Three Reasons Your Orthodontic Braces Are Still On

When planning to use braces, you would only need two days: when you get your braces put on and when you have them taken off. The duration between these two days will feel like forever however it will pass by very quickly.

Your orthodontist in Fredericksburg can only give you a general estimate of how long will it take to wear your braces. There are three major factors that can influence how quickly your mouth responds to orthodontic treatment. It means that you may need to have them on longer than what your orthodontist originally expected.

Understanding the reasons why your orthodontic braces are still on will help you worry less about your treatment. It will also help ensure that you can influence any factors that you have control over as the patient.

1. Your Orthodontist's Plan

Your orthodontist will do their best in examining your jaw, the condition of your teeth, and your overall health to gather as much data as possible to determine an accurate diagnosis of your mouth. Their experience with other patients whom have been recommended by the orthodontists will make it easier to form an accurate diagnosis of how the mouth will respond to treatment.

All the information your orthodontist will collect will be used in evaluating your condition and selecting the best method of treatment to realign your teeth and jaw.

Depending upon your orthodontist's plan, you may need to wear your braces longer to obtain the kind of quality realignment that will benefit you for a longer period of time with fewer complications.

Your treatment plan may also be lengthened due to any of the following:

• Problems encountered by your orthodontist during the examination;

• Problems that needed to be corrected after a treatment plan was started;

• Changes in the treatment plan to more accurately treat your unique situation as a patient; and

• Appointments that were spaced too far apart due to rescheduling conflicts.

If in case the dental problem will take longer than 6 to 12 months to correct, then your orthodontist will inform you of this possibility before starting the treatment. The insights your experienced orthodontist will provide is valuable in avoiding easily missed problems.

FAQ: How to Get Affordable Braces in Stafford?

2. Your Ability To Stick To Treatment

You are the second major factor on how long your treatment takes. You have a significant amount of control over factors that influence how closely you adhere to your orthodontist's treatment plan, which is why you can also be a reason if your braces may need to be on far longer than originally planned.

For example, it's possible that you have yet to have your wisdom teeth emerged in your mouth or that you have had a second set of wisdom teeth grow. They may be impacted and failing to extract them in a timely manner will result in your teeth being moved about. This can significantly delay your orthodontic treatment and lengthen how long you need to have braces. This is why it's important to take care of things like this in as timely of a manner as possible.

Meeting with your orthodontist regularly is the first step in avoiding these kinds of issues while ensuring that your treatment stays on schedule. That's why it's important not to miss appointments as possible. If you need to reschedule, try to do so in advance to ensure that you can have a new appointment scheduled as close to the old one as possible.

Here is a brief list of the things you can do to keep your treatment plan on schedule:

• Adhere to your appointment dates and times as closely as possible;

• Reschedule while your orthodontist still has appointment time near your former appointment time;

• Be on-time to your appointments to ensure that your orthodontist and any technicians have enough time to treat you;

• Complete any necessary procedures, such as extractions or restorations, in as timely as possible to avoid complications; and

• Follow your orthodontist's instructions for oral hygiene, rubber bands, and aligners to the letter.

By following these things, you can ensure that you will wear your braces for less time and the final results of your treatment of the highest quality.

3. Your Body's Biological Response

The last factor influencing how long you'll have your braces is your body's biological response. This is one of the few things that you have no influence over and your orthodontist may not be able to entirely anticipate no matter his level of experience.

Your orthodontist can only approximate your treatment time based on the average time it takes other patients to respond to the same treatment. Sometimes, it's impossible to accurately determine how well your body will respond because of the dental problem complexity and how your teeth respond to orthodontic forces.

For example, conditions like TMJ problems caused by arthritis can significantly slow the orthodontic treatment. Other conditions like ankylosis will keep some teeth in your mouth from moving and could be a reason to extend the duration of your braces.

How your body cooperates with the orthodontic treatment will is a vital factor in fixing your teeth. The only thing you can do is to be as vigilant as possible while your orthodontist does likewise with your treatment.

Reducing How Long You Will Need Braces

As discussed above, there are factors that cannot be controlled while under orthodontic treatment. Even if you do everything your orthodontist says, there still may be delays that require you to use braces for a longer period than originally expected.

To reduce how long you need to have your braces applied, the best thing you can do is to follow your treatment plan and to work with an experienced orthodontist.

One way you can do this is by scheduling an appointment with Beecroft Orthodontics. They provide Fredericksburg orthodontics services, of the highest quality, for busy mothers, children, and other adults. Their comprehensive methods will ensure that you get the best treatment in as timely as possible.

Beecroft Orthodontics, 10472 Georgetown Dr. Fredericksburg, Virginia

Phone: 540-898-2200

Three Reasons Your Orthodontic Braces Are Still On

How Can Invisalign Straighten an Adult's Teeth?

