How to know if you have a bite problem?

Bite Problems or problems with how your teeth fit together can occur in different ways. Some bite problems can cause quite a bit of discomfort or pain. You may not even realize that the pain you are experiencing has anything to do with your teeth or bite alignment.

You should be able to bite hard and grind your teeth together in all directions without feeling discomfort in any tooth or jaw area if your bite is good.

Bite Problem Symptoms

Some bite problems can cause pain in the jaw area or your ear, it can cause headaches and even sinus pain. It can at times result in clenching your teeth or grinding your teeth at night. You can even do some serious damage to your teeth if your bite is not properly aligned.

Teeth that are sensitive to cold often get that way by taking an extra pounding if any part of that tooth strikes before the rest of the teeth contact during closure.

If a new filling or crown is too high, it may hurt when you clench your teeth, in which case it is probably not in perfect harmony with a correct bite.

Biting on a “high” filling or crown can cause the tooth to become tender or sore, and often also causes the tooth to be sensitive to cold. In addition to the sore tooth, the jaw muscles may also become sore as they try to avoid striking the high tooth.

Severe Wear

Look for severe wear on your teeth, as this is likely another sign that your bite is not in harmony. If you have worn all the enamel off the edges of your teeth, you will see a darker colored surface. This is dentin and it will wear down seven times faster than the much harder enamel that you’ve already worn through. If you come in, we can evaluate what is causing this wear. It can be especially damaging when it is on your front teeth, so if you notice your lower front teeth have worn down to dentin, have your bite checked. Better yet, don’t wait till all the enamel is gone. Correcting your bite may stop or at least slow down the wear process.

If the wear on your lower front teeth continues the nerves will be exposed and the teeth can become abscessed. Wear that is this severe requires expert correction of the bite as well as restoration of the severely damaged teeth.

There are simple ways to detect when a problem with the bite is causing or at least contributing to pain or discomfort. You can come in to A Perfect Smile Orthodontics for a free consultation or, better yet, an examination and we can determine look into any bite problems and assess the degree of any malocclusion. And we can discuss all options with you to correct the problem.

Teeth Grinding

Although teeth grinding, also called bruxism, can be caused by stress and anxiety, it often occurs during sleep and is all too often caused by an abnormal bite, misalignment of your teeth, or missing or crooked teeth.

Because grinding often occurs during sleep, one can easily be unaware that they grind their teeth. However, a dull headache or sore jaw when you wake up can be a telltale symptom of teeth grinding. Many times people learn that they grind their teeth by their loved one who hears the grinding at night.

In some cases, chronic teeth grinding can result in a fracturing, loosening, or wearing down of your teeth. The chronic grinding can even wear teeth down to stumps over a period of years. Not only can severe grinding damage teeth and result in tooth loss, it can also affect your jaws, cause or worsen TMD/TMJ (short for temporomandibular joint disorders) and can result in considerable discomfort.

Abnormal alignment of upper and lower teeth (malocclusion) is the primary cause of nighttime teeth grinding. The teeth don’t fit together. During the day, the brain overrides the teeth that don’t fit. But at night, the brain keeps trying to make the teeth fit together properly, grinding the teeth together in the process.

This can be caused by something as simple as a filling or crown that is not fitted perfectly to one’s bite, throwing your entire bite out of alignment. Or it can be something a bit more extensive regarding how the two arches of your upper and lower teeth fit together.

The good news is that there are ways to handle this.

Use A Nighttime Teeth Guard

There are acrylic guards that you can wear when you sleep that will protect your teeth. You can come in and we can make one that fits your teeth. But this is just a temporary fix.

Come in for a Bite Evaluation

If teeth are only slightly misaligned, we can often fix that in one office visit. Casts are made of the teeth and areas of malocclusion are identified. Sometimes, just grinding down a small part of a filling, a crown or a molar is enough to fix the problem.

Braces or Invisalign

For more severe cases of misalignment, more adjustment is needed. Braces are another way to change and correctly align your bite. Over time, braces change the teeth in relation to each other and are a permanent means of correcting the proper alignment of your teeth.

