Teeth Whitening Products and What You Need to Know Before Using Them

In our dentist office, we speak with a lot of patients about teeth whitening. Many people want to know what products they should try and if they are safe.  It is extremely popular to have bright, white teeth right now so it is understandable that the curiosity level is so high.  It is, however, important to note that with any trend comes a lot of misleading advertising that doesn’t paint the full picture.  While marketing companies have done a great job of bringing awareness to these products, you should be an informed consumer. 

A Warning:
One in twenty-five people that use store-bought teeth whitening products report experiencing some level of pain or discomfort afterwards.  This can be mild and go away with an aspirin, or severe and require follow-up dental care. This is partially why we recommend using products and solutions administered by a dentist.  We can help to prevent much of these problems. 

When you look at products in the store, there are several kinds to choose from.  Whitening toothpaste is by far the easiest to use because you were brushing your teeth anyway.  This is a good way to brighten your smile, but it won’t produce dramatic results.  In fact, most people are fairly disappointed. We do, however, recommend using this after having a professional teeth whitening procedure because it can help your teeth to stay white for a longer period of time. 

Another option, to consider, is whitening strips.  These look like a piece of tape that you apply to your teeth after brushing them.  With the strips securely in place, the solution can start to whiten your teeth.  The biggest challenge with strips is that they can easily slide off, so people find them difficult to use throughout the day, decreasing the chance of sticking with the treatment. 

You can also purchase whitening trays at the store.  This solution carries the greatest level of risk for discomfort because the trays are designed to fit everyone.  This means that they fit no one perfectly.  With that in mind, the solution can easily leak out of the trays and onto your gums, causing irritation.  Anytime that bleach comes in contact with your gums, it will create some level of discomfort.  As a dentist, we can create customized whitening trays so that there is no leakage and teeth can be whitened safely without these risks. 

If you decide to buy whitening products at the store, know that you may be disappointed.  They do work but not as well as a professional procedure so the results are not as dramatic.  This leads many people to use the products repeatedly and expose their teeth to sensitivity and their gums to discomfort. Overuse is the primary reason that so many people report discomfort after using store-bought products.  While it may be tempting to use them over and over again - this is not wise.  Instead, if you don’t like the results, schedule a dentist appointment. 

Invisalign Can Straighten Your Teeth and After You Will Need a Retainer

As a modern procedure, Invisalign® has brought the promise of beautiful, straight teeth to millions of adults around the world. Once stifled by the perceived stigma of wearing braces or afraid of being ridiculed for a mouth full of metal, today adults can have their teeth straightened without any such fears. The virtually invisible system of aligners can work while you are at work, taking care of the kids, or even celebrating the holidays with your family, and nobody will be any the wiser. Additionally, unlike regular braces, you can remove the Invisalign® aligners at any time meaning that there are virtually no restrictions on what you may or may not eat while undergoing the treatment. Simply remove the aligner, eat to your heart’s desire and put it back, keeping it in place for at least 20 – 22 hours per day. 

As with any treatment, Invisalign® only works if you make sure to follow up after the treatment is completed. The aligning of teeth involves moving the teeth from what they perceive to be the natural spot. While we may find the placement and size of the teeth to be unnatural and, even ugly, the mouth has placed them in a particular spot because that's where the body believes the teeth should go. Once the Invisalign treatment is complete, it is imperative to continue wearing a retainer to ensure that the mouth does not start to move back into the previous structure. The retainer’s job is to prevent nature from undoing all the work you did to have that perfect smile. You will need to decide, however, if you are more comfortable with a permanent retainer or would prefer one that can come out when you are not actively using it. 

The removable retainer: The removable retainer is designed to come out of your mouth and go back in, to ensure that you are exerting pressure on the teeth to hold them in place. Typically you would have the retainer in your mouth at night and remove it during the day. For some patients, they may need to have a retainer in for more than just the night. Unfortunately, a removable retainer’s best feature, its removability, is also its greatest weakness as it is easy for someone to fall out of the habit of putting on the retainer.  This can ultimately cause the teeth start to move. Also, removable retainers are not as effective as permanent ones.  On the other hand, removable retainers do make it easier to eat, brush your teeth, and floss effectively. 

