Dentists Archives - Bravo Dental Dallas

Crossbite: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

Do you feel your teeth are messed up? You could be having a crossbite. Crossbite, also known as an underbite, is a type of malocclusion, or bad bite, that causes rows of teeth to overlap improperly. Crossbite is common in both children and adults. You may have trouble chewing food, or your dentist may have mentioned it during a check-up. No matter your age, there are several options for correcting a crossbite.

What exactly is a crossbite?

When you bite, your lower teeth cover one or more of your upper teeth, which is known as a crossbite. In short, it is the irregular contact between the upper and lower teeth. This intermittent contact can occur in a variety of locations throughout the mouth.

Crossbites are classified into two types,

Anterior Crossbites: They occur when the lower front teeth (canine and incisors) protrude further than the upper front teeth. Crossbites can be treated with orthodontics, but for severe cases in adults, some crossbites require a combination of orthodontics and surgery to set back the lower jaw and achieve optimal results.

Posterior crossbites: They are a type of improper back tooth bite in which the lower back teeth (the premolars and molars) protrude further than the upper back teeth. An expander, a common orthodontic appliance, can be used to correct posterior crossbites.

Causes

Crossbites can be inherited, but they can also be acquired. Crossbites in children can result from permanent teeth emerging before all baby teeth have fallen out. If this happens, the new teeth cannot grow properly, resulting in misalignment issues.

It can be caused by various other factors like thumb-sucking, tongue-thrusting, and prolonged pacifier or bottle use.

Symptoms and Risks

A crossbite can cause headaches, jaw pain, and tooth decay. Crossbites can also impact the appearance of your teeth and lips. A crossbite in the back teeth can cause teeth grinding, abnormal facial development, and jaw problems. If left untreated, it could cause speech impediments, temporomandibular disorder (TMD), gum diseases, or tooth loss.

Treatments

Most crossbites can be corrected by adjusting the teeth or jaw with orthodontic treatments and appliances. Most dentists agree that the best time to fix a crossbite is when you are young. Adults can also be treated, but the earlier the crossbite is detected and treated, the better.

Each case is unique and necessitates an examination to determine the best treatment. There are several options for treatment for correcting a crossbite:

- Removable Palatal Expander
- Braces
- Retainers
- Dental Restorations (bonding, capping)
- Teeth extraction
- Headgear
- In severe cases, surgery

Many orthodontic professionals use a combination of expanders and braces therapy. The expanders work to create the proper amount of space between the teeth so the bites are correctly aligned throughout the mouth. A removable expander that is only worn at night may be prescribed in adults. However, everyone’s condition is different and will require a treatment strategy.

As said before, untreated crossbites can lead to more severe health problems in the future. Make an appointment with Bravo! Dental today to correct your bite! The best place to begin is to speak with your dentist about crossbite correction and treatment options for you or your child.

8 Steps to follow if you have dentures as a senior

Dentures are a great replacement option for persons who have lost an adult tooth. It is typical for people to lose all of their teeth at some point, as they progress in age. Replacement teeth have existed for decades, but they have never been particularly comfortable. Fortunately, modern dental technology offers a variety of pleasant and attractive alternatives.

Passing a certain age opens doors to a few unfortunate health concerns, and teeth damage is no exception. There are times when repairing teeth is no longer possible, and they must be replaced.

Denture wearers require high-quality dentures at a reasonable price. Depending on the senior person’s needs, dentures can be categorized into two:

Complete dentures: A whole set of fake teeth that replace all of a person’s upper or lower teeth.

Partial dentures: A fake tooth that just replaces one or a few lost teeth of either jaw.

Without dentures senior citizens could face a slew of problems. One such example is when the mouth structure begins to sag, making it difficult for them to eat comfortably or talk clearly. Their self-esteem will eventually suffer as a result.

Dentures are a good option to alleviate such problems.

However, some seniors experience the following issues after wearing a denture:

Dentures that don’t fit properly might cause pain and discomfort.
When dentures rub against the gums, it causes discomfort and edema.

It can also cause an epulis, a callus that requires surgery to remove.

Denture pain can also be caused by natural changes in the gums and jaw over time. Gums ebb and flow and the bone beneath the gum might shrink over time. Because the change is gradual, and many seniors are unaware of it, they might not notice it until it’s too late.

Once seniors get their dentures set, they must take the following steps to maintain good dental health:

Handling must be done with caution. When they fall, dentures are prone to breaking.
Brush the gums, tongue, and palate with a soft-bristled toothbrush at least twice a day helps reduce plaque by stimulating circulation in your tissues.
You must brush and remove their dentures on a daily basis, and soak them in water when not in use.
Regular check-ups are necessary so that the dentist can detect any infections, or even early-stage mouth cancer.

If you want to correct your damaged teeth with dentures or if you are facing discomfort wearing them, Bravo! Dental can you fill you in on the gaps (no pun intended). We provide ideal dental advice & support for replacement and or other plans. Book an appointment at 1-888-682-7286 soon!