We can handle Teeth Grinding!

Teeth grinding is a relatively new area of study. The good news is that we can repair any damage done and most likely handle the problem for good by addressing the root cause of teeth grinding, through proper alignment of your teeth and bite.

Fast Orthodontics, Fast Braces – Do they Work?

Recently, I have had a couple of new patients come to me that have had “Fast Braces” and “Six Month Smiles” treatments in another office.

They accepted this “fast orthodontics” because they were promised shorter treatment times and slightly less expensive fees.

All of these patients came to me for a consultation because they were unsatisfied with the results. Many now have flared front teeth and an uneven occlusion (or bite) that felt worse following “fast orthodontic” treatment.

Short term orthodontic treatment generally focuses on only the front teeth and does not correct malocclusion or how the upper and lower arches come together. The proper fit of the teeth is one of the most important factors for good oral health.

So, if you haven’t tried “fast orthodontics” but maybe you have heard about it, let me give you the straight story on what it is and what it isn’t.

Six Month Smiles is a kind of “braces in a box” kit provided to general dentists with all of the parts included. This service is primarily only offered to general dentists who want to add orthodontic services to their practices. To prepare to be a Six Month Smiles provider, a dentist attends a two-day seminar, after which he can then submit models and begin providing treatment.

As a Board Certified Orthodontist, I have dedicated my life to creating the most beautiful and healthy smiles possible for each and every one of my patients. I always provide the highest quality treatment for my patients and strive to also minimize the treatment time. Healthy, quality orthodontic treatment generally takes between 18-24 months depending on the patient. “Fast Orthodontics” is really just short, incomplete treatments that do not address many of the primary issues of orthodontics. In some cases, just moving the front teeth can actually cause significant problems in the bite and the way the teeth fit together. The result will be uneven wear, grinding or even painful cases of TMJ or TMD.

You should also be aware that “fast orthodontics” often cost almost as much as a very complete, comprehensive, and well planned orthodontic treatment that includes bite correction. The patients who have come to me are often frustrated because they now have to pay for full orthodontic treatment (after Fast Braces) to get things right. The only situation where “fast orthodontics” might be appropriate is for retreatment, where a patient has had a very slight incidence of relapse after full orthodontic treatment and they desire small corrections in alignment or to close a small space.

If you are considering “fast orthodontics,” my best advice to you is something I have always followed: If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing right the first time. If there are any real ways of making your treatment shorter without compromising the quality of your results, we will do everything we can to streamline things to get you your beautiful, healthy smile as quickly as possible!

Another Invisalign Experience

Here is another impartial review of their Invisalign experience. This is again just the straight dope about this woman’s Invisalign treatment.

It isn’t a walk in the park to do the Invisalign, invisible braces, program. But…

Appearance-wise it is a better option than traditional braces.
You can take them out to eat or if you need to do some public speaking or singing.
The program works and you will end up with beautiful teeth by the end of the program. It works and it works great!

We hope you are finding these helpful. Since Invisalign treatment can take as long as a year, it is important to understand what this treatment entails and what your own invisalign experience might be like before diving in.

There are definite advantages to Invisalign, but there are also aspects of the treatment that you should know before hand.

Traditional braces likewise have advantages and disadvantages, but for some, traditional braces may be a better way to go.

Either way, keep in mind that you will have straight teeth for your lifetime if you follow the protocols correctly. That is worth some suffering if in the end you have a beautiful smile, a more professional look and increased self-confidence. So please keep this in mind as you watch.

Invisalign Experience

There are a lot of people who have done short videos on their own about their personal Invisalign experience.

These are unbiased, straight dope about the pro’s and cons of what they experienced while going through the treatment. I think it helps to hear from others exactly what they went through with their Invisalign treatment. It helps you to know what to expect if you are starting or considering Invisalign.

I’m going to put a few here and will add more later. Hope this helps to give you more information about this treatment!

And another one.

For more information about what dental problems Invisalign treats, you can go to our What Invisalign Treats page.