The permanent retainer: The permanent retainer works the same as the temporary retainer except that it is installed by your dentist or orthodontist and is never removed. For people who do not want the hassle of having to remember their retainer this is a far more effective solution. It is also a more efficient solution in terms of holding the teeth in place since it is permanent and adjusted for maximum impact. A permanent retainer has one major disadvantage when it comes to flossing, requiring the patient to learn how to floss around the retainer. However, the advantages of a permanent retainer far outweigh the disadvantage of having to learn a different way of flossing. This is why many Invisalign® dentists recommend permanent retainers or a combination of permanent and removable retainers.  

We can discuss your options during a consultation in order to determine what the best option for you will be. 

Learn How Popular Dental Implants Are and Why

For over 3 million Americans dental implants have proven to be the best and most effective way to address serious dental challenges like a loss of teeth. The number of people who are seeking out this form of treatment is growing every year, and last year almost half a million patients chose to get dental implants. Despite the fact that this form of treatment has been around for a long time, it is only now starting to be accepted as a mainstream medical correction versus the long-held perception that dental implants were strictly for cosmetic application. As the education of consumers, doctors, and insurance carriers continues to improve, more people will be able to get back a beautiful smile with the help of implants.

This procedure has been perfected but is not new.  They have been around for a very long time. An interesting fact is that ancient Mayan women would have bone implanted into their gums to simulate teeth. This is the first known dental implant surgery with records of such type of procedures dating back to 600 AD. Modern medicine has made implants much safer and less intrusive, giving rise to a larger number of people chose to replace their teeth with implants rather than less permanent solutions. 

Dental implants are a much more permanent solution to tooth loss than traditional bridges or dentures. Since the implant is placed directly into the gum there is a level of permanence that you cannot achieve with a traditional bridge. Additionally because of the fact that the implant is put into the jawbone, the titanium screw acts like a naturally occurring root. This holds the tooth in place and you do not ever have to worry about misplacing an implant. With over 25% of senior citizens losing all of their natural teeth, implants provide a safe, long-term solution to tooth loss. 

There is definitely an expense associated with dental implants. Since they have been viewed, and still are in some circles, as a purely cosmetic procedure the cost of dental implants is still relatively high. However, as more people become aware of implants and the permanence of the solution they offer, insurance companies are starting to realize the benefit of paying for them. Even if not through a direct pay system, patients can get their insurance to cover some or all of the cost of the procedure through an allowance granted to them for a traditional denture or bridge. That money can be put towards an implant. 

Getting dental implants takes time and a certain level of commitment. They are made to fit exactly into your specific mouth. To accomplish this, we will need to get the right measurements, take several impressions of your mouth, build a mold that fits your mouth & mimics your teeth structure, and then ultimately place the implant into your mouth. All of these require you to be at our dentist’s office on an outpatient basis, so you should be prepared to take some time off for your appointments.  To find out what your exact timeline would look like, give us a call.

Times Have Changed for the Cosmetic Dentist

In the 1970s, a cosmetic dentist had fewer ways to treat patients.  As a result, tooth pulling was still common, and dentures were the go to solution for people that needed to replace missing teeth. In fact, most people simply expected that they would end up wearing dentures and didn’t think about alternative options.  Thankfully, the 80s brought changes in dental technology that improved everything. 

Resin cement was invented in the 1980s and made it possible for dentists to restore teeth using ceramics.  While ceramic solutions had been available for close to a hundred years, they simply weren’t as durable as silver amalgam and therefore not nearly as popular.  As much as most people want a beautiful smile, the ability to eat comfortably is still a higher priority and always has been.  Modern technology makes it possible to have both. 

When resin cement started being used by the cosmetic dentist, it opened up a world of possibilities.  This material is used to bond a ceramic crown or dental veneer to a natural tooth.  By bonding the two together, the restoration becomes incredibly strong and durable.  This is important when talking about a tooth that is used all day, every day.  The difference was so extreme that many people stopped using silver amalgam on a frequent basis and replaced the material with ceramic crowns instead. 