How to get rid of Gaps between your Teeth?

Gapped teeth, commonly known as diastema, result in noticeable gaps between teeth. This sort of genetic gap is predicted to exist in 50% of children under the age of 5, and it usually resolves on its own by the age of nine. However, the gap may not close on its own if it hasn’t closed after the adult canine and incisor teeth have grown in.

Gaps Between Teeth: What causes them?

Aside from heredity, a few additional factors might cause dental gaps. For example, if your child’s jaw and tooth sizes are mismatched, there may be an excess area in the jaw for the teeth to distance apart. Gaps between the two front teeth can also be caused by childhood activities such as using a pacifier or thumb-sucking.

Frenum (tissue between lips and gums) problems cause gaps in the teeth. This band of tissue can hinder the two front teeth from closing together if it is excessively thick.

How to get rid of Dental Gaps

Various therapies can be used to fix gaps in the teeth. Orthodontic braces are the most popular method of closing gaps between teeth.

Dental implants: Spaces between teeth can attract dangerous germs, cause bone loss, and cause neighboring teeth to move. Dental implants are the best and most long-term method for bridging a gap between teeth caused by tooth loss.

Braces: In complicated cases, braces are the more effective treatment for closing unwanted gaps and spaces. Traditional orthodontic therapy can help with mild to severe cases of misalignment.

Invisalign: Without traditional metal braces, Invisalign uses 3-D imaging to move and shift a patient’s teeth into perfect alignment. Clear aligners fill gaps between teeth and improve bite alignment by pressing them together. Invisalign treatments provide the same results as traditional braces without the use of metal, and they’re a great way to close tiny gaps between teeth.

Dental bonding: Dental bonding is an excellent option for closing tiny gaps in the front teeth and addressing cosmetic concerns. A tooth-colored composite resin is expertly placed to close the gap between the front teeth. Patients with a misaligned bite, crooked or crowded teeth might consider dental bonding.

Veneers: Porcelain veneers are thin, tooth-shaped shells put to the teeth’ surface to hide stains and cover tiny gaps. Veneers may convert crooked teeth into a properly spaced, formed smile in only one visit.

Dental Crowns: It is a type of dental restoration. When a little tooth causes a gap between teeth, a porcelain crown can be used to fill the gap.

A professional will prescribe the best treatment solution for your smile based on the size and severity of your gap. Not only are aesthetics important to us, but we also make sure that all of our patients have the best possible comfort and bite stability.

Why Should You Whiten Your Teeth at the Dentist?

When selecting whether to whiten your teeth at home or at the dentist, it’s crucial to weigh the pros and cons of each option. While at-home teeth whitening is less expensive than professional teeth whitening, the outcomes of a professional teeth whitening are significantly superior and involve far less risk than what you can get with over-the-counter or at-home procedures.

Get better results in less than an hour:

The bleaching chemical, hydrogen peroxide will be present in both at-home and in-office solutions, regardless of the method you pick. Peroxide levels in in-office systems range from 15% to 43%, whereas peroxide levels in at-home procedures range from 3% to 20%. The bleaching chemical used at the dentist has a higher peroxide content, which whitens your teeth more effectively and in less time. Dentists utilise heat or light in addition to a high peroxide content to speed up the whitening process and increase the whitening results. Professional teeth whitening can generate a whiter smile 2 to 8 shades brighter than at-home treatments, which might take weeks or even months to see any noticeable improvements.

Brighter and longer-lasting smiles:

One of the most significant benefits of having your teeth whitened at the dentist is the treatment oversight before and during the procedure, ensuring satisfactory outcomes that at-home methods cannot guarantee.

Prior to teeth whitening, the dentist will inspect your teeth to ensure that you are a good candidate for the procedure. The dentist will also evaluate which bleaching is appropriate for you. This can help you avoid any less-than-ideal outcomes.

The dental professional will clean your teeth and remove any plaque or tartar before administering the bleaching solution to achieve the best results. The dentist will ensure that nothing goes wrong during treatment and that the operation is as painless as possible, with minimal tooth sensitivity and gum irritation.

Unlike most at-home whitening procedures (whitening toothpaste, baking soda, etc.) that remove plaque and discoloration from the surface of the teeth, professional whitening penetrates the teeth from the inside, where age and medication-related discolouration occurs.

Reduces risk of tooth sensitivity and damage:

Tooth discomfort and gum irritation are common side effects of teeth whitening. Too much time spent with the whitening gel on the teeth produces dehydration and discomfort. The peroxide agent might irritate your gums and cause pain when you eat certain foods if it gets on them. It’s far more likely that the patient may abuse at-home whitening solutions, resulting in sensitivity and pain, as well as leading to less-than-ideal outcomes. On the other hand, the dentist will safeguard your teeth and gums from harm by prepping them before applying the whitening solution.

In essence, when weighing the health hazards of at-home whitening treatments against the various benefits of professional teeth whitening, the latter is unquestionably the wiser choice.

Book your teeth whitening session with your local Bravo Dental today!