Month: June 2023

Family dentistry involves addressing dental health at every stage of a patient’s life, specifically in kids and teenagers. Family dental practitioners are similar to general dentists but are typically more experienced in dealing with children. Some family dentists might even be qualified pediatricians. By choosing the same dentist for you and your kids, you have someone who will take care of the oral health of all of you throughout your lives.

Family dentistry focuses on general and preventive dentistry, providing common services such as regular cleanings and dental examinations, orthodontics, dental sealants, fluoride treatments, and more. 

Since each of our family members have unique oral care needs, family dental services are very beneficial in tackling each family member’s different dental health issues. A family dental practitioner can take care of them all, from toddlers to teens to adults. 

The biggest benefit of having one dentist for every family member is that you just need to make one phone call to book appointments for all your family members’ dental checkups. This article will show several benefits of having a family dental practitioner.

What Is Family Dentistry?

Before you understand the advantages of family dentistry, you must understand what a family dental practitioner does.

• A dental practitioner for your whole family differs from a general dentist since family dentists receive special training.
• A family dental practitioner is qualified to work with children, though s/he might need to be more trained in dealing with children as a pediatric dentist. They can handle oral issues of all ages, from infants to teenagers to adults.
• A family density can treat dental issues of all ages, so they are a one-stop-shop solution for dental care for you and your children.

What All Family Dentists Can Do For Their Patients

A dental practitioner that treats everyone at your home is well-versed in the following dental care:

• Regular cleanings and exams – Patients of all ages must examine their teeth every six months to catch oral issues and prevent tooth decay.
• Dental sealants and fluoride treatment – Dental sealants and fluoride treatments can prevent tooth decay, especially in kids.
• Orthodontics – It is optional that your family dental practitioner can also offer in-house orthodontic treatment, but they do provide orthodontic exams and refer you to outside orthodontists if required.
• Fillings and cavity checks – Most endodontists trained in family dentistry specialize in dealing with cavities such as fillings for all ages.
• Gum disease treatment – If you have a dental practitioner for you and your kids, s/he can help in periodontal maintenance with services like scaling and root planing.

5 Biggest Advantages Of Having a Family Dental Practitioner

A professional family dentist helps maintain and improve the oral health of you and your near ones. Cost efficiency and time are two prominent advantages of having a single dental practitioner for you and your kids. Some of the other top five benefits are:

1. Reduce dental anxiety – Children and adults face anxiety and phobia when they have to go and see a dentist. A family dental practitioner will relieve this anxiety as you develop familiarity with them over time. It is true, especially for kids, as when they see you also going for treatment or check-ups, they become more comfortable with the dental practitioner and gain confidence. It will ensure regular dental checkups are not scary for you or your children and that your oral health is optimum.
2. It is convenient – Life gets easier when you have to make a single appointment for several people. This way, you do not have to leave work multiple times to take different people to the dental practitioner. You also do not have to run around to different dentists’ offices to accommodate the dental needs of you or your kids.
3. Solves dental genetic issues – Many of our dental problems are hereditary, and your kids can be around 64% more prone to cavities due to genetic factors. A dental practitioner who looks after you and your kids would have your complete dental history and be in a better position to deal with such genetic conditions. S/he will be able to proactively spot recurring oral issues and take preventive action against them for all of you. If there is any emergency, your dental practitioner would also know what treatment would suit you and what not.
4. Create personal and long-lasting relationships – Since family dentists see their patients throughout their lives, a personal dentist-patient relationship develops over the years. It enables the dentist to identify oral issues early. Trust is a crucial factor between a patient and a doctor, and if you see the same dental practitioner over the years, you build a strong bond with your dentist where you can share your fears easily with them.
5. Consistent and regular services – You and your kids must visit the dental office at least twice yearly to maintain good oral hygiene. If the same dental practitioner attends to your needs every time, you will experience consistent treatments. You and your children will get consistent services by having one dental practitioner for all of you.

A family dentist can take care of the oral needs of all ages. If you opt to have the same dentist for you and others at your home, dental appointments become convenient, cost-effective, and consistent.

A straight set of teeth helps us with a stunning smile which is everyone’s dream. This dream is well within reach as you can get braces fitted by an orthodontist to align your teeth in their desired positions. 

But braces are not something you can fit and forget, i.e., it is not a one-time fitting that your orthodontist puts on you, and then you can go away for the magic to take place. You need regular visits, reviews, and adjustments of these brackets to align your teeth effectively.

Braces tightening has a vast significance on the efficacy of your orthodontic treatment. The gentle pressure of the brackets on your teeth helps them move and shift into their proper positions. So, each time your teeth shift, the brackets lose their grip over them. Hence, getting them tightened at the scheduled time with your doctor is essential.

So, the question is how often you visit the orthodontist to tighten the appliance and what to expect during and after the adjustments are made. This article will explore the significance of brace tightening or adjustment in your journey toward a dazzling smile.

The Process of Adjusting Braces

The steps mentioned below will give you an idea of what happens when you go for the adjustment of your orthodontic cases:

• First step – Your doctor would remove the elastics or ligatures that connect your braces to wire and archwire.
• Second step – Your orthodontist would allow you to thoroughly brush and floss your teeth without wires and elastics hindering the process.
• Third step – The orthodontist would then review the treatment progress by examining how much your teeth have repositioned. If needed, your doctor might change the archwire.
• Fourth step – Lastly, the orthodontist will connect back braces to your teeth with the help of new elastics.

Why Should I Get My Braces Adjusted?