As all-ceramic crowns and dental veneers became widely available, many Hollywood celebrities were among the first to take advantage of it.  Now, it is expected that a star have the perfect smile.  In fact, there is a term “Hollywood Smile” because it is universally known that celebrities in the United States have a beautiful and perfect smile.  This, however, didn’t used to be commonplace.  In fact, celebrities like Tom Cruise used to have terrible looking teeth.  They were so bad that if you look at a picture from his early acting days, you wouldn’t even recognize his smile. As resin cement made it possible to permanently secure ceramic crowns and veneers to teeth, celebrities like Tom Cruise had a smile makeover.  

While more celebrities had their teeth fixed, the cosmetic dentist also started talking to patients about the options that were available.  This has led to people throughout the country having their crooked, broken, stained or damaged teeth corrected using dental crowns and veneers. These solutions have become so popular that people in other countries have come to know Americans as people with nice teeth.  Not only have these options make it possible to restore damaged and unattractive teeth but resin cement led to the invention of the dental bridge and opened the door to the possibility of having missing teeth replaced without dentures. 

It is typically impossible to have perfect looking teeth without the help of a dentist, so if you don’t love your smile, don’t feel bad.  You can have the smile that you have always wanted with help from our office.  All you need to do is schedule an appointment so that we can examine your teeth and present treatment options for correcting them. 

Common Oral Health Problems and How an Emergency Dentist Can Help

As a local emergency dentist, we treat patients with all types of oral health problems.  Many people think that as long as they keep their teeth healthy, they will never have an emergency.  This, unfortunately, isn’t the case because teeth are subject to all types of damage just like the rest of your body is.  The majority of adult tooth damage happens while playing sports so even if you are trying to be healthy, you could still injure your teeth.

There are several reasons why people need to see a dentist quickly.  If any of these happen to you, we recommend keeping your mouth clean by rinsing with warm water and avoiding eating or drinking anything other than water. We also advice staying away from blood thinners or aspirin since it can make it harder for your blood to clot. If you are in pain, apply a cold compress or ice to help stop the pain and reduce the swelling. Next, call our office so that you can be treated right away.

Here are common reasons people need to see an emergency dentist:

• Broken tooth.  If your tooth gets cracked or chipped while playing sports, at work, riding a bike, playing with the kids, etc., you will need to get it restored quickly.  A damaged tooth can become infected and painful.  By having it restored right away, you can prevent these complications. 
• Lost tooth.  If your tooth gets knocked out, we can either help to save it or provide options for replacing it.  If you can find the tooth rinse it off and put it into a glass of milk then come see us. When possible, we will save your natural tooth but time is of the essence.
• Swelling in your face.  If you notice that your face or jaw starts to swell up, it could be due to an infection called a dental abscess.  An abscess is a severe infection and needs to be drained immediately before the infection can be reduced.  If you allow it to spread, the infection will only grow and become more painful, so you need care immediately. 
• Massive bleeding.  If you mouth starts to bleed and won’t stop, you need to come see us right away so that we can identify the source of the bleeding and provide the treatment necessary to stop it. 
• Swollen gums.  If your gums are hurting, swelling, and bleeding you may have gum disease.  This can be treated by removing the bacteria from underneath your gums.  If you schedule an appointment right away, the damage can be reversed before pockets are created in the gum tissue.  If you ignore the condition, you will likely need a gum graft later on. 

As an emergency dentist, we provide dental care when you need it so don’t worry about calling after hours or on the weekend.  If we don’t pick up, leave a message, and we will get back to you as quickly as possible.  Our goal is to treat you right away so that you can start to feel well again. 

Visit our Family Dentist Office to Have Your Sensitive Teeth Treated

If your teeth are in pain, schedule an appointment with our dentist office.  We will examine your teeth and determine what is causing the pain in the first place.  Many people suffer from tooth sensitivity.  This can be due to a cavity, gum disease, and a lack of enamel.  In order to treat it properly, we need to know why your teeth are sensitive.  We recommend having a dental exam and teeth cleaning twice a year which can prevent a lot of these issues, but regardless of when you had your last appointment, call us if you are in pain.

