Tag: Misaligned Teeth

Everything you need to know about dental sealants

Taking good care of your teeth and overall oral health is a daily commitment. The best way to prevent cavities is to brush and floss. However, cleaning every inch of your teeth is hard, especially those back teeth you use to chew (molars). These molars are rough and uneven, a perfect place for cavity-causing bacteria to hide. That’s why dental sealants are an alternative treatment that helps keep teeth clean. 

Dental sealants consist of thin plastic coatings that are placed on the biting surfaces of teeth, often the back teeth (the premolars and molars) to prevent teeth from cavities. The sealant instantly forms a protective barrier over each tooth’s enamel by bonding to the depressions and grooves of the teeth. 

Who can have sealants? 

Anyone with permanent teeth and premolars can consider sealants. The deep grooves and depressions on the back teeth are quite likely to cause decay and cavities. Sealants are therefore advised for teenagers and kids. Dental sealants could also be helpful for adults who were fortunate enough to grow up without developing dental problems that affected their molars. Children can have sealants as soon as the premolars, and permanent molars spring up. Rarely, children under the age of six may require dental sealants. A dentist may suggest using sealants if they see that a child’s teeth have deep grooves and depressions. 

When can dental sealants be used? 

Once the molars erupt, dental sealants are routinely applied to children and teenagers because they offer potent protection against tooth decay. 

How are sealants applied? 

The technique of applying sealant is easy and painless. Your dentist can apply the sealant to each tooth in just a few minutes. The steps for applying are as follows: 

  • The teeth are first meticulously cleansed. 
  • Then, each tooth is dried. 
  • An acid solution is applied to them to make the chewing surfaces of the teeth rougher so that the sealant would adhere to them. 
  • After rinsing, the teeth are dried. 
  • After being painted onto the tooth enamel, the sealant hardens, chemically bonding to the tooth. 
  • The sealant can occasionally be hardened with a specialized curing lamp. 

Are there any side effects to dental sealants? 

Dental sealants have no side effects, and allergic reactions are rare. However, let the dentist know if you have any allergies so they can proceed with caution. 

How long can sealants last? 

During your routine dental visit, find out if sealants need to be reapplied. Sealants can protect your teeth from cavities and last from a few months to 10 years. 

Even after placing dental sealants, you must continue to brush and floss your teeth as usual. This helps in defending the surfaces where the sealants aren’t applied. Since dental sealants are only preventative procedures, good dental hygiene standards should be followed. We ensure that you have a beautiful and healthy smile while helping to prevent cavities in your teeth. So, make an appointment right away with our experts at Bravo! Dental for a smile free of cavities. 

Crooked Teeth: Causes, Concerns, and Treatments

A crooked smile or a grin with missing front teeth might add to the cuteness factor as a kid. But, as we grow up, it might not be so adored. We may not wish we didn’t have crooked teeth until later in life when we begin to feel self-conscious about our smile or have problems chewing or biting.

Some people are indifferent about this, but crooked teeth can lead to various oral health problems and other difficulties if left untreated. Even if enhancing your appearance isn’t your top priority, seeing an orthodontist about your misaligned teeth might save you a lot of future health problems and expenses.

Crooked Teeth: What Causes Them?

A misalignment between the teeth’ size and the jaw’s size is a common cause of crooked teeth. Many people are genetically predisposed to having crooked teeth. However, it can be caused by a variety of non-genetic factors as well, including:

Sucking your thumb: While a thumb-sucking newborn may be adorable, the results are not! Teeth typically grow crooked due to the thumb’s persistent pressure on still-growing gums. The usage of a pacifier excessively might lead to the same issue.

Baby teeth prematurely fallen: Early tooth loss might cause other teeth to migrate into the gap, crowding the region where a permanent tooth will ultimately emerge.

Tongue thrusting: When swallowing, if you force your tongue on your teeth instead of the roof of your mouth, it might cause crooked teeth.

Mouth or jaw trauma: The most severe misaligned teeth are frequently caused by facial trauma. The remaining teeth will most likely slide into that free area if teeth are lost, or the jaw is moved due to injury.

Crooked Teeth: What are the possible treatments?

