You’re Never Too Old for Straight Teeth

You look in the mirror and don’t like your smile. Your teeth look a bit crowded and crooked. You wish they were all nicely aligned and straight.

Well, regardless of your age, if you’ve always dreamed of a straighter smile, it’s not too late. It’s time to talk to your dhealth cosmetic dentist about Invisalign braces.

How Conventional Metal Braces Work

Many adults see braces as a dental treatment just for kids. Not only do they mistakenly assume adults are too old for braces, they cringe at the thought of having a mouth full of metal like Ugly Betty. Both assumptions are wrong. Today’s dhealth dentist offers Invisalign, the virtually invisible braces.

Conventional braces consist of metal brackets and arch wires. Your dentist bonds a metal bracket to the front of each tooth. A thin metal wire, called an arch wire, connects each bracket and realigns your teeth by placing pressure on them.

In addition, some conventional braces use a small elastic ligature called an o-ring (much like a small, round rubber band) stretched between the upper and lower brackets to aid in the realignment. Others, called self-ligating braces, work without the elastic ligatures.

How Invisalign Braces Work

Invisalign braces, on the other hand, differ from metal braces in a number of ways. Instead of brackets and arch wire, Invisalign braces adjust your teeth using a series of clear, custom-made, removable aligners. That means you can take them out when you eat as well as when you clean your teeth. Plus, the aligner trays are smooth, clear plastic, making them virtually invisible to others.

Here’s how it works. You receive a set of Invisalign aligner trays. You wear them in succession, each for approximately two weeks. Wearing the aligners gently shifts your teeth into alignment according to a preplanned design by your dhealth cosmetic dentist.

A visit to your dentist every six weeks will ensure the aligners are working as expected. While the specific amount of time required to straighten teeth varies according to each dental patient’s specific circumstances, it usually takes 9 to 15 months and 18 to 30 sets of aligner trays for the complete Invisalign treatment.

There’s no reason to feel self-conscious about your smile. Invisalign braces allow you to feel good about your smile both during and after the process, and only you will know why.

If you want the benefits of straight teeth without the unsightly look of conventional metal braces, talk to your dhealth dentist about Invisalign braces today.

3 Factors that Influence Effectiveness of Tooth Whitening

You’ve decided it’s time to talk to your dentist about whitening your teeth. However, you’re unsure it’s right for you. Will it really make your smile as radiant as you hope?

Many factors – controllable and uncontrollable – influence tooth whitening. For that reason, actual results will vary by dental patient. Here are three factors that you should consider and discuss with your dhealth cosmetic dentist before deciding on tooth whitening.

Current Color of Your Teeth

When it comes to whitening your teeth, where you start has a lot to do with where you end up. It is a well-documented fact that yellowish teeth respond better to whitening than grayish or brownish teeth. The grayish color is generally caused by medications, such as tetracycline, whereas the brownish hue commonly occurs due to too much fluoride use.

However, even between dental patients with a yellowish color to their teeth there can be differences in level of whitening. Experts believe that each person has their own unique whitening level.

Regardless, to get the best results have your dhealth dentist clean your teeth before starting any whitening treatment. Otherwise, surface stains may affect the results.

Whitening Process Utilized

As we mentioned in our previous post, “Make Your Smile Shine with Tooth Whitening,” there are three basic tooth-whitening processes. Each uses a whitening agent. However, the percentage of whitening agent used varies.

Specifically, the higher the concentration of whitening agent used, the faster the results. That’s why over-the-counter treatments take longer and fade faster. They utilize a lower level of whitening agent. However, a higher concentration also means a greater risk of tooth and gum sensitivity.

Therefore, it’s important to speak with your dhealth cosmetic dentist prior to any tooth-whitening treatment. Additionally, follow all procedures according to directions including how to apply the agent and how long to leave it on. This will help minimize any risks.

Oral Habits Afterwards

Once you’ve completed your whitening treatment, that’s not the end. To maintain a healthy, bright smile requires maintenance.

Just like before your whitening treatment, it’s important to thoroughly brush and floss your teeth. That includes brushing at least twice and flossing at least once daily. Additionally, you’ll need to visit your dhealth dentist on a regular basis to get a professional cleaning. This will help you keep your smile looking good longer.

Finally, watch what you eat and drink. Acidic or dark food and drink such as citrus, tea, coffee, and wine can stain and erode your teeth. So can tobacco products and chewing on foreign objects like the tip of a pencil. Think before you put something in your mouth. Don’t destroy the beauty of your smile.