One of the things we will look for is whether or not the enamel on your teeth has worn away.  As people age, it is common for teeth to go through a process called demineralization.  This is when the enamel starts to wear off, and the dentin underneath is exposed.  The challenge with dentin being exposed is that it is full of tiny holes that lead directly to the roots of the tooth.  This means that when you eat or drink anything, sensations are sent through the dentin and to the roots.  This is what can lead to a sudden painful sensation.  You can help to reduce the pain at home by brushing with desensitizing toothpaste and a soft toothbrush.

If your enamel is strong, then the pain is likely caused by either a cavity or gum disease. A cavity can be diagnosed and treated easily.  Once the cavity is removed, and a filling is placed, your tooth should stop hurting.  If the infection is in the center of your tooth, a root canal will likely be necessary in order to remove the infection.  Afterwards, we typically place a crown around the tooth in order to protect it.  This will prevent anything from touching the tooth directly since a crown is essentially a cap that surrounds the tooth. As a family dentist, we have multiple ways to treat a cavity that are painless and can help you to feel better right away.

When there are no cavities and your enamel is strong, the pain in your mouth is likely due to gum disease. As bacteria gathers around your gums, it can get between the gum tissue and your tooth.  This can make your gums swell, bleed, and be in pain.  This creates an overall sensitivity in your mouth and as the disease grows, it can be painful. Our goal is to catch gum disease quickly before it can spread and create issues with your teeth.  In its early stages, we can treat gingivitis by performing a deep cleaning and removing the bacteria from under the gum tissue.  This will give your gums the natural ability to heal themselves and the symptoms will go away.

If gum disease is allowed to spread, it will make your gums recede.  This can be painful, and as the roots and tooth structure are exposed, your teeth can start to hurt.  In this scenario, a gum graft is typically necessary for protecting the teeth and restoring gum health.

To find out what is causing your sensitive teeth, call and schedule an appointment with our family dentist office today. 

As Football Games Take Place Across the Country, Dental Implants Can Restore Knock Out Teeth

Fall is here and with it comes fall sports and the need for dental implants.  According to the American Dental Association, sports injuries account for 13 to 39 percent of dental injuries leading to tooth loss. Parents should consider this when putting their kids in sports and look for ways to keep their teeth safe.  When teeth do fall out, many athletes are turning to implants as a permanent solution but this is normally a solution for adults, not children.

In order to keep kids safe, we recommend starting with ongoing preventative care.  By brushing and flossing their teeth twice a day and having their teeth professionally cleaned twice a year, their teeth will be stronger and less susceptible to becoming injured during an accident.  Brushing with fluoride toothpaste and getting a fluoride treatment at the dentist can also help.  In addition, to ongoing preventative care, we recommend that athletes of all ages wear a customized mouth guard in order to protect their teeth.

Football injuries may be significant but fewer football players lose teeth as a result of the sport because they wear mouth guards and a protective helmet. It is actually more common for basketball players to need dental implants than football players.  The University of California reviewed accident records from their athletic department in order to find out which sports had the highest likelihood of producing an oral injury.  It turns out that 11 out of every 100 basketball players reported a dental injury.  This could mean tooth loss, a cracked tooth, etc.  Since basketball players are not required to wear a mouth guard and do not have any protective face gear, these statistics make sense.  As a parent, if your child plays basketball you should consider the mouth guard as their only real means of protection.

Why Dental Implants Are So Popular

During the procedure, we implant a metal post under the gums and secure it to the jawbone.  Over time, the post and bone will fuse together and create a new root system.  It can take several months for this process to complete but it makes the implants incredibly secure and durable.  The new synthetic tooth is secured to the metal post, and once the procedure is complete, it won’t become loose while playing sports or eating.  The process makes implants as sturdy as a natural tooth would be.  This is significant since for athletes and adults with active lifestyles, slowing down is not an option.  It is important to be able to function like normal without thinking about a missing tooth, and this is the best option for doing so.

Once installed, people can take care of dental implants just like they would a natural tooth.  Brushing and flossing throughout the day along with regular teeth cleanings are all that is needed to keep teeth in good shape.  The healthier the mouth is, the stronger teeth will be overall so remember to schedule your teeth cleaning today.

