Orthodontic treatment can be a much needed dental resource when you want to get your or your child’s teeth aligned. Teeth that do not close properly, a smile that makes you feel embarrassed, spaced-out tooth placement, or difficulties during breathing, chewing or even sleeping are some of the reasons to opt for comprehensive orthodontic therapy. Most often, tooth straightening or alignment is achieved by guiding teeth into new positions through braces. Orthodontic therapy has advanced considerably in recent years. Clear aligners are another exciting development that lets you go braces-free. Dr Suvidha Sachdeva of Sunshine Smiles Dentistry, dentist Roswell GA, offers a host of orthodontic treatment options that assure a comfortable treatment experience and excellent results. Read on to know more about braces and clear aligners and how to make the optimal orthodontic choice:

 

Braces

Braces are the most common orthodontic therapy to guide teeth into their correct positions. Traditionally, braces are made of metal and cover a few or all teeth of the mouth. Braces use a system of elastics and wires to close gaps, push teeth inwards or outwards and enhance their symmetry to give a balanced smile.

 

What to Expect With Braces

At the start of treatment, radiographs are taken and an impression is made to determine your orthodontic treatment needs. After an assessment, braces are placed that are connected by elastics and metal wires that are tightened systematically to align teeth and give you a beautiful and symmetrical smile. Ceramic or tooth-colored and lingual braces are also available that are more appealing cosmetically. Braces need to be reviewed every 4 to 6 weeks to check if the pressure the wires are placing on the teeth to be moved is optimal. Braces cannot be removed for the duration of orthodontic treatment and you may need some time before you fully adjust to their presence during talking, eating and brushing.

Braces require special oral hygiene maintenance such as:

• Regular tooth brushing
• Use of an anti-cavity mouth rinse
• Use of special orthodontic brushes that can clean around braces
• Use of an interdental brush to remove debris between teeth

Clear Aligners

Clear aligners are discreet and almost transparent orthodontic appliances. They are used to correct tooth positioning problems by using clear splints. Clear aligners feel more preferable than traditional braces because:

• Esthetic and barely visible in the mouth
• Can be removed during meals
• Hygienic to use
• Allow brushing and flossing with ease
• Gradual pressure applied
• Comfortable treatment experience
• Customized treatment
• No wires, elastics, or brackets used

What to Expect with Clear Aligners

The treatment process for clear aligners at Sunshine Smiles Dentistry in Roswell, GA involves a step by step procedure. Initially, a computerized 3D scan of the teeth is recorded to assess the degree and nature of orthodontic treatment required. A customized near-transparent aligner is fabricated to meet your specific therapeutic needs. Splints of gradually increasing thickness ranging from soft, medium to hard are worn over a few weeks to few months. The splints are reviewed every one to two weeks on an average. The clear aligners need to be worn for 20 to 22 hours a day for optimal results. It is important to wear the clear aligners for the stipulated time to achieve orthodontic benefits.

 

Tooth straightening does not need to be a matter of concern for you or your loved ones. Make the right choice by scheduling a consultation at https://sunshinesmilesdentistry.com/book-an-appointment/ and choose a treatment that is tailor-made for you.

Sealants offer a quick and easy way of protecting teeth by acting as barriers

on cavity-prone areas. They are usually applied to back teeth to cover the chewing surface in children and are many times used to cover grooves, dips and pits as well. Sealants can benefit both primary and permanent teeth. It is important to understand that the likelihood of developing fissure and pit decay begins early on in childhood making children and teenagers obvious candidates for sealants.

This article will talk about what dental sealants are, how they are applied, whether they hurt, what the research says and tips to prevent tooth decay in children.

What are dental sealants?

Thorough brushing and flossing can remove the majority of plaque and food particles from teeth with smooth surfaces. However, toothbrush bristles cannot extract food and plaque that is deposited all the way back in the numerous depressions and grooves. If you want to protect your child’s teeth from cavities and don’t want to worry about making trips to Sunshine Smiles Dentistry, dentist Roswell GA, for fillings, then yes, sealants are required.

Dental sealants are nothing but a simple protective coating that is sealed by painting on your child’s back teeth, also called molars. The coating effectively protects the teeth from plaque buildup and cavities that may form in the deep pits of these teeth. These sealants are known to prevent up to 80% cavities and can stay on the teeth for years without the need of any reapplication.

How are dental sealants applied?

Sealants are applied in a very simple and straight-forward process. It is painted on the teeth enamel where it effectively bonds directly with individual tooth and hardens in place. This plastic resin concoction bonds into pits and fissures of the chewing surface of the molars.

The sealant acts as a protective barrier that prevents plaque, bacterial overgrowth and acids from harming the molars. Sealants also protect individual tooth from decay. The dentist will check the condition of sealants during your child’s regular dental visits and reapply whenever required.

Do Sealants hurt?

Application of sealants does not hurt one bit. The process is simple, pain-free and can be carried out in your dentist’s office. In fact, there are many schools which have a school-based dental sealant program for children who don’t have access to dentists on a regular basis.

What does the research say?

In a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), sealants have been touted as the go-to procedure for children to prevent lost school time due to tooth decay.

The report states that sealants can help prevent 80% of cavities for at least two years after application. They also continue to prevent 50% cavities for up to 4 years. According to CDC, sealants can be retained in children’s mouth for up to 9 years without side-effects.

Statistics indicate that children who don’t have sealants are three times more at risk of developing cavities as opposed to children with sealants.

