following these guidelines can help your orthodontist give you the best smile in the least amount of time.
Dr. Fotovat is an orthodontist in the Sherman Oaks area offering braces to kids and adults.