An Orthodontist Can Do More Than Give You Braces

If you need to see an orthodontist, you are in good company.  Millions of children and adults need to straighten their teeth and work with a professional in order to do so.  Having straight teeth is important for more than your appearance.  While it can give you a gorgeous smile, straight teeth are also less likely to become infected and are easier to keep clean and white.  

Some people need to have their teeth moved because they are experiencing jaw and face pain.  When the bite is misaligned, it can produce symptoms that are similar to TMJ and can be painful.  The only way to deal with this issue is to have your bite corrected and moved into place so that the front teeth sit securely over the top of the back teeth and that your molars are where they should be when relaxing and eating.  

Orthodontics can help by moving teeth into place and aligning a person’s bite. Most people think of an orthodontist as someone who works with braces only. Braces are an excellent way to straighten and move teeth, so this is a common procedure.  There are, however, other oral health issues that are typically not addressed with braces, but still require treatment by a professional orthodontist.  

These procedures include:

• Spacers.  Fixed spacers can be used to hold a place for an adult tooth to come in.  This is frequently used when a child loses a baby tooth prematurely and, as a result, the pallet starts to move and overcrowding takes place.  Permanent teeth can start to come in behind other teeth as a result of this problem, making a spacer an important solution for keeping room in the mouth for adult teeth to come in properly. 
• Invisalign ®.  Those that want straight teeth without wearing braces can use Invisalign® or another type of aligner to move their teeth into place.  This is basically a series of clear retainers that surround the mouth and move the teeth slowly into place with new aligners being worn every couple of weeks. 
• Jaw repositioning appliances.  This is a removable device that is worn on the upper or lower jaw and ensures that the jaw stays in position.  It is used to train the jaw to close a certain way. 
• Expanders.  Those that need to expand their pallet may need to wear one of these devices.  It is used by itself and in conjunction with braces in order to open the pallet enough for the teeth to fit in place without overcrowding. 
• Retainers.  A removable retainer is often required after braces are taken off in order to keep teeth from moving back into their old position.  They can also be used to help move teeth overtime. Some children wear a modified retainer to help stop thumb sucking. 

These are only a few of the ways that an orthodontist can help to straighten teeth, address oral health problems, and prevent jaw and face pain.  To learn more, schedule a consultation. 

Teeth Whitening Can Make You More Attractive

Did you know that teeth whitening can do more for your appearance than simply brightening your smile?  People have often wondered what makes a person attractive, and a recent study by Match.com may have the answer.  They polled 5,000 single people and found that a beautiful smile was the one thing that both men and women found to be the most attractive quality when looking for someone to meet.  They could have selected a variety of both physical and personality traits, but this one feature made the top of the list.  If you want to improve your appearance, this is by far the easiest way to do so because it doesn’t require hours in the gym or a makeover by a stylist.

A beautiful smile starts with a healthy one.  In order to keep your smile glowing, it has to remain in good condition.  That includes teeth free from cavities and gums that are healthy and not receding.  In order to have a healthy smile, brush and floss your teeth at home on a daily basis.  You can do this several times a day to reduce the risk of your teeth becoming stained or an infection developing.  If you smoke or use smokeless tobacco products try to eliminate the habit as this also puts your teeth and gums at risk of becoming infected.  Additionally, you should have your teeth cleaned at least twice a year to ensure that any lingering bacteria are removed before it can create an infection.

When your teeth are healthy, improving your smile is easy.  Tooth whitening is a quick and pain-free solution for brightening your smile.  There are several ways to do so and professional teeth whitening is by far the most effective.  It can whiten your teeth by up to eight shades, producing dramatic and noticeable results.

Over-the-counter whitening solutions work but only slightly.  For example, you can purchase whitening strips or trays at the drug store but they typically only whiten teeth by around two shades.  This will help to brighten your teeth but won’t restore them to a gorgeous youthful glow.  Over time teeth tend to become dull and get stained.  The older you are, the more likely your teeth are to lose their luster.  These in-store solutions will help to start the process but are nowhere near as effective as what the dentist provides.  An additional challenge with over-the-counter solutions is that they are made in a one size fits all design.  Since they are not customized for your teeth, there is the risk of them slipping out of place which can be uncomfortable.  It would be similar to purchasing an XL T-shirt at the store when you wear a medium.  The shirt would do its job but not as effectively as one that actually fit.

