If you’ve ever gotten a close look at an Invisalign tray, you probably noticed the miniature shapes within. These are the areas where attachments fit snugly into the aligner. Attachments themselves are bonded on the teeth temporarily to help guide the movement of teeth throughout treatment. Though they are small, attachments are mighty, and it’s good to know how they work and what your responsibility is when caring for them.
Most people don’t use the term “midline misalignment” when describing front teeth that are a little off-center. The dental midline is exactly the feature in question, though, and you know the problem when you see it. The vertical line between the upper and lower front teeth is supposed to align with the top and bottom arches as well as the middle of the face. When everything doesn’t stack correctly, braces are often the answer.
Fat Tuesday is one of those sneaky holidays that gives everyone an excuse to overindulge. If you wear braces, the temptations to eat what you shouldn’t are still just as dangerous as always and can potentially destroy orthodontia. You might find yourself at the orthodontist asking for help with broken brackets or wires if you don’t protect your braces.
Orthodontic treatment is complex and customized to every patient’s mouth. One thing people with braces or Invisalign have in common though? Loose teeth. This unexpected sensation can make you feel worried about the condition and health of your teeth and gums – but don’t panic! Your teeth are not going to fall out. Loose teeth mean your orthodontics are working.
No one knows what it’s truly like to have orthodontics until you get them on your own teeth, which makes it easy to assume the worst. What often happens is that braces will surprise you. You might like them better than you thought you would, you may even think they look cool. Instead of resigning yourself to a mouth full of metal, be open to the reality that a stellar smile is on its way.
Metal braces get all the attention when it comes to orthodontics. How do they feel? What do they make you look like? Many patients are surprised to experience, though, how much braces affect not just their teeth but also their gums. Your orthodontist or dentist may inform you that your gums are swollen, red, or inflamed. What does this mean? Time to brush up on how to keep gums healthy during braces treatment.
It’s a rumor that teens don’t love braces. They may be annoyed about frequent check-ups at the orthodontist and occasional discomfort when wearing new, snug trays, but they love the smile results that come from wearing clear aligners. Help your teen feel good about themselves by giving them the gift of a straight smile with customized Invisalign Teen.
Whether you’re a New Year’s resolution-maker or not, there is always an opportunity to do better by your braces or Invisalign every day of the year. It’s never too late to improve your orthodontic journey. Start now, start tomorrow, just start – your teeth and smile will thank you for it. Here are just some of the easiest resolutions you can adopt.
Orthodontic patients have spent months and sometimes years in braces or Invisalign so they don’t always look forward to wearing a retainer every night, let alone take care of it. However, as every orthodontist will testify, retainers are the essential final piece of orthodontic treatment, and if you want this appliance to work correctly you must clean your retainer regularly to keep your teeth and alignment in great shape.
Many kids and adults stress about the idea of sporting braces, being held captive by hardware, or feeling uncomfortable and self-conscious. These things can be true, but nearly four million people are wearing braces right now. If you flip pessimism into optimism, there are plenty of reasons that braces are cool at any age, no matter some minor drawbacks.