Metal brackets apply slow and steady pressure on our teeth to move them in their desired direction. It might take months and years to achieve the result, depending on how misaligned or crooked your teeth are.

• The pressure applied by braces improves the jaw shape and the orientation of your teeth, but it works only when the braces are adjusted at regular intervals.
• Once your teeth shift to a certain amount in a few weeks, the wires that exert pressure on them become loose and ineffective in moving the teeth further as the pressure diminishes. Hence, your orthodontist needs to tighten the wires occasionally so that the realignment process continues without any halts.

How Often Should I Get My Braces Tightened?

If you want to finish your treatment in time, there are two vital things to note. The first one is to go for regular visits as your dentist recommends so that s/he can make adjustments and address all oral challenges. The second is to wear your elastics for at least twenty-two hours daily.

• Though each patient and their needs are different, you need to have your brackets adjusted every four to six weeks.
• Your orthodontist is the best person to tell you when the braces will be adjusted, as the treatment is customized for each patient. Your doctor might call you sooner or later based on your case.
• If you feel your braces are losing their grip, you must contact your orthodontist’s office even if your scheduled date is further down. You can tell if your braces are loose when you do not feel any pressure while you eat.
• If you skip your appointment for the adjustments, it will not harm your teeth, but you will add extra time to your current treatment plan.

What Oral Health Issues Can I Have If I Miss My Appointments

You may encounter oral hygiene issues if you miss your scheduled appointments.

• When you visit your dentist, he can assess your oral health and suggest treatment for any issues.
• Missing appointments would delay your alignment process.
• Brushing can become tricky when you miss appointments as bits of food will get stuck to teeth more often.
• If you wear your brackets for too long, nerve damage is possible. Your orthodontist can look for this potential problem if you visit them regularly.
• If you are not getting your teeth straightening device checked regularly, you could have snapped wires or brackets, causing teeth to move in unwanted directions.

What to Expect After Brackets Are Tightened

• After adjusting your brackets, you could experience some sensitivity in your jaws, teeth, and gums for a few days.
• The pain is mild, tolerable, and feels like you bruised your teeth but not a throbbing toothache.
• This pain or discomfort would last only a day or two.
• Sticking to soft food for a couple of days after tightening your braces is a good idea.
• You can eat soups, smoothies, mashed potatoes, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, yogurt, ice cream, soft pasta dishes, soft fruits (banana, pawpaw, etc.), rice pudding, or porridge.

Braces are not something you fix one day and forget for the rest of the treatment period. You need to visit your orthodontist regularly (every four to six weeks) to have them tightened and also find out if you have any oral issues which can be rectified in time.

Dentures are a popular option for people suffering from tooth loss caused by an injury, decay, or other dental problems. However, not all implants are created equal. One option that many people are turning to is flexible partial dentures. In this article, we’ll learn about the same and see how they work and the benefits they offer.

What are flexible partial dentures?

Flexible partial dentures are a type of removable denture designed to replace one or more missing teeth. They are made from a thermoplastic material that is lightweight, comfortable, and durable. Unlike traditional implants, which are often made from rigid acrylic resin, these dental devices are designed to adapt to the mouth’s contours.

How do flexible partial dentures work?

These devices work by attaching to the remaining teeth in the mouth. They are designed to fit snugly around the remaining teeth, using small clips or hooks to hold them in place. It allows the denture to stay in place while eating and speaking and provides a comfortable and secure fit.

In order to get a set of these dentures, a dentist will first take impressions of the patient’s mouth. It involves using a putty-like material to make a mold of the teeth and gums. The mold is then sent to a dental laboratory, where the flexible partial dentures are custom-made to fit the patient’s mouth.

Once the prosthetics are ready, the patient will return to the dentist’s office for a fitting. During the fitting, the dentist will ensure that the prosthetic fit correctly and make any necessary adjustments to ensure a comfortable fit. The patient will also receive instructions on how to care for and maintain their new dental device.

What are the benefits of flexible partial dentures?

There are several benefits to choosing flexible partial dentures over other types. Here are just a few:

1. Comfort: These are made from a soft, pliable material that is gentle on the gums and teeth, making them more comfortable to wear than traditional dentures, which can be complicated and rigid.
2. Natural appearance: These dental devices are designed to blend in with natural teeth, making them less noticeable than other types of implants. They can also be customized to match the color of the surrounding teeth, giving the patient a more natural-looking smile.
3. Easy to clean: Flexible partial dentures can be easily cleaned with a soft-bristled toothbrush and mild soap or denture cleaner. They do not require any unique cleaning solutions or adhesives.
4. Affordable: Flexible partial dentures are often more affordable than other devices. It makes them a good option for people who cannot afford more expensive dental treatments.
5. Non-invasive: Because such devices are attached to the remaining teeth in the mouth, they do not require invasive procedures like dental implants or bridges. It makes them a good option for people who want to replace missing teeth without surgery.

Are there any downsides to flexible partial dentures?

While there are many benefits to choosing flexible partial dentures, there are also a few downsides to consider. For example, because they are made from a soft, stretchy material, they may not be as durable as other types, and they may also be more prone to staining and discoloration over time.

Additionally, some people may experience difficulty adjusting to wearing this dental device, regardless of the type. Getting used to having a foreign object in the mouth can take some time, and some people may experience soreness or irritation.

Patients with severe gum disease or other oral health issues may not be good candidates for this type of prosthesis. Patients should carefully weigh the pros and cons of this type of prosthesis and work closely with their dentist to determine whether they are the best option for their unique needs and circumstances.