Month: June 2020

Most of us would have at least a brief idea about the use of braces. They help us have corrected teeth back and enhance our look. But how many of us are aware of the parts of the braces? Amongst all the parts, one is the rubber band. It becomes one of the top hurdles people face while wearing the braces.

What are the dental rubber bands?

The rubber bands used for braces are also called orthodontic elastic bands. In simple words, they are elastics attached to the brackets for various purposes. They come in multiple colors and make the treatment enjoyable. With rubber bands, there are other parts too.

• Brackets: These are square metal pieces attached directly to the teeth.
• Archwire:Archwire, a metal wire, runs through the braces and provides the force required to move the teeth.
• Ligatures: These are the tiny rubber bands engulfing the braces and come in a variety of colors. However, they are not limited to the decoration purpose. They hold the archwire at its place and keep them intact till you don’t visit your orthodontist.
• Interarch rubber bands: The purpose of using this part is to adjust the jaw and bite position. They are connected to the brackets with the help of hooks.

Significance of rubber bands for a brace

Generally, all traditional metal braces have rubber bands. These are the ligature bands and hold the archwire in place. The interarch bands are commonly used for patients with overbite, under-bite, crossbite. Also, the orthodontist uses the elastic bands when some teeth need to be pushed or pulled for proper positioning.

Rubber bands for overbite: Type 2 rubber bands are used for the overbite condition. These start near the canines on top of the mouth. They stretch till the lower molars on the lower jaw. So, they pull the jaws in the forward directions so that the teeth do not project.

Rubber bands for under-bite:Under-bites require type 3. These are exactly opposite to the bands for overbite. These bands start on the lower jaw. Also, this helps to pull the jaw backward so that the chin does not stick.

Rubber bands for cross-bite-:Cross-bite is one of the most popular dental issues, and rubber bands are one of the best solutions to the problem. In this, the elastic band will stretch across the mouth and might interfere with the tongue.

How to fix the braces

In the consultation phase, your doctor will guide you on where to place the braces. Nonetheless, every person has unique issues, and the requirement differs. This will tell where the pair are attached. Thus, before leaving the dentist’s office, make sure you enquire everything about the placement of the pair.

He will also guide you on removing the bands later.

Apart from applying and removing the bands and the braces, it would be best if you also learned to clean them effectively. This will help you keep your dental hygiene up and running. Thus, the information mentioned above will give a brief idea of the significance of the rubber bands for braces.

Book Appointment to find out which treatment might be best for you.

No one likes to deal with dental issues. Whether it is a minor toothache or a severe gum disease, it wants fair attention. With a long list of dental problems, we have a good collection of the treatments too. Moreover, to manage dental health, you might have been suggested visiting the dentist periodically. So, what for? Well, there are many things that you can get done at the clinic to enhance the glory of your smile. The two most common of all are dental cleaning and dental polishing.

What is a dental cleaning?

Most of the people visiting the dentist have a lot of anticipation regarding the cleaning procedure. They apprehend it to be a painful and uncomfortable process. However, one should know about the entire process before having any such fears. In short, dental cleaning consists of steps to clean around the gum line and remove all the tartar and plaque.

Below is the process in detail:

Examining the mouth physically: First of all, the dental hygienist checks the mouth with a small mirror. It is to make sure that there are no major dental issues. If some symptom prevails, the hygienist calls the dentist to make them fine to proceed.

Remove plaque and tartar: The hygienist now uses a scalar to remove the tartar and plaque around the gum line and in between the teeth.

Cleaning with toothpaste: After all the tartar is wiped out, the hygienist will clean the teeth with an electric toothbrush. It is for the deep cleaning of teeth.

Flossing and rinsing: To remove the leftover food and debris, you will be given an expert flossing session followed by the liquid Fluoride rinse.

Fluoride treatment: The final step of the session is Fluoride treatment. The procedure is provided to maintain dental hygiene for at least 2-3 months.

What is dental polishing?

Dental polishing is sometimes used interchangeably with a dental cleaning, but there is a slight difference in the process. Dental polishing is a broader aspect where the teeth are not only checked for the tartar and plaque but also polished to give the tooth enamel a smooth and glossy look.

The steps for dental polishing are as follows:

• Inspection of teeth for decay.
• The scrapping of plaque and tartar.
• Removing stains with buff and polish.
• Flossing
• Fluoride treatment.

Difference betDifference Between Dental Cleaning and Dental Polishingween the two processes

Dental cleaning and polishing both are an essential part of dental hygienic processes. All the steps performed in the two methods from the inspection to the Fluoride treatment are far more effective than the regular brushing and flossing you do at home.

Now, dental cleaning is somewhat painful performed with ultrasonic devices, whereas polishing is comparatively less painful and feels smooth on the teeth. Some patients even enjoy the process of polishing, which is done with a rubber cup.

