Why You Might Need Another Round of Braces

December 21, 2019 by sterlingheightsdentalcare Leave a Comment

Approximately two in ten people who have braces are adults. So, don’t think that you’re alone if you’re having to undergo treatment as an adult. While the prospect of wearing braces may not be the most exciting one, the orthodontics experts at Dental One Care in Sterling Heights, MI, reassure you that orthodontics has made serious advancements over the years. Therefore, you will have more options, such as clear aligners, to choose from. Here are some reasons why you may need another round of braces as an adult.

You Overlooked Wearing Your Retainer as a Teen

Dr. Fardi Farhat, a Sterling Heights dentist, explains that orthodontic treatment requires several steps. So, having your braces removed doesn’t mean that the treatment has ended. Dr. Fardi adds that many teenagers neglect to wear their retainers. This is a big mistake because the retainer helps to keep your teeth in place. Without the retainer, the teeth can move again and become crooked or misaligned. When this happens, you will need to visit Dental One Care in Sterling Heights so that Dr. Fardi Farhat can assess the state of your smile and dental health. Braces may, therefore, be one of the treatment options to fix the problems.

You May Have Needed to Wear the Retainer for Longer

A lot has been changing for the better in the field of dentistry, and orthodontics in particular. With a better understanding of orthodontics has come the knowledge that people may have needed to wear retainers for much longer than had been originally thought. For example, some patients may have needed to wear retainers throughout their lives rather than for just a few years as they had been instructed based on the information available at the time. If you are one of those people who didn’t wear your retainer for as long as the current understanding suggests you should have, then a trip to Dental One Care would be helpful for you to learn how Dr. Fardi Farhat and the team can design an appropriate orthodontic treatment plan for you.

Changes to Your Oral Structures

Younger people, such as teens, normally wear braces so that their teeth and jaws can be directed to grow well. Over time, changes keep happening and these changes may take your teeth out of alignment as you grow older. Consequently, you may need another round of braces.

Injuries and Other Dental Problems

Many adults also end up needing a second round of braces as a result of injuries or other dental problems that afflict them. For example, if you suffer from bruxism (teeth grinding), the abnormal levels of stress exerted on your teeth may cause them to shift out of their positions. Such shifts may be so severe that only orthodontic treatment by the experts at Dental One Care in Sterling Heights MI can correct the resulting defect. For other people, accidents can have such a serious effect on their teeth that they may need to wear braces or undergo other forms of orthodontic treatment in order to deal with the effects of that trauma.

As you can see, there are a variety of reasons that could make it necessary for you to wear braces again later in life. The only way to be certain that you can benefit from the second round of braces is by coming to Dental One Care for a consultation with Dr. Fardi Farhat who will assess you and explain the available options for resolving the issues observed. You will, therefore, be empowered to make informed decisions about the way forward to better dental health, so schedule an appointment today.

Adult Braces: Are They Worth It?

August 3, 2018 by sterlingheightsdentalcare Leave a Comment

Adult Braces, Are They Worth It?

Today, the number of adult orthodontic patients is increasing. Indeed, it is not hard to figure out why. Dental appliances that are hardly noticeable were developed to offer adults more discreet choices in terms of orthodontic treatment.

Moreover, more and more adults now realize that a smile makeover offers significant benefits, both professionally and socially. For instance, teeth straightening has become a crucial part of that confident-boosting process.

When it comes to adult braces, are they worth it? Well, if you have healthy teeth, they can be moved at any age. Thus, there is no such thing as being too old for orthodontic treatments like braces. But orthodontic treatment for adults is somewhat different. First, gum disease is more common in adults. Secondly, jaw growth and development are already complete in adults, so not all changes in your jaw structure can be attained.

Orthodontic appliances apply gentle force to your teeth so they can be successfully moved through their surrounding bone. The health of your gums plays a crucial role in all of this. A Sterling Heights dentist shares that when your gum tissues aren’t healthy, bone loss can take place. Also, this will weaken your teeth’s long-term prognosis.

We spoke to our friend Dr. Ben Kacos at Shreveport’s dentist to elaborate on this topic. So if you are suffering from gum disease, it should be treated first before any orthodontic treatment can begin. You may undergo regular professional cleanings while you are on an orthodontic treatment to maintain good periodontal health. Most importantly, you must maintain proper dental hygiene at home.

4 Types of Orthodontic Appliances

All orthodontic appliances will work the same way – they employ light yet constant force in order to move your teeth into proper alignment. How these forces are applied varies. Here are the common types of orthodontic appliances:

Traditional Metal Braces – These are small metal braces bonded to the front of your teeth. There is a thin wire that runs through the brackets. The wire is attached on either end to the metal bands that often go around your back molars.