And you can check out our current special offer for Invisalign here.

How to Enjoy Halloween Despite Braces

Trick-or-treat! In the spirit of this sweet and spooky holiday, Dr. David Taylor and his team at A Perfect Smile Orthodontics, have some sweet tips for you on your Holiday treats.

Here’s the lowdown — the Good, the Bad and the Ugly lowdown.

While our highest recommendation would be no sugar at all, we realize that this might be a little unrealistic. So, to not be a downer on this fun holiday, here’s what we suggest.

The Good (or at least not so bad):

Dark chocolate, peanut butter cups and other soft chocolate bars such as milky way or twix are probably going to be easiest on your braces and the after-indulging clean-up. So load up on these and have at it. But remember to brush, floss and rinse well afterwards.

The Bad and the Ugly:

Bubblegum, hard candies, chewy candies, caramels, taffy, nutty bars or candies, jelly beans, licorice, tootsie rolls and suckers can wreak havoc on braces. They can damage teeth and even break your braces, as well as possibly prolonging your treatment time.

If you are using Invisalign(r) invisible braces, this type of candy can still get stuck in your teeth and even if you brush after eating it, you might now be able to get it all out and it can get trapped under the aligners when you put them back in. Not a pretty scene.

Happy Halloween!!

We hope this is helpful to you. All of us at A Perfect Smile Orthodontics would like to wish you and your family a happy, safe and healthy Halloween!

Invisalign Teen: best choice teens?

Many a mother (or father) has worried that their teen might not have enough discipline for the Invisalign® program. Since you have the option to take out the clear plastic aligner, maybe traditional braces would be a better option? Removable aligners, as with Invisalign Teen, have to be put in and kept in and can also be lost.

Align Technology (the makers of Invisalign) have completed a very interesting series of studies of teenagers needing orthodontics, some treated with traditional braces and others using Invisalign technology.

Invisalign Teen Study Findings:

Isolation: 92% of teenagers say that traditional braces make them feel isolated from their peers.

Self-esteem: Twice as many teens using Invisalign experience a rise in self-esteem compared to teenagers wearing braces.

Effectiveness: Invisalign treatment is usually as effective as braces for treating orthodontic conditions.

Cost: Invisalign treatment costs about the same as braces.

Bullying: Teenagers are 68% less likely to be teased by other young people when wearing Invisalign.

Reliability: Teenagers are more reliable than adults in following the Invisalign treatment protocol.

Confidence: 40% of teenagers say braces would have a negative impact on their self-confidence, but only 13% of Invisalign Teen users come to the same conclusion.

There are other advantages to using Invisalign that you may want to take into account.

With Invisalign Teen, if one does lose an aligner, the parents receive up to six replacements for free throughout the course of treatment.

Invisalign Teen is much safer than braces for athletes, since there are no wires or brackets to cause injury in the event of collisions.

Eating many different foods becomes difficult or forbidden with braces, but Invisalign is removed to eat.

For wind instrument musicians, playing is no different than usual, again because the aligners are removable.

Invisalign needs to be worn for twenty hours a day, leaving time for eating, playing and the usual daily dental hygiene.

There is an additional safeguard and reminder, if a teenager doesn’t wear their aligners regularly. Invisalign Teen includes a “wear indicator” — a blue dot that fades when worn. This lets parents and dentists check for compliance.

In our experience at A Perfect Smile Orthodontics, teenagers look forward to a new smile, so wearing Invisalign consistently is usually not a problem.

For more information about treatment with Invisalign Teen, we offer a free consultation to answer all of your questions.

How Long do Orthodontic Braces Take?

The length of time that orthodontic braces must be worn varies from patient to patient. On average though, treatment will typically last between 18 -24 months.

There are 3 major factors involved when moving teeth through the use of orthodontic braces: the amount of force applied, the duration that that force is applied and the natural healing process that must take place. It’s important to understand each of these factors.

In order to begin moving a tooth, a light and gradual force must be applied. This force is generated by the ligature wires and applied at the brackets on each tooth.