If you never had braces as a teen, it is never too late to straighten your smile now. Invisalign is not only for teens but for adults as well. Invisalign uses a series of transparent trays to shift the teeth into alignment over a period of time. At the beginning of treatment, computers are used to design a series of trays, which are switched out approximately every two weeks, until your teeth are properly aligned.

Invisalign For Adults

Invisalign is a great choice for adults for various reasons. The transparent trays are practically invisible while in your mouth. Since many adults are self-conscious about having their teeth straightened, perhaps due to the outdated notion that misaligned teeth are a teenager's problem, the ability to improve their smile without drawing attention is attractive.

Invisalign trays are removable, so there is no need to adjust your diet for foods that are not permitted with traditional braces. You simply remove the trays for meals, as long as you wear the trays for 20 to 22 hours a day, most days, your treatment plan will stay on track. In fact, as long as you generally wear your trays at all times, aside from when you are eating, it won't cause any delays in your treatment to leave them out for some special occasions.

Never miss an appointment with your orthodontist. The appointments are quick and painless. Between appointments, you simply need to wear the trays as required and practice good dental hygiene.

How Can Invisalign Straighten an Adult’s Teeth?

For some people, straightening teeth is something that should be done during teenage years. In the past, people are hesitant to wear braces because it is uncomfortable to think that you will be wearing metals inside your mouth. Since Invisalign uses transparent trays there’s no more metals to worry about. Teeth shift and move throughout your life and Invisalign simply guides them into the correct spot. Who said adults shouldn't wear braces? Everyone deserves to have a beautiful smile and no one is an exception.

Why Straighten?

You may wonder if straightening your teeth is worth your time and money. There are a variety of reasons why you should consider straightening your teeth not just as an adult but a person who desires to have confidence when smiling.

Misaligned teeth make brushing and flossing more difficult to do. As your teeth shift, the spaces between some teeth may widen and others narrower. Misaligned teeth can also cause pain in your jaw and even wreck your teeth. There are also other issues that can result in long-term health problems if misaligned teeth are not treated as soon as possible.

FAQ: How Often Must I Wear My Invisalign Aligners?

Selecting an Orthodontist

Choose an orthodontist that you are comfortable to be with during your treatment period; someone you can freely talk about your mouth problems and your goals that you want to achieve. The Fredericksburg orthodontics office, such as Beecroft Orthodontics, which has the experience in treating adults, can help ease your mind and make you feel more comfortable during the straightening process. Not all Virginia orthodontics office specialize in adult treatment or Invisalign, so it makes sense to select a practice that does.

What To Expect

Invisalign treatment process has some similarities with the process of traditional straightening but also has differences in many ways. Your initial consultation will determine if you are a good candidate for Invisalign treatment. If so, the orthodontist will map out your treatment plan and use computer generated models to create your Invisalign trays.

Once you receive your trays, wear them as directed, as close to 24 hours a day as possible and expect to switch out trays every two weeks depending on your orthodontist. Do not forget to visit your orthodontist to check your progress. These visits are typically pretty quick and painless. Your orthodontist will take note of your progress, make sure you aren't having any problems and answer any questions or concerns you may have.

After Invisalign

At the end of your treatment, you will receive retainers to keep your teeth in place. It is important to wear these as directed or your teeth will begin shifting out-of-place. Generally, you will wear the retainer as close to 24 hours a day as possible. Retainers are a necessary part of orthodontic treatment, whether you choose traditional braces or Invisalign. Without the continued pressure of the retainer, the teeth will want to shift away from their corrected position. The more you wear the retainer, the better results you will have from your treatment.

Is Invisalign Right For You?

Invisalign can fix many, but not all, orthodontic issues. An orthodontic consultation is the only way to determine if your issues can be successfully treated with Invisalign. Although most orthodontic issues can be successfully treated with Invisalign, some issues may respond better to other type of braces.

If your orthodontist gives the go-ahead for Invisalign treatment, you still need to consider if it is the best choice for you. It takes a certain level of self-discipline to wear the trays as required for best results. Removing your Invisalign aligners always will only lengthen your treatment time so don’t take it off unless it’s necessary like eating, brushing and flossing teeth and even cleaning your aligners.

Financially, Invisalign is typically slightly more expensive than other traditional orthodontic treatments. However, with the variety of payment options available, it shouldn't be a major cause for concern.

Whether you are ready to begin treatment immediately, or just starting to explore treatment options, contact Beecroft Orthodontics for a consultation today.

Beecroft Orthodontics, 10472 Georgetown Dr. Fredericksburg, Virginia

Phone: 540-898-2200

How Can Invisalign Straighten an Adult's Teeth?