We create customized teeth whitening trays that are made after a mold is taken of your mouth.  This allows us to design a solution that fits snuggly and securely around your teeth.  When the whitening gel is added, it won’t slip out, so the process is very comfortable.  After wearing the trays at night for a week or so, you will see dramatic results that will improve your smile and overall appearance.  Additionally, we provide in-office whitening procedures for people that want faster results.

Dental Implants Provide People with a New Level of Freedom

MG Dental provides http://www.mgdental.com for patients that want to replace a missing tooth in a way that looks and feels completely natural.  It is common for a person to lose a tooth at some point in their lifetime.  In fact, seventy percent of U.S. adults suffer from some form of tooth loss.  This is a common problem, and modern dentistry provides multiple solutions for addressing it.

One common way to replace a tooth is to create a dental bridge.  In this procedure, a crown is placed on the two teeth surrounding the missing one in order to form a “bridge” that holds the new tooth in place.  A cosmetic dentist can do this and make the tooth look natural.  However, many people that wear bridges end up with an uncomfortable tooth that looks out of place. Patients that have gotten a bridge, years ago, may now benefit by replacing it with an implant.

Dental implants are also superior to dentures.  While a common solution, dentures don’t feel like natural teeth.  They look better than ever and are more comfortable than they used to be, however, they are still a foreign object in the mouth.  That means that people often have difficulty eating and speaking like normal because they have to get used to wearing something new.  A full set can also reduce the number of flavors that person can taste.  Dentures will always have their place in dentistry and are a good solution for certain patients.  They are not, however, a permanent solution that behaves like a natural tooth.

Patients of MG Dental can benefit from the latest in dental technology.  Dental implants have become more common recently and are ideal for people that have an active lifestyle and want to keep it that way.  The best thing about implants is that once the procedure is complete, patients no longer have to think about their teeth.  Since it feels completely natural and is as durable as a natural tooth, there is no need to eat carefully or add more steps to the daily hygiene routine.  Brushing and flossing like normal, along with trips to the dentist, is all it takes to keep teeth fresh, beautiful and healthy.

The first step in the procedure is to have a metal post implanted under the gums and secured to the jawbone.  This must be done by an expert in order to reduce any recovery time and prevent complications.  In time, the metal and the jawbone will fuse together to create a completely durable synthetic root system.  The new root is the key to the entire procedure and the component that separates this from other types of cosmetic dental work.  It can take several months for the gums to heal entirely, but the process is worth the wait due to the stability it creates.

The new tooth will be created in a dental lab and will match the surrounding teeth perfectly.  After the gums have healed the new tooth will be secured to the post at the surface of the gums and positioned in place.  The result is a smile that looks, feels, and behaves completely naturally – perfect for patients with active and busy lifestyles.

How to Take Care of Your Braces

Once your braces are firmly on your teeth the work of straightening your smile can start.  Your Orthodontist will examine and inspect your braces on a regular basis.  At each visit, they will be adjusted by changing or tightening your wires, changing your rubber bands, and anything else that the orthodontist recommends.

In between visits, it is important to care for your teeth at home.  Eating the wrong thing or failing to brush and floss properly can lead to complications and make the process last longer.  The typical time a patient has them on is around two years.  A delay or complication can extend the process out much farther.

Here are tips for how you can care for your braces and teeth at home.

·         Brush after meals.  Do not wait for the evening to brush your teeth.  Carry a soft toothbrush with you and use it after every meal and some snacks.  This will help to remove food that has gotten stuck around your braces and will help to prevent staining and cavities.

·         Use a wire brush.  A special wire brush can be used to clean the plaque off from around your braces.  Its small pointed tip can get into small spaces.

·         Floss daily.  There are flossing tools that are made for patients with braces.  Use this at least once a day.  Food and bacteria will become trapped on and in between your teeth if you are not careful with your oral care habits.

