How Dental Hygienist Cleans Teeth?

Whether you visit a traditional dentist or an orthodontist for kids in King George, both professionals are concerned with your teeth's cleanliness. From basic brushing to scaling, removing of plaque and tartar is also a priority. You'll meet several dental hygienists as you visit the dentist or orthodontist, but their cleaning methods may vary based on your dental history and the facility's rules.

• Tooth Evaluation First

Before any cleaning or polishing can occur, the dental professional must evaluate your teeth for any issues. Cavities and extreme tartar buildup must be examined for a swift resolution to be created. A dental hygienist may only polish your teeth if other issues need to be dealt with in follow-up appointments, such as filling cavities. Surgery or braces for adults could be necessary, requiring another appointment with further treatments. Hygienists follow the dentist or orthodontist's instructions to maintain consistent care for each patient.

• Helping the Dental Professional

Some dentists and orthodontists take pride in their cleaning abilities, insisting they perform the process themselves. There may be a scaling process necessary for your teeth. Scaling incorporates a vibrating tool into the cleaning process to jostle plaque and tartar off the tooth surface. Professionals typically want to see the results of this cleaning process themselves. Hygienists follow up with basic polishing to help the professional move on to the next patient.

• Polishing is Cleaning

Although the term "polishing" often reminds you of a basic glossy film applied to a surface, tooth polishing is different. If a dental hygienist only polishes the teeth, the surface may have been clean enough to skip the scaling or scraping process. The polish used in teeth work is actually full of abrasives. As the rotating tool works across the tooth, these fine or coarse grains clean the surface as they polish it too. Be aware, however, that this polishing process does remove some enamel from the teeth, leaving them vulnerable to decay in the future.

How Do you Keep Your Teeth Clean with Braces On?

• Specialized Visits

You may be visiting the dental or orthodontic office for a follow-up or other appointment. If you've just had a scraping or scaling, a dental hygienist will often only polish the teeth. This situation also occurs when you've just had braces installed. Because of the brackets and wires, dentists can't access all the tooth surfaces. Hygienists may just polish the exposed surfaces while working around the orthodontic hardware.

• Asking Questions

There is no harm asking your dental hygienist about their procedures. You won't offend them because they're often flattered that you care about their specialized skills. They may even offer a play-by-play of their steps. If your dental situation doesn't fit into any of these scenarios, it's natural to be curious. The dentist or orthodontist could go over these questions with you as well. Understanding tooth care is just another step to maintain your overall health. If you want more than just a polish, a hygienist may oblige your concern and ask for a thorough cleaning.

Regardless of your orthodontic needs, such as gold braces Fredericksburg has to offer, the dental hygienist performs their duties for the good of your health. If you have any questions about your treatment, contact Beecroft Orthodontics. They proudly serve the Stafford, Fredericksburg and King George areas with their expert care.

Beecroft Orthodontics 10472 Georgetown Dr, Fredericksburg, VA22553 Phone: 540 898 2200

How Dental Hygienist Cleans Teeth?

Can a Wisdom Tooth Cause Deafness or Blindness when Extracted?

The pain that you feel in your head, back, shoulders, and jaw may occur because of problems with your wisdom teeth. Also called the third molars, they sit at the end of each row of teeth and usually come in during the teenage years. As you have limited space in your mouth, those teeth can come in at an angle or become impacted, which will cause pain and inflammation. Even if you never had any problems when those teeth come in, you may suffer from problems later that requires the removal of those teeth. Many wonder about the potential side effects and if wisdom teeth extraction can cause deafness or blindness.

What is Wisdom Tooth Extraction?

Wisdom tooth extraction essentially refers to the process in which an orthodontist removes the tooth. You may find that the orthodontist needs to take out all four teeth at the same time, only the two on the bottom or top or just a single tooth, but most people opt for the removal of all four teeth. The orthodontist will give you a series of injections that numbs the gums and other areas surrounding the tooth, and some orthodontists will give you an injection that puts you to sleep during the procedure. Your orthodontist will then carefully extract the tooth from your mouth and use gauze to reduce bleeding.

