Types of Braces

If you're thinking about getting braces, you've probably already done some basic reading on the different types available out there.A brief Google search for "types of braces" will give you a ton of results, and it can all make your head spin.In reality, only some of the braces you see will actually be offered by your local orthodontist. That's because although orthodontics is a part of the dental profession (orthodontists are dentists but with 2-3 years of extra specialist training), it's private companies that create the actual braces. So as with any private industry, companies compete with each other to market and sell their product.In North America, there are less than a handful of companies that actually manufacture braces, with many being built in the heart of America's Midwest, such as American Orthodontics in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.It's the job of these manufacturers to come up with new and innovative technology to supply marketers and distributors, who then pass them on to orthodontists.Most companies market several types of braces, and some even market certain types as being their own when they're actually made by one of their competitors.Orthodontists are always getting approached with the newest and latest in technology, but it's their job to see through the sales pitch, do the research, and only offer the products that will best serve their patients. For that reason clinical research is completed on the various types of braces to ensure patients are receiving the best treatment.So when you're shopping around for an orthodontist you shouldn't be surprised to find different brands being offered. But keep in mind clinical research has yet to show that any one brand is better than the other.So, now that we know how certain braces make it to your orthodontics office, let's take a look at the most popular types of braces on the market in North America today, as well as their pros and cons.


Metal bracesThese were once the first and only choice in braces. Today's version are smaller and more comfortable than they used to be. They've all also stood the test of time and they're proven to work quickly and effectively.Some popular brands of metal braces include: Victory Series, Damon, In-Ovation and Ormco Mini's.Ceramic bracesMade of translucent (clear) material, ceramic braces are less visible than metal braces. They work just the same as metal. However, in most cases they work faster and on more people than Invisalign, and you don't have to come in for visits two times a month like you do with Invisalign.Some popular brands of ceramic braces include: Mystique, made by GAC; and Clarity and Transcend, made by 3M Unitek.InvisalignA relatively recent introduction to the marketplace, these clear aligners were an instant hit because they are pretty much invisible throughout treatment. However, Invisalign has major limitations and can only be used on minor orthodontic problems, so don't be surprised if your orthodontist doesn't offer them to you as an option.So far, there is only one common brand of clear aligner braces, and we're pretty sure you know what it is.Lingual (behind the teeth) bracesNewer to the market, lingual braces are braces that are placed behind the teeth, so in most cases they are even less visible than Invisalign. They are more demanding for the orthodontist to use and tend to be used in treating less complicated cases. They also tend to be mechanically less efficient.Now armed with a little bit of info on the braces market and the different types and brands of braces, you can go about the research on your ideal braces. Just keep in mind your orthodontic is a trained professional and at the end of the day, we advise you trust them to make the decision on what will work best for your unique orthodontic situation.

Dentist Appointment - Points To Remember

Teeth are one of the most important parts of our body. They are also very sensitive and therefore they require regular attention. Brushing them properly after having your meal and cleaning them regularly with floss is necessary to keep them healthy and in good shape. Visiting a dentist in every six months and performing a through oral check up will ensure that they serve you better and for a long time.Dentist Appointment - Points to Remember If you have fixed an appointment with a dentist, then it is advised to keep some important points in mind during this appointment. These points will be helpful in making the most out of the appointment.First of all, you should check the timings of the appointment and ensure its suitability. It is better to fix an appointment on weekends or on a holiday, because you will be free on that day and therefore, you do not have to make any adjustments in order to match up your office timings with the time of the appointment. However, if that is not possible, then do make sure that the timings that are allotted to you are suitable and you are available at those timings. You can also request the dentist to allot you a suitable time according to your availability in that given day.


Next, you should do a self check on your oral health and note down all the important points that are concerned with it. If you are feeling frequent or occasional pain in any of the tooth or in gums, then do note it down and discuss it with the dentist at the time of the appointment.It is better not to eat anything at least an hour before the time of the appointment. However, if you do eat something just before the appointment, then do remember to clean your teeth properly before you arrive at the clinic.During the appointment, don't forget to mention all the important points that you have written down in notes and discuss it with the dentist. Listen to what the dentist have to say and take his words seriously. If he subscribes any medicine to you, then do take it as per the instructions of the dentist.Lastly, don't forget to take the receipt of the payment. It can be used for future reference and it will also be easy for you to keep a track on the next date of appointment through this receipt.