Teeth are able to move because the periodontal ligament, what holds the tooth to the bone, is elastic. Because these tissues are living, they can be changed and reshaped. While an excessive amount of force will damage these tissues, too light of a force won’t promote any change or movement. So an even balance of pressure is required.

Even if a perfect amount of pressure is applied to a tooth, it won’t move sufficiently unless the pressure is applied for the correct amount of time. This is due to how the body removes and rebuilds the bone surrounding the tooth.

Cells known as osteoclasts remove bone and ligament in order to allow for movement of the tooth. Additionally, osteoblasts rebuild bone, ligament and cementum to maintain the new position of the tooth. An easy way to visualize this is to consider how a hot knife goes through butter. It melts and separates on one side while reforming and coming together on the other side.

Lastly, and most importantly, is the healing process. If a tooth is moved too quickly it won’t be allowed to heal properly. Just like muscle fibers need time to rebuild after a strenuous workout, the tissues, bones and ligaments of teeth need time to heal reform. This healing time is imperative for treatment with orthodontic braces to be a success.

Can I Make My Orthodontic Braces Work Faster?

While we can in fact move teeth at a faster rate, as you have now learned it would be dangerous and damaging to do so. A slow, gradual movement is required to produce a positive outcome from your orthodontic treatment. But there are ways that you can help speed up the process, or at least avoid lengthening it.

The first is to begin orthodontic treatment as early as possible. It has been deemed by the AAO that children should be evaluated by an orthodontist as early as age 7.

Being able to catch oral health problems before they worsen, and cause more issues, makes a world of difference.

Maintaining proper care of your orthodontic braces is crucial to staying within the estimated treatment timeline. You should floss at least once a day, brush your teeth after every meal and before you go to bed. The purpose of this isn’t just to keep your braces clean. The healthier your gums are, the faster your teeth will move. It’s absolutely necessary to avoid candy, chewing gum and other hard foods your orthodontist warns against. These can bend or break the ligature wire and cause the brackets to come off and in turn slow down treatment.

If any part of your orthodontic braces break or come loose, you should contact your orthodontist and schedule an appointment immediately. Lastly, if you’re required to wear elastics, wear them at all times and be sure to change them every 24 hours.

Moving teeth with orthodontic braces is a delicate and complicated process. How long it takes depends on the level of health of the teeth, gums and supporting bone; the distance the teeth must travel, the amount of room available and the severity of the problems present. These are all factors that determine the length of orthodontic treatment. While it’s not safe to move teeth too quickly, you can help the process run more smoothly by properly taking care of your orthodontic braces and following the instructions of your orthodontist. You may not shorten the actual treatment time, but you will avoid costly mistakes and complications that could lengthen it.

Affordable Braces

Understanding which type of braces is most affordable is very important. If you are considering using dental braces to improve the appearance or functionality of your teeth there are a lot of options. Or perhaps it’s your child that requires braces. Most people would agree that a beautiful, healthy smile is a desirable trait and straight teeth can even help the shape of your entire face!

But when researching your options the amount of information to take in can be quite daunting and overwhelming. One concern is likely how much the treatment is going to cost and what the most affordable braces are.

Most Affordable Braces Option

There are a number of braces options that are available but traditional metal braces are the most affordable braces you can be fitted with. Traditional braces are an older technology but they can correct even the most complex tooth abnormalities, are known for their strength and durability and still remain the standard for orthodontics. Metal braces have also become smaller, less noticeable and more comfortable over the years while their price is lower than more sophisticated systems.

Other Braces Options

Invisalign and other braces systems do have certain aspects and features that make them a more pleasant experience than traditional metal braces. The most obvious benefit of Invisalign trays is that they are nearly invisible and hold up well against staining. A patient is also able to remove the aligning trays which makes cleaning and brushing of the teeth a much easier task.

But while these more advanced systems of braces can provide a shorter and more comfortable experience, they are more expensive than traditional metal braces. Also sophisticated 3D imaging equipment is used to take an image of the patients mouth for Invisalign trays. When you consider that most Invisalign treatments consist of upwards of 30 trays, it’s easy to understand the increase in cost.

