Correcting crooked or misaligned teeth can be an important task for those that are concerned with the appearance of their smile. For those needing these problems addressed, there may be no better option than braces. While braces have the ability to correct a host of cosmetic and functional dental problems, they are not well understood by patients. By learning the following answers to routine concerns new orthodontic patients may have, you will be in a position to be a better-informed patient throughout this treatment process.
Why Does The Orthodontist Need To Extract Teeth?
During your initial consultation with your orthodontist, there is a chance that they may reveal you need to have teeth extracted for the treatment. This can seem alarming, but there may be no other way to permanently correct your dental issues. It is relatively common for patients to have mouths that are unable to comfortably accommodate their full set of teeth, which can cause the teeth to become crowded and misaligned.
To address this problem, your dentist may need to remove teeth, but this is not something that should be a major concern for you because they will also select a tooth that is cosmetically unimportant. While you may experience some discomfort, your will be prescribed pain medication, and the worst of the discomfort should pass after a day or two.
Do You Still Need To Visit Your Normal Dentist?
Some patients may assume that their orthodontist will provide all of their dental care through the time they are wearing the braces. However, this is far from the truth, and you will still need to visit your dentist for your routine cleanings and inspections. In fact, these visits become more important when you are wearing braces because food can become trapped in the braces leading to decay on the surrounding teeth.
If you are wearing traditional metal braces, you should plan for your dental cleanings to take longer than normal while you are wearing the braces because the dentist will need to clean around the complex wiring. For those that are wearing clear braces, they can simply remove the braces for the cleaning before putting them back into place.
Getting braces is one of the more common cosmetic dental procedures that people will need. Yet, there are some questions that patients considering this procedure may need addressed before they can comfortably make a decision for their needs. By learning why you may need some teeth removed for braces and the importance of continuing to visit your normal dentist, you will be better able to anticipate what getting and wearing your braces will be like.
To learn more, contact a dental clinic like Arrowhead Family Dentistry.
Share29 June 2015
My son was outside playing with some friends when he accidentally fell down and hit his mouth on the sidewalk. The fall knocked out his front tooth, so I immediately placed the tooth in a small jar and added some milk. I rushed my son to the dental clinic and the dentist immediately took us into the examination room. The dentist placed the tooth back into the socket and saved it. My name is Beverly Tillman and thanks to the quick work of the dentist, my son didn't lose his tooth. Since this was a scary time for me and my son, I wanted to write this blog as a source of information for other parents who are facing a dental emergency. First of all, don't panic and get to your dentist as soon as possible. I hope this blog will help to answer your questions about dental emergencies.