Impress Your Dentist by Following These Dental Care Tips

Want a gorgeous smile? No matter what fashions are ruling the runway this year, there's one accessory that will always remain in vogue: healthy, white teeth. Here are some tips for keeping your pearly whites in tip-top shape. Make your dentist proud by building these effective dental care habits:Chuck your toothbrush. Replace your manual toothbrush every three to four months or when it shows signs of wear. Frayed bristles will not clean your gums and teeth adequately. Replace the head of your powered toothbrush at least every two to three months.You need lots of calcium, a mineral mostly present in your teeth and bones, for a healthy smile. Eating foods such as cheese, yogurt, and soybeans will keep your chompers strong. For breakfast, try having a glass of milk and yogurt topped with granola.Make sure you brush your teeth at least twice a day every day! When you brush, don't rush. Take enough time to do a thorough job. Brush with a toothpaste that's ADA accepted and contains fluoride.Nothing can replace good, old-fashioned dental floss. The truth is, brushing only removes about 50 percent of the nasty stuff off of your pearly whites. Dental floss is the only thing that can remove the other half. No matter how high tech your toothbrush is, you still need to floss.Eat "detergent" foods such as raw carrots and apples. Foods that are crisp or firm help clean teeth as they're eaten. For best results, make "detergent" foods the final foods you eat in your meal if you know you won't be able to brush after eating.


Clean your tongue. Use a tongue scraper every day to freshen your breath. One major cause of bad breath is the buildup of bacteria on the tongue, which a daily tongue scraping will help banish. Keep in mind that using a tongue scraper is more effective than brushing your tongue with a toothbrush.Go on a white-teeth diet. If you're drinking black tea and red wine, expect the results to show up in your mouth. The bottom line is that if it's dark before you put it in your mouth, it will probably discolor your chompers. Brush immediately after drinking beverages that stain teeth.You can help protect your oral health by seeing your dentist regularly for checkups. It's recommended that most people get a dental checkup every six months, but your dentist may recommend more frequent visits, depending on your dental health history.The world is full of options to improve your appearance. But if you really want a dramatic change for the better, don't overlook one of the more prominent features of your face - your smile. Not only do your chompers help you speak and chew, they can make or break your appearance.

The Best and Worst Candy Choices for Your Teeth

Halloween is upon us and that means candy, candy, and more candy! Kids everywhere are looking forward to dressing up and going door-to-door to collect their favorite treats. However, ask any dentist what they think of this candy-laden holiday and you'll likely get an answer that's sure to disappoint most kids and a few parents, too. Sugar is bad for your teeth. That's because the bacteria that bonds together to form plaque thrives on sugar as its energy source. The more sugar you eat, the more plaque you'll have in your mouth. With Halloween fast approaching, kids are sure to eat more candy and produce more plaque, which leads to more cavities and tooth decay.Sugar and candy is okay in small doses. In addition, certain types of candy are better for your teeth than others are. Having said that, let's take a look at some of the best and worst candy choices for teeth.The Worst CandyWhile candy of any sort usually contains tooth decaying sugar, certain types of candy are worse for your teeth than others are.· Sticky/chewy candy - Gum, taffy, Milk Duds and the like are harmful for teeth because they tend to get stuck in between teeth where saliva can't wash it away. Sticky candies can do serious damage to your gums and teeth if it's left to linger for too long.· Hard candy - Most people probably already know the harmful effect hard candy can have on teeth. High in sugar content, these types of candy can cause chipping and breaking, and long-lasting candies such as suckers and jawbreakers coat the mouth in a layer of sugar for several minutes at a time, which can increase tooth decay.