In the hands of an experienced orthodontist, traditional metal braces can get your teeth just as straight as these advanced systems but at a lower cost.

Whether you or your children need orthodontic treatment, there are a variety of options to choose from. For the more self conscious individual there are clear braces. If you’re looking to have your teeth straightened in the shortest amount time, you can look to braces that make use of self ligating brackets. But if your concern is cost, the most affordable braces are traditional metal braces. They may take a little longer, but they’ll get your teeth just as straight as any of the other more expensive options.

Orthodontic Treatment Improves More Than Just Your Smile

Improving the aesthetics of facial structure is often considered to fall within the realm of plastic surgery. But what if there was another way? It’s a well known fact that orthodontic treatment can straighten teeth and create a beautiful smile. But the work and research of an orthodontist who kept track of his patients over an extended period has shown that an orthodontist can also have a great impact on a patient’s facial growth and in turn create a lifelong improvement to their appearance. After becoming interested in the possibility that orthodontic treatment could have an effect on the aesthetics of a patient’s face, this orthodontist began keeping track of his patients as they aged into adulthood. His findings provided a great deal of insight as to how drastic the changes could actually be. As a result, his work is now considered by the orthodontic community to be monumental and groundbreaking.

Advancements in the field of orthodontics are allowing doctors to literally sculpt a patient’s face during treatment. They do this by looking at how the bones in the face and jaw will grow over time and through an understanding of the dynamic relationship between the teeth, lips and jaw. According to one noted doctor,

an orthodontist will even look at the faces of the patient’s parents to help predict how the appearance could change in the future.

Although all of this is extremely important for children and young adults just beginning to establish a sense of self esteem, they aren’t the only patients benefitting. Upon completing their orthodontic treatments, adults are also seeing positive improvements to the aesthetics of their facial structures.

Orthodontists can also collaborate with dentists to address and correct abnormalities such as flared or oddly shaped teeth, misaligned jaws and uneven gum lines. When combined with braces, such work can provide dramatic results. The dentist’s role is to understand the correct timing for orthodontic treatment. A patient usually sees a dentist before an orthodontist; so they are the first line of defense in recognizing any potential problems that the patient may have. When it comes to children, the decisions of the dentist can have a life-long impact on their appearance.

Plastic surgery is no longer the only avenue towards a more aesthetically pleasing face. Thanks to research and the progress of the dental and orthodontic fields, patients can not only gain the confidence that comes with a beautiful, healthy smile, but also that which comes from the improvements to their facial structure. It’s truly exciting to consider that there is only room for growth in this area of dentistry and orthodontics.

« Previous Page

How to know if you have a bite problem?

Bite Problem Symptoms

Severe Wear

Teeth Grinding

Use A Nighttime Teeth Guard

Come in for a Bite Evaluation

Braces or Invisalign

We can handle Teeth Grinding!

Fast Orthodontics, Fast Braces – Do they Work?

Another Invisalign Experience

Invisalign Experience

How to Enjoy Halloween Despite Braces

The Good (or at least not so bad):

The Bad and the Ugly:

Happy Halloween!!

Invisalign Teen: best choice teens?

Invisalign Teen Study Findings:

How Long do Orthodontic Braces Take?

Can I Make My Orthodontic Braces Work Faster?

Affordable Braces

Most Affordable Braces Option

Other Braces Options

Orthodontic Treatment Improves More Than Just Your Smile

Association Member for

Address

Bite Problem Symptoms

Severe Wear

Use A Nighttime Teeth Guard

Come in for a Bite Evaluation

Braces or Invisalign

We can handle Teeth Grinding!

The Good (or at least not so bad):

The Bad and the Ugly:

Happy Halloween!!

Invisalign Teen Study Findings:

Can I Make My Orthodontic Braces Work Faster?

Most Affordable Braces Option

Other Braces Options

Association Member for

Follow Us On Social Media

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