The Mystery of the Wisdom Tooth

Do All Wisdom Teeth Need to Be Removed?

When it comes to teeth, everyone wants to have the brightest, the whitest, and the straightest teeth. Over time, people have developed all sorts of different ways to achieve these goals. White strips are common, braces have become invisible, and stain removal has practically illuminated the teeth to lamp standards. However, through all of this, one thing has remained relatively unchanged - the removal of the wisdom teeth.

The removal of wisdom tooth has always been considered by many as a rite of passage in the patient's dental timeline. The belief being that should the wisdom teeth be left in, they will create chaos in the mouth of the patient, ranging from tooth decay to crooked smiles. While the basis for these beliefs are sound, they are not always 100% accurate - so when do wisdom teeth need to come out?

Wisdom teeth warrant removal from the mouth when they fit into certain problem causing categories. The most glaring being the cases when wisdom teeth are "impacted." Impacted wisdom teeth are a result of the mouth not having enough room to accommodate the new tooth. The tooth can remain completely within the jaw bone - fully impacted - or they can wiggle their way up and expose bits of themselves to earn the classification of partially impacted. Fully impacted wisdom teeth are more risky to remove because of the potential damage to the nerves within the jaw, and even the best orthodontist will want to discuss the pros and cons of removing them. Partially impacted wisdom teeth are mostly always in need of removal, and can be removed with less risk of nerve damage due to their emergence and distance from the aforementioned nerves.

The next big reason for wisdom teeth removal is more apparent when it comes to partially impacted wisdom teeth - the difficulty of care involved. Partially impacted wisdom teeth provide hiding places for bits of debris to latch on and decay the tooth without the ability for traditional brushes and other tools to remove them. This leads to an increased risk of cavities, gum disease, and infection. On top of this, since it is hard for the patient to reach the tooth to care for it, should anything happen to the tooth that needs attention, the tooth will be just as difficult to reach to solve the problem in the office as well.

With all of this in mind, it is important to consult an orthodontist about the removal of wisdom teeth. When it comes to wisdom teeth removal, Dr. Matt Beecroft is widely considered one of the best orthodontists for the task. Our team at Beecroft Orthodontics can answer all of the questions needed to make a decision on the best course of action for the removal of wisdom teeth. Be sure to call us today!

Beecroft Orthodontics, 11113 Leavells Rd Fredericksburg, VA 22407

Phone: 540-898-2200

The Mystery of the Wisdom Tooth

Traumatic Injuries as a Result of Braces

Traumatic Injuries of Head and Neck with Orthodontic Braces

It is quite possible for you to sustain head and neck injuries when you are undergoing an orthodontic treatment. Though you will be as careful, there are chances of you getting hit in the mouth, or sustaining injuries to your face. Orthodontic braces may make your teeth, the gums and bones supporting it and the surrounding soft tissues more vulnerable to damage. If you have sustained any sort of injury, each of these aspects will have to be evaluated by the best orthodontist around.

Possible Damage you may Sustain

Once you begin orthodontic treatment, you will go about your life as normal. However, it is possible that you sustain some injuries. Take a look at some of the possible injuries and the implications:

Damage to teeth: If you have been hurt in the mouth, your orthodontist will check for any visible or hidden damage to the crown. The most common results are a chipped tooth or broken enamel. The tooth may also be fractured. Depending on the extent of this, you may experience sensitivity to hot or cold food or beverages.

Damaged teeth may be fixed with bonding, veneers or even a complete crown. This will depend on the extent of the damage. If the fracture of the tooth has gone down to the bone, then it may be removed and given time to heal.

Change in position: Trauma to the head or the face may result in the change of position of your teeth. This may happen if the bone surrounding your teeth is damaged in any way. You must know that bone is generally weaker than the teeth and tends to give way first.

If your teeth have shifted position, you will have to visit an oral surgeon who will evaluate your teeth first. You will then be given a mouth-numbing agent and will have your teeth brought back into position. The bone around your teeth will also be set back in place. Any broken or damaged braces will be removed and the trauma dealt with first. They will then be repositioned by your orthodontist to continue with your treatment.

Injury to your lips and your cheeks: This is a common result of wearing braces. While the teeth themselves are well protected because of the braces, the soft tissues in your mouth are not. It often gets badly cut and scratched in the event of an accident. You will feel discomfort for a while, but will have to bear with it in order for it to heal.

The use of a cold pack is a good idea. This will decrease the inflammation in the first two days. Because of the large number of vessels in the mouth, you may be shocked when you see the amount of blood that comes out. Do not let this alarm you. The large number of vessels in the mouth, actually help in speeding up the healing process as well.

You may not be able to protect yourself from damage at all times, but our professionals who practice at Beecroft Orthodontics say that using customized mouth-guards will make a huge difference. For further queries contact us today.

Beecroft Orthodontics, 10472 Georgetown Dr. Fredericksburg, Virginia

Phone: 540-898-2200

Traumatic Injuries as a Result of Braces

Where to get Invisalign from?

Does It Really Matter Where I Get My Invisalign?

Invisalign is one of the most important advances to be made in the field of orthodontics in the past two decades. Thanks to Invisalign, there is no longer any need to wear those horrible, uncomfortable and unsightly metal braces that people have dreaded for many years. The patient simply wears a series of clear aligners that are custom made. They are designed to provide the correct amount of pressure to the teeth so that they will gradually force them to shift positions into alignment. Every two or three weeks, a new Invisalign tray is used to continue the progression until the alignment is complete. There is no need to make regular appointments to have your braces tightened. These tightening sessions are usually painful for the patient, making the process especially difficult for young people. Invisalign causes no pain at all.

Benefits of Invisalign

The thing that attracts so many people to using these aligners is the fact that they are clear and nearly invisible. They can only be noticed by people who are very close. Even then, they are hard to notice. This eliminates the embarrassment from wearing braces that causes many people to avoid social situations while they are undergoing orthodontic treatment. One of the best things about the aligners is that they can be taken out at any time. If a person is going to a wedding or some other public event where they want to look their best, Invisalign can be removed and replaced after the event is over. Another outstanding advantage to using these aligners is that a person can feel free to eat any food they want by removing the aligners while eating. With traditional metal braces, there is a long list of foods that a person is forbidden from eating because they might get stuck in the braces.

Where should I get my Invisalign from?

So does it matter who you go to for Invisalign treatment? Yes, it does. Your teeth are important to you, so don't trust their care to just anyone. Skilled orthodontists have the necessary training that allows them to understand the required physics and biology to create a finished alignment of your teeth that is stable, healthy and attractive. The knowledge that orthodontists have using braces to straighten teeth will naturally carry over to the use of Invisalign. An orthodontist specialist will understand how quickly your teeth will be able to safely move.

Beecroft Orthodontics

If you are in Virginia and you are looking for a skilled orthodontist, contact Beecroft Orthodontist for a free consultation. If you are interested in finding out more about the Invisalign system to straighten your teeth, we will be able to determine if you are a suitable candidate to use Invisalign. Beecroft Orthodontics is a certified Invisalign provider that has three convenient locations in Fredericksburg, Stafford and King George. You can visit our website for more information. Dr. Matt Beecroft and his professional and courteous staff will be happy to assist you in achieving the best Invisalign results possible.

Beecroft Orthodontics, 10472 Georgetown Dr. Fredericksburg, Virginia

Phone: 540-898-2200

Where to get Invisalign from?