Clear Aligners – These are removable. They are a series of clear plastic trays that can easily fit over your teeth. Every tray is part of a series of trays that will help move your teeth until they are in their proper position. The trays are designed using specialized computer software that creates a virtual model of your bite.

Clear Braces – Instead of the traditional metal braces, you can opt for clear ones. These are made of plastic, ceramic or a combination of both. These appliances are hardly visible, except for the wire that runs through. Remember though that this option is more vulnerable to breakage than the traditional metal braces.

Lingual Braces – These are metal braces that are bonded to the back of your teeth so they can’t be seen. However, these braces are more difficult to get used to wearing. Also, they are more costly than traditional metal braces.

What to Expect After the Treatment

Regardless of which type of appliance you choose, it is crucial for you to wear a retainer. Without a retainer, your teeth can gradually drift back to their original positions. A reputable Sterling Heights dentist can provide you with additional instructions on how to retain your beautiful smile so it continues to make you feel and look gorgeous for many years to come.

7 Reasons Why Adults Should Get Braces

May 31, 2018 by sterlingheightsdentalcare Leave a Comment

Bad bites, crowded teeth, gaps. You can correct whatever dental problems you might have, no matter your age. A Sterling Heights dentist, Dr. Farhat, has fitted braces for patients who are well into their 60s, and his dental practice has helped countless adult patients straighten their teeth and boost their confidence. Dr. Farhat shares seven reasons why adults should get braces.

Age is merely a number when it comes to corrective treatment that allows you to improve your smile and oral health. If you still need some convincing, here are 7 reasons why adults should get braces:

1. Even people with a strict personal oral care routine can experience teeth movement.

Just because you’re an official adult, it doesn’t mean that you’re exempted from having dental issues, and shifting teeth is one example.

If you had braces as a child or teen, it’s no guarantee that you won’t be needing them again. Perhaps you neglected to wear a retainer for the prescribed period of time, which could cause teeth to move back out of place. It’s also possible that the structure of your mouth can change naturally over time and the teeth will need help getting back to where they should be.

2. It’s great to make it a goal to reach your golden years with your own teeth.

You might be thinking that losing your real teeth is inevitable and you should just resign yourself to the fact, but there’s no reason to subscribe to this way of thinking.

It’s perfectly possible for people in their advanced years to hold on to most of their original teeth with proper care and the right dental devices. Imagine how good that would feel — living to the age of 70 or 80 with your own teeth! And it’s all thanks to getting braces to keep your teeth in the proper alignment (among other things).

3. Dental problems may emerge in adulthood, but can still be prevented.

Allowing your teeth to become and stay misaligned in your adulthood can cause other dental issues to crop up. For example, the movement of the teeth could open up spaces where food debris and plaque can build up. From there, a host of other problems can emerge, like tooth decay, worn-out enamel, gum disease and bone loss.

So get braces from your Sterling Heights dentist them and discover how they can keep other potentially serious problems at bay.

4. There are better orthodontic solutions available today.

The traditional braces that you saw everywhere or used yourself when you were younger are still available today and are still effective. However, there are other solutions that you could consider too, such as the clear plastic aligners of Invisalign which are much less visible. These can make restoring the proper alignment of your teeth a much more comfortable and convenient experience.

5. Adults are in a better financial position to get dental treatments and devices.

Dental treatments and devices naturally cost money, but being an adult who is now earning, you don’t need to rely on your parents’ capacity to pay for braces to get them.

What’s more, you can take advantage of various dental and medical insurance plans that can make the cost of getting orthodontic treatment easier on your pocket.

6. Oral health issues in adults can pave the way for other health risks, so it’s best to keep problems in check.

As you grow older, a dental health concern may not necessarily be just that. A dental problem such as having crooked teeth, for example, can prevent you from properly chewing and breaking down your food, which in turn can cause problems for your digestion. Likewise, an uneven bite could be causing frequent headaches or earaches.

You want to prevent as many health issues as you can as you age, and taking better care of your teeth and gums can help you have fewer concerns to worry about.

7. It’s good to care about your smile.

Finally, you may think that it doesn’t matter whether you have gorgeous teeth or not, but once you discover how beautiful your smile has become thanks to orthodontic treatment, you will discover that it can transform more aspects of your life.

With healthier, well-aligned teeth, you are inspired to smile more, approach other people with confidence, and socialize to your heart’s content without feeling self-conscious about your appearance. And that can improve the quality of your life in more ways than one.

Sedation Dentistry: A Recommended Solution For Patients With Dental Anxiety

April 6, 2017 by sterlingheightsdentalcare Leave a Comment

It’s not just kids who are afraid of going to the dentist; a lot of adults have this fear, too. In fact, dental anxiety or phobia is a condition that is common among adults.