· Sour candy - Sour candies pack quite a punch when it comes to how they affect the teeth. Sour Skittles, Sour Patch Kids and the like all contain high levels of acid that break down tooth enamel and leave teeth vulnerable. As if this isn't bad enough, if you brush your teeth immediately after consuming sour candies, you're setting yourself up for even further tooth damage as any acid left inside the mouth gets brushed around to attack even more teeth.The Best CandyBelieve it or not, there are some candies to consume that won't be a cause of tooth damage.· Sugar-free gums - Typically made with natural sugars that don't contribute to tooth decay, sugar-free gum leaves no sticky residue.· Chocolate - Chocolate has no sticky residue that can linger on teeth. It washes away quickly - as long as it doesn't contain a sticky center.· Powdered candy - Powdery candy dissolves fast and won't stick to teeth.Now, we're not saying you should skip Halloween altogether. How fun would that be? What we're saying here is be mindful of the types of candy your children are eating and place a limit on the types that are most harmful to their teeth. Contact your family dentist for more information.

3 Surprising Facts That Will Make You Appreciate Your Invisalign Treatment

Rarely does anyone like visiting the doctor, and especially not a dentist. What's more, having to wear braces, whether visible or invisible, sometimes feels too much of a burden to bear. Honestly, no one likes the discomfort, sensitivity and cumbersomeness of having to take out and put the braces back on every time you have to eat.Well, if you feel that you've had just about enough; take a moment to sample these surprising facts, which are sure to make you appreciate your invisalign treatment.1. You'll Only Have Two Sets Of Teeth in Your Entire LifetimeIf you were a crocodile, you wouldn't worry about losing one, two or even all of your teeth. You'd simply grow a new tooth as soon as you lost one. Unfortunately, you're just a mere human being who can only have two sets of teeth in his/ her entire lifetime. In fact, if you're 21 years of age or more, you've already used up your second chance at renewing your dental formula (according to the Better Health Channel, people will have an average of 32 permanent teeth by 21 years of age).What this means is that you need to take extra care of your teeth. If you don't, you'll be at risk of living a toothless existence for the rest of your life. Therefore, make sure that you faithfully abide by your orthodontist's prescription in your invisalign treatment.2. Your Mouth Has 200+ Bacterial SpeciesIf you analyzed your mouth right now, you'd find between 200 to 300 species of bacteria (based on a 1996 research report by the University of Texas). These are simply bacteria that just live in your mouth for no reason whatsoever. Just imagine what would happen if you missed brushing your teeth for one, two or even three whole days?


Thankfully, not all those bacterial species cause dental decay, but just having them around means that you must always be extra vigilant concerning your dental health. Such vigilance is even more necessary while wearing braces. In this case, if you don't maintain proper oral hygiene, the likely build up of dental caries will be detrimental to your treatment.3. Ancient Chinese Wrapped Prayer Parchment On Painful TeethAlthough the Chinese are credited with the very first invention of toothbrushes, during the late 1400s, they also had a very strange way of treating painful teeth. Such teeth were merely wrapped in tiny parchment (based on information from the Colorado Springs Dental Society).You might assume that the parchment would at least have some form of herbal remedy, but that isn't so. They just had written prayers and incantations.Aren't you glad that you live in an era where dental treatment is based on sound medical research, and not weird myths and beliefs? The braces you're expected to wear have been specially designed, based on thorough testing, with the main purpose of correcting known malocclusions. All you need to do is follow your orthodontist's prescription and you'll soon get back that beautiful smile - no need for special incarnations.

Dealing With Cavities And Tooth Decay

If you look at the world around you, you will hardly find a person, who has all his teeth intact after his late fifties. One of the reasons behind it is that most of the people don't take their oral health as seriously as they should. They ignore the cavities and even tooth decay and avoid consulting a dentist till the pain increases and finally becomes unbearable. If you can track the cavities and tooth decay at the right time, then it is possible to check its further development and your tooth can be saved from getting unnecessarily sacrificed. In this article, we will discuss about the causes of cavities and how can we prevent them.What causes cavities?A cavity is primarily caused due to the presence of Streptococcus Mutans bacteria in the mouth. This bacteria mixes with carbohydrates and produces acid, which is responsible for cavities and tooth decay. Streptococcus Mutans bacteria is not present in our mouth by birth but it is mostly transmitted from mother to babies while they feed the little ones with milk. Another reason which is responsible for cavities and tooth decay is the deficiency of Fluoride in the teeth.How to prevent cavities?Cavities can be prevented by minimizing the consumption of carbohydrates and starch. Complex carbohydrates like bread, potatoes etc. are less harming than simple carbohydrates like sugar, glucose, fructose etc. and hence, they should be avoided as much as possible. The frequency of eating also plays an important role in tooth decay. Consuming simple carbohydrates quickly is better than having them at snail's pace and the later will give more time to Streptococcus Mutans bacteria to mix up with carbohydrates and produce acid, which will damage the teeth.