·         Use mouthwash.  Instead of chewing gum, use an antiseptic mouthwash.  This will kill bacteria that is forming in your mouth, on your teeth, and gums.  It is also safer since gum tends to be sticky and can even cause your rubber bands or wires to become loose.

·         Drink water.  Substitute soda, juice, coffee, and other sugar filled liquids with water.  Your overall health may improve, and you will prevent sugar and bacteria from sitting on your teeth throughout the day. 

·         Visit the dentist.  Continue with your preventative care treatments.

·         Avoid candy.  Biting down on hard candy can cause your braces to become damaged.  Any damage to your braces will elongate the amount of time you have to wear them. Additionally, caramels and other soft chewy candies can become stuck in your braces which creates a risk of getting cavities.

·         Stay away from hard foods.  Things like nuts, ice, carrots, and hard pizza crust can all damage your braces or the hard pieces can be stuck in between your brackets and cause pain.  If you want to eat these foods look for a softer version.  For example, steamed carrots, soft crust, and pecans instead of almonds.

Follow your orthodontists’ instructions on anything additional you need to do for your specific situation.  Make sure to attend all of your scheduled appointments so that your braces stay in the best shape possible, and your smile is straightened on time and on schedule.  By caring for teeth and braces, you will have a gorgeous smile in no time.

Invisalign is the Clear Way to Straighten Your Smile

You can have a straight and a gorgeous smile with Invisalign.  A bright, straight, and warm smile exudes confidence and can transform someone’s appearance.  Most people want a straight smile but may not have the time or desire to wear traditional braces.  Fortunately, there is another option.

MG Dental provides patients with multiple ways to straighten their smile.  While we offer traditional braces, this is not a good fit for everyone.  People with busy careers that need to maintain a certain image may be unable to wear braces while people that travel a lot don’t have time to visit the orthodontist on a frequent basis.

Invisalign is ideal for people with a busy schedule because the progress can be made at home.  Appointments are simply to make sure that the teeth are adjusting as they should.  Traditional braces have multiple components – brackets, wires and rubber bands. These components need to be adjusted or changed regularly at the orthodontist office in order to keep teeth moving in the right direction.  Invisalign is different because there is only one piece to worry about, an aligner.

Clear aligners are created using a mold of your mouth.  They slowly change so that every couple of weeks you can remove the old one and start to wear a new one.  They go in stages so that each time you start wearing a new aligner it will move the teeth that much close to your smile goals.  Patients are given the aligners at the beginning of the process, so there is no need to visit the orthodontist before switching one out.  Regular inspections still need to be completed, but that can be done on a patient's schedule without worrying about causing delays.  Flexibility is important because people’s lives are so incredibly busy.  Even those that are committed to having straight teeth may find the number of office visits cumbersome, making this alternative option ideal.

Invisalign is also an excellent option for those worried about their appearance.  Many people are uncomfortable with the idea of having metal braces on their mouth.  Whether needing to blend in at work or a high school senior wanting to look amazing for the prom, braces do impact your overall appearance where this option won’t.  Since the aligners are clear, a patient can wear it with them with confidence that no one can tell they are on.  This makes them a viable alternative for people that want to straighten their smile without calling attention to it.

Another benefit is that you can care for your teeth like normal without any additional maintenance steps.  Simply brush your teeth after each meal or sticky snacks, floss daily, and use an antiseptic mouthwash to kill bacteria and to remove plaque.  Your aligners can also be brushed using a soft toothbrush and toothpaste.

To learn more about the process or to schedule a consultation call MG Dental at 718-416-6444 and speak with one of our experienced team members or our orthodontist.

How Braces Can Improve Your Health and Your Smile

Traditionally braces have been used to transform a persons’ smile and appearance.  They can actually do much more. In addition to giving patients a stunning smile, they can also correct some dental health issues and decrease the pain that is associated with them.  The staff at MG Dental are experts at improving peoples’ smiles and oral health.

Here are some ways a patients’ health can improve.