Dental anxiety refers to the feeling of being nervous or afraid of going to the dentist. These fears stem from or can be about anything related to dentistry: dental pain, needle phobia, the smell in the clinic and the clinic itself, or a bad experience with an inept dentist. All of these make it hard for a person to go to a dental clinic, so much so that that they would prefer to suffer from a severe toothache or tooth loss than consulting a dentist.

Overcoming Your Fear of Dentists

Sedation dentistry pertains to the use of medication to sedate patients with the aim to make them feel more relaxed while they undergo a dental procedure. It utilizes a combination of relaxing and pain-relieving drugs so that patients who have dental anxiety are comfortable and pain-free during their procedure.

There are different levels of sedation that patients can opt for. They range from minimal sedation (the patient is awake but completely relaxed) to moderate sedation (the patient experiences slurring and won’t remember much of the procedure) to deep sedation (the patient is nearly unconscious but can still be woken), and general anesthesia (the patient is completely unconscious).

Forms of Sedation

A trusted dentist in Sterling Heights explains that the different levels of dental sedation usually correspond to the different forms as well, which are:

Inhaled sedation. Under this form, a patient inhales a type of gas (usually nitrous oxide) that has a sedative effect. The patient will inhale the gas through a mask and its sedative element will enter the bloodstream. The patient will then feel tired and even a bit sleepy and reduce his or her sensitivity to pain. The inhaled sedative does not have long lasting effects and once the procedure is over, they will wear off quickly.

Oral sedation. With this type, patients are given a tablet or pill that will make them more relaxed and less sensitive to pain. This is the least invasive method of sedation since it does not involve any injections or breathing apparatus. The medicine’s sedative effects can be powerful that the patient can fall asleep under its influence but he or she can maintain consciousness and still be aware of what is happening around them. Under its effects, the patient will be free from anxiety or fear. They will feel relaxed and experience less discomfort and pain while undergoing a dental procedure.

Intravenous sedation. Also known as IV sedation, under this method, the sedative is administered through a tube attached to a needle which is inserted into the arm and directly over a blood vessel. Once the drip starts, the sedative is administered directly into the bloodstream. Because of this, IV sedation is considered the most effective method that can be used for patients with severe dental phobia.

Deep sedation and general anesthesia. General anesthesia will be administered through inhalation or an intravenous drip. This is a method that is least used or recommended by dentists since the patient will lose consciousness once the sedative takes effect. Patients won’t feel any discomfort during the dental procedure as they are in deep sleep. Under this method, the patient’s health, vital signs, and level of consciousness will be closely monitored and maintained by the dental practitioner, nurse or qualified anesthetist.

If you are suffering from dental anxiety and considering undergoing sedation for an important procedure, you will do well to understand the different types of dental sedation. And with the advice of your dentist, you will be able to choose the best one that will suit your needs.

Three Ways to Close the Gap in Your Front Teeth

March 1, 2017 by Lauren Edvalson Leave a Comment

Three Ways to Close the Gap in Your Front Teeth

Do you have a gap between your two front teeth?

In some cases, it’s simply a cosmetic issue – once you reach the right age, you have the option to either close the gap with the right dental treatment, or simply leave it alone.

But more often than not, the problem of gap teeth goes beyond aesthetics. These gaps, whether involving the front teeth or your other teeth, often lead to serious dental health problems in the long run. It’s important to know the three ways to close the gap in your front teeth as well as other solutions that will help you achieve a better-looking and healthier smile.

What’s the problem with teeth gaps?

Some gap-toothed grins can be as adorable as Bridgette Bardot’s, but many simply need repairing. Teeth that have spaces in between them are hard to clean properly. This can lead to the growth of bacteria, infection, cavities, gum disease and loss of tooth, which can also lead to deterioration of the bones. The gaps can also make you look older than you are, because of the loss of definition and contour in your facial profile.

In children, teeth gaps may be temporary and are often simply a result of shifting baby teeth and growing permanent teeth, although it still pays to check with the dentist to rule out any unusual developments.

In adults, gaps should not be ignored because they may indicate other serious conditions such as tumors in the mouth or jawbones.

How can these gaps in your front teeth be addressed?

The right solution for your teeth gaps depends on their root cause, but the following are the most popular and proven methods:

Braces. Your dentist may recommend braces as a way to move the teeth and to close the gaps in between them. This is a preferred option for many who want to protect the structure of their teeth and its surface enamel during treatment.
Composite bonding. Another way to close the gap is to bond the teeth together through the use of a bonding agent and filling material that mimics the color and appearance of natural teeth. Many patients choose this for the speed and cost-efficiency of the procedure.
Veneers. Made of dental porcelain, veneers are used for covering up the space in between teeth (often the ones in front). When made with quality material and fitted with precision, veneers can last for more than 10 years. The downside is that the affected teeth’s enamel will need to be shaved or ground down to accommodate the veneers. Thus, it’s important to proceed with this procedure only after sufficient testing and consultations with your dentist.