In order to prevent the deficiency of Fluoride in the teeth, one should use toothpaste with fluoride. Custom fluoride strips are also available in the market which can be directly applied to the teeth to cure Fluoride deficiency. Chewing gums contains Xylitol, which has natural sugar and helps in preventing cavities and tooth decay. Apart from it, one should regularly brush their teeth and floss them after having a meal.If you can keep your teeth healthy, then you not only prevent yourself from all the pain that you have to bear while treating them, but you can also spend quality time with your family, which would had otherwise gone in appointment with the dentist. And lastly, with healthy teeth, you can eat just about everything you like, without worrying about anything. So, learn to take proper care of your teeth and they will take care of you as well!

How Is the Dental Laser Being Implemented?

Advances in how dental procedures are approached and performed in the last 20 years is related closely with the major advances in laser technology. Incorporating the use of lasers in the field of dentistry has been a benefit to nearly all possible services offered as well as to the patient. A patient's length of stay has been shortened, the quality of work has been increased, and all of this results in lower anxiety and greater sense of comfort.For use on cavitiesA lower intensity laser has been found to be very accurate in identifying early signs of tooth decay which of course has allowed for early treatment of affected areas.For use on removing tooth decayThe ability to utilize a laser in the removal of tooth decay has not eliminated the need for drilling, although it has reduced the amount required dramatically. This has been extremely helpful in keeping those patients with a high anxiety level a little more relaxed.How the laser is utilized on fillingsUsing a special laser, dentists are able to focus the laser on the freshly filled area. Afterward, the compounds are activated and begin curing. This allows the filling to set almost instantly.Lasers can reduce the amount of anesthesia neededFor many procedures needing a local anesthesia, combining the use of a laser won't eliminate the need for the anesthesia, but it can reduce it.Using lasers for crown insertionLaser technology has made the use of putty impressions archaic. Using lasers, an exact measurement can be taken and then sent to a computer. The computer then relays that information to a machine that makes a perfect crown which can fit into even the tiniest of crevices for a secure fit. This method provides the patient with a fully functioning crown, often accomplished in just one visit.Lasers can provide relief for sensitive teethPatients that suffer from increased sensitivity to hot and cold temperatures on the teeth can now find relief. Through the use of lasers, the tubes responsible for the sensitivity can easily be sealed up providing relief from the pain associated with hot and cold exposure.


Using lasers to remove gum tissueUnlike many other cutting devices, by using a high intensity laser beam, a smooth precision and sterile cut can be used to remove and treat gum disease.Using lasers to remove other mouth tissueWith the use of lasers, the swelling, bleeding, and trauma that is found with the use of other cutting devices, is not present. This makes lasers a great tool for areas in need of biopsy or lesion.Lasers to treat being tongue tiedWhen the frenulum linguae is too restrictive, the condition is commonly referred to as being tongue-tied. The muscle attachment underneath to tongue can effect speech delays and even impede breast feeding. This condition is now easily corrected through the use of lasers. Lasers resolve this issue by adjusting the frenulum which allows the tongue easier movement.Using lasers for crown lengtheningWhile prepping an area for crown insertion, it's not uncommon for the surrounding area to be in less-than-ideal shape. Lasers can be utilized to trim down the gum line and reveal healthier parts of the tooth which can ensure a proper and more stable insertion for dental crowns.Using a laser in root canal therapyThe laser has fairly simple benefits during the root canal procedure. The laser will remove bacteria from the canals and help to trim back the tissues. The lasers clean precision lends potential to less time in the chair and faster healing.Using lasers to whiten teethAfter applying a bleach solution to the teeth, by using a special heat laser, the solution is activated and the process is sped up, leaving little time spent in the dentists' chair and more time to smile.For more information on how dental lasers can help to make your next dental check-up a breeze, contact your local cosmetic dentist today.