Thus, both the processes are related and complementary to each other. Not only this, but dental cleaning can also be called as a subset of the polishing procedure. Now, no matter what you go for, have proper research on that and prepare yourself for the process to avoid any anxiety.

Book Appointment to find out which treatment might be best for you.

Pediatric dental anxiety, also popularly known as Dental Fear and Anxiety (DFA)  may sound a not so important, but is a severe problem in actuality. The problem arises when the patient is about to visit the dentist, especially the children. Needless to say, it causes hindrance in dental care and prevents all the necessary steps from being taken on time.

What causes pediatric dental anxiety?

Pediatric dental anxiety can be very problematic if not treated timely as it will restrict a person from visiting the dentist even when he requires him the most. So, apparently, it needs to be treated, and treatment is never possible without knowing the causes. Let’s have a look at few prevalent causes for dental anxiety-

Previous bad experience at the dental office: Some experiences leave a long-lasting impact on our minds, and the one at the clinic is a similar one for the children. They anticipate the present one to be like that only and are scared to go to that place. Here, neither the dentist nor the patient completely can be blamed, but the previous dentist might have behaved cold or rude.

Genetic fear: It may be due to the genes which carry the fear towards the clinic.

Fear of pain: There are many who have not even visited a dentist once, but anticipate a lot about the pain they will be having during the session. When they are entrapped by this fear of pain, they are not able to see the positives of the treatment and step back from the same.

Ways to overcome dental fear

Tell the children about the procedure: The thing is when the children are known to what is going to happen next, they expect it eagerly. The dentist should practice telling them about the entire procedure so that they already know enough and do not fear.

Make dental clinics a familiar place: Many times, children are naturally scared of going to a new place. For this, parents can take the child some earlier than the session timings and make him familiar with the environment. Once he is familiar, he will have no anxiety for the remaining time.

Relax them instead of projecting your anxiety: Sometimes, the parents are themselves stressed and unknowingly pass it to the children. Hence, it is advisable to conceal such gestures and instead try to make them relaxed by having some game or music.

Allow the kids to have fun: To ease the situation, you can bring the child his favorite toy or gadget and help him relax. Moreover, you can tell and give them a gift after the dental session. This way, you will divert their mind towards thinking about the gift instead of the pain.

Search for the understanding dentist: As the behavior of the dentist also has a lot to do with the experience, find a dentist who understands the anxiety and does his best to make it convenient.

The above-mentioned methods will surely assist you in overcoming dental anxiety and have a soothing experience at the clinic.

Book Appointment to find out which treatment might be best for you.

Nobody likes the falling of their teeth at any condition. But unfortunately, with the increasing age, the teeth become prone to cavities, decay, and then you lose them all. Gum diseases occur at the roots of the teeth and are usually caused by a lack of nutrients resulting in bone loss and chronic inflammation in the area of your gums. Gum diseases occur in three stages; they are gingivitis, periodontitis, and advanced periodontitis.

Now before gum diseases become severe at some stage and cause long-lasting effects, one should be aware of the signs and symptoms. Have a look at some of them-

Swelling in gums– In the early stage of gum diseases, the sufferer will experience pain in the gums, and the pinkish color will turn reddish. Swollen gums look bulged out and follow a different line, unlike others. In some cases, the gums may even start hiding some parts of the teeth. Further, you will find these painful gums to bleed frequently. If you discover any of such signs, you must understand that it is the gingivitis-the first stage of gum disease.

Red-blue gums– Though the color of the gums may vary from person to person, the usual color is pink. If you find any change in the color of the gums suddenly, you need to connect to the dentist to inquire about the reasons. You also need to know that the reddish and bluish coloration in the gums may be a result of acne medications and smoking. However, if the coloration is accompanied by the bad breath, fever, and pain in the gums, you need to be careful.

Bleeding gums– Gums can bleed for more than one reason. They can bleed when hard brushing and flossing is done over them or when you use blood thinners consistently. But frequent bleeding of gums without any of these reasons has to be addressed as this can be an indicator of severe gum disease.

Sensitivity– Whenever the teeth or the gums are attacked by the bacterias, one common sign to warm you is the sensitivity towards the hot or cold food. You will not know where the pain has come, and it will do the work gradually, making the process of eating difficult.

Bad breath– when the bacterias accumulate in the teeth and cause plaque formation and cause the toxins that gradually irritates the gums. These toxins also break down the tissues around the teeth; these food particles later cause bad breath in the mouth and poor health in some cases.

Receding gums– When the above-mentioned signs are avoided, the sufferers will now face receding gums- the roots of the teeth will be exposed, and the difference between damaged and fine areas can be clearly seen. Though this can be the side-effect of other diseases too, you should consult with the dentist for this.

All the signs and symptoms listed above are an indication of the prevailing gum diseases and should be taken seriously. Apart from this, one must visit the dentist frequently and get the teeth and gums checked regularly. Routine checkups will prevent your dental health from getting worsened.

Book Appointment to find out which treatment might be best for you.