At What Age Do Baby Teeth Normally Fall Out?

Losing Baby Teeth

A child's first teeth (sometimes called primary teeth) typically come in when they are about six months old. These are usually the lower incisors; the upper second primary molars are usually the last to emerge. Most children have about 20 baby teeth by the time they get to age three and these teeth will essentially remain the same for approximately three years. Children lose their baby teeth when their permanent teeth start to emerge within the jaw. The baby teeth will eventually fall out.

Some children may be worried by the thought of losing teeth and others may be excited at the thought of getting new ones. If they are worried, you should reassure them that they probably will not feel anything. You may be worried as well; parents sometimes worry about their child’s teeth falling out too early or their permanent teeth taking too long to come in. You should learn when to expect your child’s first teeth and what you should do to make sure that they maintain a good oral health.

At What Age do Baby Teeth Normally Fall Out?

Most children’s baby teeth fall out in the order that they grew in, with the lower incisors usually being the first ones lost. In most cases, this will happen when the child is between the ages of six and eight. The next teeth to fall out will often do so in rapid succession. The top incisors will usually go with the two next to the bottom incisors. Last of all, the lateral incisors on the top jaw will fall out. For some children, the loss of these teeth will start at around age three but many will see a pause in tooth loss between ages eight and ten. The process of losing baby teeth and growing permanent ones can go on until about age 12 or even as late as age 14. The rule of thumb here is that the younger they were when the teeth came in, the earlier they will start to lose them.

It is important to note that there is a great deal of variation when it comes to the loss of baby teeth. For example, girls often lose their teeth earlier than boys. Also, children with Down Syndrome tend to lose theirs later on.

Tooth Loss and Eating Habits

The process of losing baby teeth is not usually as painful as the teething process; however, the eruption of the molars at the back of the mouth may hurt. If your child complains of pain, there are topical painkillers that can help. You can also give them over-the-counter painkillers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen.

Make sure that your child is brushing their baby teeth regularly, especially below the gum line. In many cases, baby teeth will fall out during routine brushing.

When the first teeth start to loosen, your child's eating habits will not be significantly affected. However, they may start to chew more with their back teeth than with their front ones. Make sure that their food is softer and in smaller pieces as this will make it easier to chew.

At what age should I schedule an appointment for an orthodontic screening? Beecroft Orthodontics

What Happens When Baby Teeth are Lost Too Early?

In some cases, an accident or poor dental hygiene can result in a child losing their baby teeth before they were ready to fall out naturally. While early tooth loss does not necessarily result in serious problems, it is still a good idea to see an orthodontist if your child loses their baby teeth before the age of four. The orthodontist may take x-rays in order to get a better look at what is happening below the gum line.

The gap left when baby teeth fall out early can cause spacing problems when permanent teeth do finally grow in. Your child’s orthodontist may install a spacer to act as a placeholder until the permanent teeth are ready to erupt. If permanent teeth emerge in limited space, this could cause them to be crooked.

Removing Loose Baby Teeth

Children should be encouraged to gently move a loose tooth but they should not be allowed to pull it out. The tooth should be allowed to fall out on its own. This means that the old tricks like tying the tooth to a doorknob or to a bottle rocket are not good ideas. If a loose tooth is yanked out, the broken root could become infected. When it falls out naturally, there will be less of a risk of infection along with less pain and less blood. If a tooth is loose and still does not fall out on its own, it may have to be extracted by the orthodontist. However, the cases where this step is necessary are rare.

Caring for Permanent Teeth

Permanent teeth are likely to be larger in appearance than baby teeth and not quite as white. The ridges will also tend to be more clearly visible because they have not been worn down by years of chewing or biting. With permanent teeth, brushing and flossing will be more important than ever. You will need to:

• Supervise the process until they get to around age eight.

• Teach your child to spit toothpaste out and not to swallow it since fluoride can be poisonous for children.

• Teach your child to use only a small amount of toothpaste (about the size of a pea) when they brush. Keep in mind that many doctors actually recommend the use of a fluoride free toothpaste until a child is able to spit.

• Replace their toothbrush at least once every three months.

• Seek out Virginia orthodontic practices like Beecroft Orthodontics to ensure the proper care of your child’s teeth.

"Is there a pediatric orthodontist near me?" You may have had this thought if your child's permanent teeth are not growing in as you think they should or if they have a loose tooth that refuses to fall out. If this is the case and you are in the Fredericksburg area, make an appointment with Beecroft Orthodontics. They can examine your child's teeth and ensure that their permanent ones grow in as they should.

Beecroft Orthodontics, 10472 Georgetown Dr. Fredericksburg, Virginia

Phone: 540-898-2200

At What Age Do Baby Teeth Normally Fall Out?