Tips to prevent tooth decay in children

• Brush your child’s mouth twice daily with a fluoride toothpaste
• Use floss to clean between the teeth daily (preferably in the evenings)
• Limit snacks and encourage your child to eat a balanced diet

Get your child the dental protection they need with the help of sealants by calling at 770-998-8116 or scheduling your child’s dental visit online

Mouth ulcers or canker sores are painful, small lesions that can develop at

the base of your gums or in other areas of your mouth. They can quickly make talking, eating and drinking very uncomfortable. While mouth ulcers rarely stay for more than 2 weeks, it may become necessary for you to get in touch with a dentist if it becomes extremely painful or lasts for a long time.

Why Do Mouth Ulcers Occur?

Many people are of the notion that mouth ulcers are triggered by not visiting a dentist for teeth cleaning. However, that is not the only reason because there is no definite cause behind this condition. It can occur due to hard brushing, dental work, accidental bite, food sensitivities, or sports injury.

In some cases, it may also develop because of toothpastes containing sodium lauryl sulfate. Other causes of mouth ulcers include, lack of sleep, inadequate essential micro-nutrients in your diet, dental braces, and infections.

Conditions Associated with Mouth Ulcers

Oral health is now being recognized as a precursor to overall health. This is one of the reasons why you should regularly visit a dentist for teeth cleaning.

Mouth ulcers can be an indication of other serious medical conditions, like diabetes mellitus, inflammatory bowel disease, celiac disease, and Behcet’s diseases. It can also be a sign of a malfunctioning immune system that is causing your body to attack healthy oral cells rather than targeting bacteria and viruses.

How to Diagnose Mouth Ulcers?

Typically, mouth ulcers are diagnosed during appointments for routine teeth cleaning in Roswell, GA. However, you may schedule a visit to your dentist’s office for a visual exam if you think you may have mouth ulcers. Your dentist may advise tests for other medical conditions if you suffer from frequent and severe mouth ulcers.

4 Tips To Avoid Mouth Ulcers

There are a number of steps you can take to prevent mouth ulcers from developing in the first place.

1. Make sure you avoid irritating acidic foods, like pineapples, lemons, and grapefruits. Spices in processed chips and nuts are known to be irritating that can result in mouth ulcers.
2. You should also think of introducing non-acidic (alkaline) foods to your diet in the form of whole grains, raw vegetables and fruits.
3. Take multi-vitamins and eat a healthy and balanced diet.
4. Sometimes, mouth ulcers occur because of accidental internal bites. Avoid talking while chewing to reduce these accidental bites.

While mouth ulcers are not directly associated with oral hygiene, it may be helpful to maintain good oral health. Consider visiting your dentist Roswell GA regularly for teeth cleaning. You should also floss daily and brush twice.

Finally, make sure you get adequate sleep and prevent stress as much as possible. This will not only help you prevent mouth ulcers, but will also ward off a host of other illnesses.

Oral Cancer Screening

Oral Cancer is becoming an increasingly common condition. Oral or mouth cancer is essentially an uncontrollable multiplication of cells that spreads to surrounding tissues. Any part of the mouth may be affected such as the lips, the lining of the mouth, the tongue, the floor or roof of the mouth or the throat. Early diagnosis through oral cancer screening is crucial to prevent the spread or metastasis of cancerous cells to tissues all over the body.

What Are the Symptoms of Oral Cancer?

It may be diagnosed through the presence of one or more of the symptoms such as :

• Any mouth ulcer that does not heal
• Any red/white patch on the mucosa or mouth lining that does not go away
• Lumps, swellings or thickened areas in the mouth
• Pain or difficulty during swallowing, speaking or chewing
• A long-lasting cough or hoarseness of voice
• Any swelling of the jaws
• A change in how the teeth meet or how dentures fit
• Numbness of the lips, tongue or anywhere else in the mouth

What Are the Risk Factors for Developing Oral Cancer?

The exact cause of oral cancer is unknown. However, several risk factors or probable causes of oral cancer have been discovered which include:

• Tobacco chewing
• Smoking cigarettes, cigars or pipes
• Alcohol consumption
• Exposure to sunlight and ultraviolet rays
• Human papillomavirus
• Previous history of oral cancer

What is Oral Cancer Screening?

It is a check or screening procedure performed by the family dentist in Roswell, GA that helps identify oral cancer at an early stage. The aim of oral cancer screening is an examination of the oral tissues visually and physically to check for any signs of oral cancer.

How is Oral Cancer Screening Performed?

Oral cancer screening involves the following steps:

1. A dentist will first visually check your face and neck for any swelling, lumps or discolored patches. Lumps in the neck could indicate swollen lymph nodes.

2. Next, one of our dentist Roswell, GA will visually inspect the inside of your mouth including its lining and the gums for any discolored areas, lumps, redness, ulcers or swellings. Good lighting, a dental mirror and a piece of gauze are used to aid in the examination.

3. The tongue will be checked by holding it up, pulling it out and moving it from side to side to identify any lumps or restrictions in movement.

4. The roof and floor of the mouth will also be checked for any abnormalities.

In some cases, advances screening may be performed using methods such as:

• Tissue fluorescence
• Oral cytology
• Aspiration
• Biopsy

What Are the Benefits of Oral Cancer Screening?

Screening may help detect precancerous or cancer in preliminary stages before it has spread to nearby tissues. Timely screening and detection of oral cancer enhance treatment success and recovery rates. Some precursor or early lesions may regress by reducing risk factors such as cessation of smoking or alcohol restriction.

What Happens if A Suspicious Sign is Detected?

If a suspicious sign of oral cancer is identified during screening, it is important to remain calm. Further tests will be carried out to confirm the presence of oral cancer and reach a definitive diagnosis. Most commonly, a biopsy or a sample of the suspicious area is taken and sent to a laboratory to check for the presence of cancerous cells.

Oral cancer screening can save a life! Visit https://sunshinesmilesdentistry.com/book-an-appointment/ and book an appointment today!