If you’re worried about the gap in your front teeth and the potential oral health problems they can bring, get the advice of your trusted Sterling Heights Dentist today.

Which Professional Should You See – A Dentist or Orthodontist?

February 15, 2017 by Lauren Edvalson Leave a Comment

Which Professional Should You See – A Dentist or Orthodontist?

No matter how well you take care of your teeth (by brushing and flossing regularly, eating nutritious food, etc.), there will still come a time when you would need the help of dental professionals.

There is no doubt that seeing your dentist regularly is and should be an integral part of caring for your dental health. One common question patients often ask: Which professional should they see, a dentist or orthodontist?

Key similarities

In order to better answer that question, there are a few things that you need to know.

Both dentists and orthodontists go to dental schools to complete a four-year doctoral program. Upon graduation and earning either a doctor of dental surgery degree (DDS) or doctor of dental medicine degree (DMD), a dentist can begin his practice.

An orthodontist, on the other hand, will need to undergo a two or three-year residency in orthodontics at an institution certified by the American Board of Orthodontics. Upon graduation, an orthodontist can have the tag Master of Science (MS) attached to his DMD or DDS title.

Services that dentists offer

Now you have a basic understanding of the training that both professionals undergo. It is now time to turn your attention to the initial question of which professional best fits your needs.

Dentists are your primary dental care providers. These dental professionals can diagnose and treat your general oral health and provide a variety of services, including cleaning, X-rays, repair or extraction of teeth, fillings, root canals, bridges, tooth whitening, crowns, veneers and bridges.

An orthodontist, on the other hand, specializes in aligning the teeth and jaws through non-surgical methods. This professional can diagnose and treat bite problems, including overbites and underbites, gaps between teeth, and overcrowding of teeth.

Orthodontists treat these problems using treatments like braces, retainers, wires and other corrective dental appliances.

Dental Referrals

In most cases, dentists send their patients to another specialist like an orthodontist when the problem at hand is beyond the scope of their training and expertise.

However, there are some dentists who have also received additional training in orthodontic services. This allows them to treat problems which would otherwise be referred to another specialist. Some dental clinics have both dentists and orthodontists housed in the same clinic. The advantage of these dentists is that patients can leverage their trust to their primary dental care provider to get the best orthodontic care. Additional, patients do not have to visit two clinics, translating to convenience and time savings.

Are you looking for ways to improve your smile? Contact your local dentist in Sterling Heights at Dental1Care today.

When Is the Right Time for Children’s Braces?

August 23, 2016 by Lauren Edvalson Leave a Comment

When is the Right Time for Children’s Braces?

If you’re a parent and your family dentist has informed you that your child requires orthodontic braces, one of the concerns you probably have is determining when this treatment should commence. Commonly, kids get their braces when they’re 12 or 13 years old (hence the large population of kids in middle school wearing braces). But then, there are also those who get their braces much earlier or when they’re much older. Is there any true significance to the time braces are placed? When is the right time for children’s braces?

Best Time for Children’s Braces

According to orthodontists, the “ideal” time for braces to be placed is when patients have already lost all their primary (milk) teeth and their 12-year molars are all at least partially erupted. These happen at different times for young children; therefore, setting the specific age for braces to be applied wouldn’t be accurate.

The most important thing, they say, is for the mouth to be fully ready for treatment to ensure efficacy and to keep the treatment (depending on the amount of correction that braces have to perform) within the usual 12- to 24-month period. If orthodontic braces are applied and removed before all molars have erupted, it’s highly likely that the already fixed teeth will shift over time. This will require a re-placement of braces to correct the changes created by the appearance of new teeth. It’s a big hassle to have to wear braces twice – and it’s quite expensive, too.

Dental Complications

However, that principle only applies for “mild” dental issues like an overbite, a snaggle tooth, and minor teeth misalignments. More severe dental complications require dentists to deviate from this traditional principle. For example, your child has a malocclusion; this demands early treatment to prevent the condition from getting worse. Instead of waiting for the milk teeth to fall off or the permanent teeth to erupt naturally, dentists can perform other dental procedures to prepare the mouth much faster for the main treatment, which is the placement of braces.

Socio-emotional issues are also an important consideration in determining the ideal time for kids braces to be placed. If your child is suffering from low self-esteem because her teeth are often made fun of by her peers, dentists say they have no issue beginning treatment early, even if it means a much longer treatment period.

The Right Time

In conclusion, the right time for braces to be placed really depends on the situation of the patients. Time appropriateness for treatment is a case-to-case basis; therefore, it’s imperative to have a really good orthodontist for your child. A good orthodontist can be trusted to provide an accurate evaluation of your child’s case so treatment can be carried out in the timeliest and most effective manner.

If you have additional questions about kids braces in Sterling Heights, contact the dental professionals at Dental 1 Care today!