Why Are Orthodontics So Important?

December 22, 2015 by lunsfordortho

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By Denise Freese, mysuburbanlife.com

Everyone wants a pleasant, beautiful smile, but not many people are blessed with straight, white, lovely teeth. Although regular visits to your dentist will help you have teeth that are clean and white, orthodontics are necessary to fix teeth that grow in crooked or emerge in the wrong location. Orthodontic treatment is a short-term investment that yields lifetime benefits.

Teeth in malocclusion (the top and bottom arches don’t line up correctly) are difficult to clean, and may lead to periodontal disease, tooth decay, and tooth loss. Other orthodontic issues, such as crooked, misaligned teeth, a distinct overbite, and upper teeth that protrude outwards can cause abnormal wear of tooth surfaces, speech problems, difficulty in chewing food, and problems with the jaw joints. They can also increase the possibility of fracture due to trauma.

The American Association of Orthodontics recommends that each child be checked by an orthodontist by the age of 7. Early intervention that takes advantage of the patient’s growth can help make corrective treatment easier and quicker.

Orthodontics are designed to treat the issue presented. They can be removable or fixed (cemented) into place, and can be made of metal, ceramic, or plastic. The goal is to use gentle pressure to move teeth into their proper position, after which the body builds new bone to support the teeth in their new location.

Growing number of seniors are getting braces for looks and health

September 8, 2015 by lunsfordortho

By Jay Crandall, AZFamily.com

Thanks to a handful of grandchildren, Amy Bartylla knows quite a bit about orthodontics.

“I have five grandchildren, and four out of five are either in or just have finished braces,” she said.

But what she didn’t know until recently is that it would be a perfect fit for her.

“I just assumed that I was over the age that it could be done,” Bartylla, who is 75 says.

Bartylla said as she got older her teeth were getting increasingly crowded, so her dentist recommended an orthodontist.

“I’m finding this huge jump in our practice of people 50s, 60s, 70s, 80s deciding, ‘Yeah, I want to get braces, too,'” Dunn said.

Some patients are coming for cosmetic reasons, others to improve their bite.

“When you’re looking at things where it’s just a detrimental bite, a tooth is being pushed out of the bone because of the way that the teeth are coming together, you can save some teeth by getting that occlusion exactly where it needs to be,” Dunn explained.

That is what brought 77-year-old John Timmes in.

“I didn’t want to lose my teeth and I wanted to bite and chew things appropriately,” he said.

Timmes wore braces years ago but said recently several teeth were becoming loose.

Dunn said it is important to recognize that it is never too late for braces and remember as an adult you may have more options than a teenager.

Early orthodontic intervention can reduce treatment time

April 20, 2015 by lunsfordortho

By: mykawartha.com

Although orthodontic treatment can be done at any age, it is easier, faster and less expensive to treat children than adults. Early treatment can also eliminate the need for surgery, or the extractions of teeth, ultimately giving a better cosmetic result.

Orthodontic treatment is often associated with adolescents, but some problems are more readily corrected before all of the permanent teeth have come in. Tooth alignment problems generally start to appear as permanent teeth begin to emerge.

Early intervention can straighten crooked, rotated or misaligned teeth, preserve, guide, or create space for permanent teeth, correct bite problems by helping to guide the jaw growth, and reduce or eliminate speech problems. Braces apply a constant gentle pressure, slowly moving teeth to a new position.

Orthodontic treatment lasts until the desired outcome is attained. Some children respond faster than others, but on average treatment lasts for approximately two years with appliances being adjusted periodically during this time. Growth of the mouth, severity of the problem, and heath of the teeth and gums can all play a factor in the duration of the treatment.

No matter what your age, orthodontics can correct your bite and maximize your teeth’s effectiveness in performing their functions while improving your smile and appearance.

Protecting Your Healthy Smile while Wearing Braces

December 16, 2013 by lunsfordortho

By: Colgate.com

Oral care throughout orthodontic treatment

Orthodontic treatment is an important investment in your future. Everyone helping with your orthodontic care wants you to have the best results possible. While you are wearing braces, it is essential that you take care of your teeth and gums. This article explains why and how.

More care needed during orthodontics

Have a look in the mirror at your new braces. As you see, the brackets and wires have many nooks and crannies that can trap food and plaque. This means your risk of tooth decay and gum problems may be higher while you are wearing braces.

You need to pay special attention to cleaning your teeth everyday and to your diet. Permanent damage to tooth enamel can occur if the teeth and brackets are not kept clean.

Areas on the enamel surface may begin to lose minerals (the early stage of tooth decay), leaving unsightly white spots. You may also develop inflamed, bleeding gums (gingivitis). Gingivitis and the early stages of tooth decay can be reversed by taking extra care with your cleaning and diet. If left untreated, they can lead to bigger problems that will require treatment and have life-long effects. While you are having orthodontic treatment, you need to continue to have regular check-ups with your family dental professional to ensure little problems don’t become big ones.

Tooth-friendly diet

Dental professionals are increasingly concerned about acidic foods and drinks that can damage tooth enamel when consumed frequently or when sipped over extended periods of time.

The chart below shows you how some common food and drinks stack up against one another. While many high acid foods are healthy for your body, low acid foods are better for your teeth. Remember- during orthodontic treatment, it’s best to choose low acid foods when you sit down to eat.

EXCITING NEW PRODUCT OFFERED IN OUR OFFICE

July 8, 2013 by lunsfordortho

By: Dr. Joseph L. Lunsford

Our practice is making the AcceleDent product available because it has been shown to influence treatment in a positive way. The “SoftPulse Technology” used by AcceleDent generates precisely calibrated micropulses to accelerate remodeling activity during orthodontic treatment.

AcceleDent still requires patient cooperation with all aspects of the orthodontic treatment prescribed for the patient, as well as daily use for 20 minutes of the AcceleDent product. This is an easy, hands free use at home – while texting, reading, watching TV or listening to music.

AcceleDent can reduce a patient’s “out of office” treatment time, so it may reduce time between visits. It does not necessarily reduce the number of visits or the work that needs to be done by the doctor.

AcceleDent is a generalized orthodontic product and there is no way to guarantee a particular patient the desired result of speeding up the case.

The potential of AcceleDent for our practice and patients over the next few years is very exciting.

To learn more, please visit our website: http://www.seaofsmiles.com/treatment-info/types-of-braces.aspx#today

The Evolution of Dental Braces

March 12, 2013 by lunsfordortho

New braces have improved on their predecessors’ comfort level, aesthetic appearance and even their straightening effectiveness in order to reach out to weary customers who had difficulty with the bygone image of enormous metal brackets banded onto the teeth.

The discretion of revamped orthodontic technology has transformed the traditional method of applying braces from a gluing process that is held in place with a metal looping application intended to go around the entire row of teeth into a smaller, slighter process involving stronger applications of glue that require their own smaller but tighter bonding brackets. “Banding Together”

The thick bands that most people associate with braces have gone by the wayside, replaced with thinner wires that are both difficult to notice and more effective at actually straightening and adjusting the teeth themselves.

Thinner bands are also healthier alternatives for the sake of the teeth themselves, as the thick bands that were previously used by orthodontic practices were difficult to clean and resulted in a steep decline in the health of the patient’s affected teeth.

Utilizing stronger but smaller components in braces technology translates into a shorter length of treatment required before the braces can come off, and less adjusting appointments in between with the orthodontic practice.

The old braces were difficult to apply and maintain, but they were aesthetically unappealing, and orthodontic technology has finally caught up with the consumer demand for more stylish and cosmetic bracing applications for straightening teeth.

Lunsford Orthodontics

Tag Archives: Orthodontics