What if the Teeth Haven't Come in Yet?

Some patients find themselves suffering from swelling and pain even before the teeth come in and break through the gums. This often occurs in teenagers, but it can also affect older patients. This also occurs in those who have smaller mouths that lack enough space for those teeth. An orthodontist can remove those teeth, but the process generally takes a little longer. A small incision placed in the gum gives the orthodontist access to the tooth, and he or she can use specialized tools to extract the tooth from your mouth.

Is Deafness or Blindness Common?

The odds of you developing blindness or deafness because of a wisdom tooth extraction are extremely rare. Though all the nerves in the human body are connected, most orthodontists believe that problems with a wisdom tooth should not cause problems with hearing or vision. An impacted tooth or a broken tooth can put more pressure on the head and cause headaches and muscle pains, but you generally won't notice any other side effects. A good orthodontist will talk with you about the risk factors associated with wisdom tooth extraction and what you can do to keep yourself healthy.

Need More Help from an Orthodontist?

"Do I need braces?" is one of the most common questions asked to orthodontists. With Wildsmile braces King George residents can find an alternative to braces. Braces slowly straighten your teeth and improve your smile, but not everyone likes the way that braces look. Wildsmile braces let you choose the colors and materials used in your braces, which can make you feel more confident about your smile. If you live in the King George area and have questions about braces, your wisdom teeth or any other related topic, schedule an appointment with Beecroft Orthodontics today.

Beecroft Orthodontics 10472 Georgetown Dr, Fredericksburg, VA22553 Phone: 540 898 2200

Can a Wisdom Tooth Cause Deafness or Blindness when Extracted?

Orthodontic Expanders and Lower Jaw

Can Orthodontic Expanders be used on the Lower Teeth to Avoid Extractions?

An orthodontic expander, also commonly referred to as a "palate-widening device," is commonly used on the top teeth to create space in between the teeth. The device, which is secured around one tooth on each side of the top of the mouth, gradually creates space in the top of the teeth through the course of a few weeks or months. By spacing out the palate, the teeth have more room to shift, which is ideal for patients who plan to get braces. Because the orthodontic expanders create more room at the top of the teeth, it lowers the chances of needing to extract teeth as a method of creating space as well. Since orthodontic expanders are successfully used to create room on the upper teeth, can't the same method be used to resolve crowding with the bottom?

An orthodontist is able to use an expander device on the upper teeth because of the mid-palatal suture in the upper arch of our mouths. The palate can be expanded if there is soft cartilage in the suture. Each time the expander is activated, either at home or by an orthodontist specialist, a gap between the front teeth develops as the teeth space out. But when an expander is used on the lower arch of the teeth, there is no such suture, which doesn't allow them the chance to expand.

The lower arch of the teeth have plates, but they are not similar to that of the upper teeth. They are near the joints, which doesn't allow the palate to widen. The teeth may shift and move, but it will not be a result of a widened palate creating additional space. However, an alternative to the expander device is a a removable retainer device, which has an expansion screw built in, similar to the palate expanders. While there are several alternate ways for the lower arches of teeth, it's important to realize that this will not be shifting bones, but rather just "tipping" teeth. Some orthodontists may even attempt to place springs in the lower arch with wires on the back of the teeth to get them to space out.

If these methods aren't available to you, extraction may be your only option to create space in the lower arch. The dentist typically removes two to four teeth to create the space needed, and the area will be numbed with anesthesia beforehand. The recovery time for extracted teeth is fairly quick, and you will be sent home with gauze and pain relievers to help you get through the following days. The dentist or orthodontist may recommend you only eat soft foods in this time. Your teeth may begin to gradually move on their own once the area has healed.

If you have additional questions about expansion devices, flaring and tipping the teeth, or your options for creating space in the lower arch of your teeth, contact our orthodontist at Beecroft Orthodontics today to schedule a consultation and determine which method of treatment is the right one for you and your smile.

Beecroft Orthodontics, 10472 Georgetown Dr. Fredericksburg, Virginia

Phone: 540-898-2200

Orthodontic Expanders and Lower Jaw