Misalignment of the teeth can occur at any age. If identified early, these flaws can be readily remedied with treatments such as braces, headgear, cosmetic dentistry, or clear aligners.

Invisalign Treatment: Invisalign is a type of brace that employs transparent aligners custom-made to fit over your teeth. Is it possible to straighten crooked teeth using Invisalign? Absolutely.

Veneers: If you merely have misaligned front teeth that aren’t causing you any health problems, a cosmetic solution like dental veneers might help. The best aspect is that veneers only take a few weeks to apply instead of the months it might take to straighten teeth with braces.

Cosmetic Dentistry: For somewhat misaligned teeth, veneers, dental bonding, and crowns are three cosmetic dentistry choices. While these solutions do not correct crooked teeth, they can improve their appearance by appearing straight.

Dental bonding: Bonds can be used to cover a portion of a tooth’s front surface, whereas veneers cover the full front surface. Dental bonding is less expensive and takes one clinical visit only. Bonds can also be reversed.

Dental Crowns: This operation begins with tooth reshaping, followed by placing a porcelain or metal crown on top of the tooth. Most of the time, dental crowns are exclusively utilized for restorative purposes.

If you’re content with the way your teeth appear now, there’s no need to straighten them. Perhaps your crooked teeth contribute to the charm of your smile.

But, Crooked teeth, aren’t always amusing. They can cause substantial discomfort and impair your dental health. Book your appointment at Bravo Dental now online or call us at 1-888-682-7286 today if you want to set the record straight.

It’s not too late to have the smile of your dreams!

A Guide To How You Can fix Your Misaligned Teeth

Your oral health may be affected severely if you see your teeth are misaligned. Malocclusion, or misaligned teeth, is a frequent problem caused by simple crowding of teeth or childhood activities such as thumb-sucking. It’s critical to fix these dental flaws if you want to keep your teeth healthy.  

In many cases, poor teeth alignment and bite are caused by congenital causes. Facial development and hereditary factors also play a part. It could also be caused by gum, tooth loss, or wear and tear in adulthood.  

A malocclusion can cause both practical and cosmetic issues, compromising the ability to chew and, in rare cases, our ability to speak or smile, adversely affecting confidence.  

Is it possible to restore severely crooked teeth?  

Yes, but due to mouth shape, tooth placement, and other variables, each case of misaligned teeth is unique. Here are a few methods that can work well to align your misaligned teeth. 

Orthodontic treatment: For slightly misaligned teeth, orthodontic treatment with various types of braces is the best option. This will straighten the teeth using traditional fixed braces, internal lingual braces, clear aligners like Invisalign, or a mix of the same, depending on the severity of the misalignment and the specific situation. When you visit our office, we’ll analyse your teeth and determine which type of braces will be most effective for you.  

Orthognathic Surgery: In an exceptional situation, if there are major anomalies in jaw growth and development, a corrective jaw surgery may be required in addition to orthodontic treatment. However, this is a rare occurrence, and improved orthodontic treatment procedures suggest that many of these cases can now be resolved without the need for jaw surgery.  

Therapeutic post-procedure treatments:  

Restorative work may be required after braces have been used to correct the teeth, such as if the teeth are undersized or misshapen, or in adults whose teeth have been impacted by disease, wear, or damage.   

After the teeth have been straightened, there may be aesthetic concerns, such as the corners of the teeth not being of the same size or a variation in color between the misaligned teeth. Simple restorative treatments like composite bonding, fillings, and whitening are usually used, but in more severe tooth situations, like structural deterioration, restorations such as veneers or crowns may be required. 

How long will it take to fix your misaligned teeth?  

Each treatment solution and each patient will consume a different amount of time from the last. Depending on the individual instance and severity of the malocclusion, orthodontic treatments might take anywhere between six months to 3 years. It is necessary to use a retainer after your braces are removed to keep your teeth in their new locations. Also, proper brushing techniques after every meal or snack, and avoiding hard or sticky items that could harm or become lodged in braces are some of the things that have to be considered a part of the procedure.  

Bravo Dental to the rescue 

Bravo Dental’s skilled team of expert specialists will be able to determine the best treatment choice for your misaligned teeth and will be with you throughout the process to ensure that the result, not to mention the process, is ideal for you.