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Braces, Early Treatment, Invisalign First

What Causes Crooked Teeth?

Crooked teeth are caused by a number of different factors. These factors range from genetics to mouth deformities. Extra teeth or abnormally large teeth can create a malocclusion (crookedness or misplacement of teeth) that is is usually genetic in nature. In some cases jaws are too small to accommodate a full set of teeth. In […]

Crooked teeth are caused by a number of different factors. These factors range from genetics to mouth deformities. Extra teeth or abnormally large teeth can create a malocclusion (crookedness or misplacement of teeth) that is is usually genetic in nature. In some cases jaws are too small to accommodate a full set of teeth. In other cases misaligned jaws that did not form properly develop during the childhood years.

 Can you prevent crooked teeth?

In most cases, underbites, overbites, and crooked teeth are genetically derived and can’t be avoided. Invisalign or braces is be necessary to correct the condition once the child is old enough to wear them. However, certain early childhood behaviors can contribute to the development of crooked teeth that can be avoided. These include:

  • Thumb sucking and tongue thrusting
  • Losing baby teeth to decay before permanent teeth have naturally pushed them out of their sockets
  • Allowing pacifier use to continue after front teeth have erupted

The health of baby teeth directly effects the health of the permanent teeth . Permanent teeth begin to drift and erupt crookedly if the baby teeth above them are lost prematurely due to decay or damage. Baby teeth are like anchors for permanent teeth that help guide them as they erupt through the gums.

In addition, excellent care of baby teeth is vital to having permanent teeth free of discoloration or decay. Harmful oral bacteria can spread into the gums and reach permanent teeth still buried in the gums. Once attached to a tooth’s enamel, bacteria will begin eroding the tooth before it has a chance to take its first bite!

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Braces

6 Tips for Keeping Your Braces Clean from Dunegan Orthodontics!

With braces, it is more important than ever to keep your teeth and gums their healthiest and here are six tips for keeping your braces clean from Dunegan & Cole Orthodontics! Braces and other orthodontic appliances create more opportunities for food particles and bacteria to collect and thrive. Getting braces requires adopting a new oral hygiene […]

With braces, it is more important than ever to keep your teeth and gums their healthiest and here are six tips for keeping your braces clean from Dunegan & Cole Orthodontics! Braces and other orthodontic appliances create more opportunities for food particles and bacteria to collect and thrive. Getting braces requires adopting a new oral hygiene routine and good habits that promote the healthiest environment for your teeth and gums. The American Association of Orthodontics also offers additional tips on everything orthodontics.

Tips for Keeping Your Braces Clean

When you have braces you must be diligent in cleaning your teeth to avoid bad breath, swollen gums, discolored teeth, and decay. If you remove plaque regularly during treatment, you’ll experience better results and reduced treatment time. Read these tips to help you keep your teeth and braces their cleanest.

  1. Take it one tooth at a time. Spend at least 10 seconds of brushing on each of your teeth. Make sure to pay close attention to the front side (bracket side) of your teeth, the back of your teeth as well as the chewing surfaces.
  2. Remember your angles. It is important for gum health to brush the top teeth with your brush angled down and the bottom teeth with your brush angled up. This will keep loosen food particles from your teeth and gums and optimize your gum health.
  3. Always be prepared. To make sure you are taking the best care of your teeth with braces, it is imperative to take a toothbrush and toothpaste with you wherever you go. Having your toothbrush with you will allow you to remove sticky food particles after eating in a timely manner which helps avoid plaque build up.
  4. Fluoride is your friend. Fluoride helps prevent cavities. Be sure to brush with fluoride toothpaste. Rinse with fluoride mouthwash at least once a day.
  5. Floss, floss and floss. Floss your teeth once a day. This is one of the most important cleaning exercises you can do to help prevent gum disease. Flossing will help prevent plaque from building in between your teeth thus reducing your risk of decay. Flossing also helps reduce bad breath.
  6. See your dentist twice a year. It is your job to clean your teeth every day. Visit your dentist regularly while in treatment, to get the deep, thorough cleaning that only a professional can provide.

How Dunegan & Cole Orthodontics Can Help

At Dunegan & Cole Orthodontics, we have been creating beautiful smiles in Gainesville, VA for over 25 years. Following these tips for keeping your teeth clean during orthodontic treatment will expedite the time it takes to achieve your lifelong smile.

We are pleased to provide individualized, caring service because we know that every person and every smile is unique. If you are interested in a beautiful healthy smile and would like to know if you are a candidate for orthodontic treatment, please request a complimentary consultation today.

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Retainers

The Importance of Wearing Your Retainer After Orthodontic Treatment

What is The Importance of Wearing Your Retainer After Orthodontic Treatment? The big day is here and your braces are finally coming off! Does that mean you are completely done? Not so fast! After you complete your treatment at Dunegan & Cole Orthodontics, our team will recommend you wear a retainer. Retainers must be worn […]

What is The Importance of Wearing Your Retainer After Orthodontic Treatment? The big day is here and your braces are finally coming off! Does that mean you are completely done? Not so fast! After you complete your treatment at Dunegan & Cole Orthodontics, our team will recommend you wear a retainer. Retainers must be worn every night for the first year in order to hold your teeth in their proper, new position while your gums, ligaments, and bones adapt. It is important to know there are different types of retainers, and today we would like to explain the differences between them,

Hawley Retainers

The Hawley retainer is one of the most common types of retainers. It is a removable retainer made of a combination of metal wire and acrylic that typically surrounds the six anterior teeth and is designed to keep your teeth in place. This retainer is made from impressions of your teeth so that it fits snugly and comfortably in the roof of your mouth. The wire and acrylic framing keeps your teeth in an ideal position. The acrylic can also be personalized with a large number of colors or patterns.

Essix (clear) Retainers

The Essix retainer is a transparent removable retainer that fits over the entire arch of your teeth. This clear retainer is produced from a mold of your teeth. Similar to Invisalign’s clear aligners, Essix retainers have no metal or wires. They can also be used to produce minor tooth movements and can be helpful in the prevention of tooth wear due to grinding at night.

Bonded Retainers

Bonded lingual retainers are cemented directly to the inside of the surface of your lower canines and anterior teeth. Our team at Dunegan Orthodontics encourages our patients with bonded lingual retainers to be careful with their bite as the bonding material may break due to incorrect biting and cause your teeth to shift. As with removable retainers, it is important to keep your bonded retainers clean. When brushing, make sure to carefully clean the inside of your lower teeth, as well as the wire itself.

The retention phase of treatment begins as soon as the braces are removed. Retainers are worn nightly for the first year. Typically, after one year the doctor will recommend you switch to every other night. Retainers should be worn for a lifetime to ensure your teeth never shift.

If you have any questions about the retainers we offer or to learn more about post-orthodontic treatment, please feel free to contact a Dunegan & Cole Orthodontics team member. We will be happy to answer any of your questions!

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