Bad Bite or Malocclusion

When a persons’ bite is off it can impact their ability eat property and cause discomfort and jaw pain.  Adjusting the bite takes time and orthodontics.  Not only do the teeth need to move but the bite has to be aligned so that the top teeth fit securely over the bottom ones.  This is typically done with a rubber band system.  The orthodontist will provide instructions on how to string a rubber band from the top brackets to the bottom ones.  This will hold your bite in place throughout the day and evening.  At each appointment, the orthodontist will tell you if your rubber bands need to be worn differently or if you can stop wearing them all together.  The orthodontist may recommend additional ways to adjust your bite but by the time the braces are removed, your bite will also be aligned.

Crooked Teeth

Teeth that are crooked tend to trap food and bacteria.  It is difficult to brush them and to remove all of the bacteria that forms.  This can lead to an increased risk of cavities for that tooth along with the ones around it.  By straightening the tooth, or teeth, an orthodontist can help you to stay in good oral health and reduce these risks.

Jaw Pain

When your teeth are out of alignment, it can cause jaw pain.  These symptoms can manifest themselves as TMJ.  Basically, at night people can tend to grind their teeth or clench them together which can cause sore jaw and face muscles.  At times, this can be corrected by wearing a mouth guard to bed, while other patients need to have their teeth straightened to prevent grinding and clenching.  Once braces are removed most people need to wear a retainer which can also prevent clenching and grinding.

In addition to improving a persons’ overall health, braces will improve their appearance.  A bright, straight smile is welcoming, and people with straight smiles feel more confident and self-assured.  They say that beauty comes from within and in many ways that is true.  The challenge is that when people feel insecure or unattractive, they don’t believe in their own beauty.  Sometimes, improving someone’s smile is all it takes to give them the confidence they need to believe in themselves and approach the world boldly.

The staff at MG Dental enjoy being part of this transformation and welcome new patients.  To learn how your smile can be transformed, call 718-416-6444 to schedule an appointment or speak with one of our experienced team members.  

Invisalign Can Straighten Your Smile: The Invisible Way!

If you want a straight smile Invisalign can help.  Many people want to have the perfect smile but are uncomfortable wearing traditional braces due to their appearance.  Whether an adult professional or college student, there are times where wearing metal braces isn’t conducive to a patients overall goals or busy schedule.  We offer an alternative to traditional braces that can straighten your smile – the invisible way.

In order to determine if you are a candidate, schedule an appointment with MG Dental Orthodontics.  We will evaluate your teeth, gums, and smile and discuss your overall goals.  Based on that conversation, and teeth inspection, we will give a recommendation as to the best ways to straighten your teeth.

How Does Invisalign Work?

Invisalign can straighten your teeth without anyone ever knowing that you are wearing a corrective device.  It is completely clear and fits over the top of your teeth similar to how a retainer would.  You can speak and drink normally and take it out while eating meals.  The goal is to wear it for 22 hours out of the day. 

During your examination, we will take a mold of your mouth and use it to create custom aligners.  These aligners are worn for a couple of weeks then switched out to the next set.  Gradually, your teeth will move into place by simply wearing a more recent aligner.  Since they are made ahead of time, you don’t need to schedule as many visits to the orthodontist as you do with traditional braces that need to be adjusted on-site.  This makes them a good alternative for someone with an extremely busy schedule.

There are also fewer accessories with this orthodontic solution.  Traditional braces may require things like rubber bands to be worn during the process and people need special tools in order to floss.  The only thing you need with Invisalign is your custom made aligners.  You can brush and floss like normal.

Can Anyone Get Invisalign?

This process isn’t for everyone.  There are some bite issues that may require traditional metal braces to be worn. If this is the case, we can provide that option, as well.  There is no one size fits all treatment when it comes to orthodontics.  We evaluate each patient on a case by case basis to determine the best way to straighten their teeth, working within their lifestyle and budgetary goals.  By providing multiple options, patients are in control of their overall health and wellbeing. 

Regardless, of how you straighten your teeth it is important to keep them in good condition by brushing after every meal and flossing daily.  This will prevent bacteria from building up and reduce the risk of staining your teeth.  It is also wise to use an antiseptic mouthwash to kill any lingering bacteria.  We will provide you with information on how to care for your teeth at home so that you can have the beautiful and healthy smile that you have always wanted.