Perfect Smiles Orthodontics Blog

Do you feel that when you smile you show a lot of gum? A gummy smile can actually make you feel self-conscious.

A gummy smile does not have a set of definition and it is mostly based on perception. As such, it varies from person to person. However, it has been shown that a smile will generally be seen as gummy when a gum tissue measuring about three millimeters or more is exposed.

There are several reasons why your smile shows excessive gum.

Gum Tissue Is Not the Only issue

Smiles look gummy in instances where the teeth, gum issues and the upper jaw are disproportionate â€" not in harmony with each other. The upper lips position also plays a part.

Causes of a Gummy Smile

Although there are several causes of a gummy smile, the most common ones include:

• Teeth that look short because of inadequate or incomplete eruption and remain partly buried within the gum tissue
• Teeth which are small when compared to the gums caused by heredities or wear
• A very short upper lip
• Long or enlarged gums that are referred to as gingival hypertrophy
• Vertical maxillary excess, which is an overgrowth of upper jaw that causes the gums to bulge out

The good news is that it is possible for a gummy smile to be fixed.

Well, the type of treatment will be determined by what is causing too much gingival display. The moment the dentists identify the source, they can then work on creating an attractive, healthy smile.

The following are some of the options for gummy smile correction:

In case the basic reason for too much gingival display is minor and is caused by the jaws or teeth, then sometimes orthodontics alone can be used move the bite into the proper position thus making the gums look less noticeable.

For minor to severe jaw protrusion, the most suitable option is either orthognathic or jaw surgery together with orthodontic therapy.

Is there a relationship between the emergence of wisdom teeth and the teeth getting misaligned after braces? If so, what is this relationship, you may ask? Well, just because the lower front teeth apparently start getting crooked around the same time wisdom teeth start erupting, the latter have always been thought to be a 'spoilers'.

Although it is widely believed that wisdom teeth tend to push the other teeth, making them crowded, experts say that is not the case. As a matter of fact, anterior crowding of teeth which are not held by retainers is as a result of latent growth of the mandibular and reduced resorption of bone inside anterior mandible. 

A study conducted at the University of Iowa by department head, Dr. Tom Southard established that wisdom teeth do not actually put enough pressure on the teeth that are in front of them to the extent of making them to become crooked. In his study, he inserted sensors between the teeth. The sensors were meant to compare the pressures both with wisdom teeth and without them.No difference was detected.

 Dental Check-ups Important

In case it seems like the wisdom teeth become partly visible and you have them either trapped underneath the gum line or they start growing horizontally in the jaw, their removal becomes necessary. In fact, the earlier in life you undergo this procedure, the better. As we grow older our bones become harder, hence this increases the chances for complications arising from wisdom tooth removal surgery. Dental check-ups are crucial in monitoring, catching and correcting potential problems and that is why we should have them on regular basis. 

As You Age Your Teeth Change

Experts have discovered through studies over the years that teeth tend to drift forward regardless of whether people have wisdom teeth or not.

What causes teeth to move forward as you age is still not very clear. Despite the fact that wisdom teeth will not undo the effects of braces, still your teeth and bite are bound to change as you grow older. Your bite can deepen, making your teeth to increasingly overlap.

Dental Issues

While wisdom teeth do not cause front teeth to crowd as it was previously believed, it is still possible for them to trigger complications such as causing crowding in the back teeth. It might not be easily visible but this can still lead to jaw difficulties as well as other health problems.

If not removed, wisdom teeth may possibly become impacted hence lead to other problems such as:

• Defects in bone plus soft tissues, and behind second molars
• Second molars' root resorption
• Crowding of back teeth
• Growth of tumors around crowded teeth
• Gum disease

Why do orthodontists use elastics with braces? Rubber bands or orthodontic elastics are used for orthodontic treatment and have a very important role in bringing about optimum teeth movement.

 Types of elastics

There are two types of elastics primarily-

1.Ligatures- Braces are composed of brackets (that are stuck on the teeth) and archwires (that run between the brackets). Ligatures are tiny elastics that are placed by the orthodontist on the brackets to secure the archwires in their place.

2.Inter-arch elastics- These rubber bands are slightly bigger when compared to ligatures. They can be placed in different patterns depending on the type of misalignment that is being treated. Mostly, they are placed extending from one arch to the other (upper to lower teeth). That is why they are called inter-arch elastics.

 Why are they important?

While the archwires and brackets perform their function of pulling the teeth into the desired position, elastics works on fixing the bite. Straight teeth are not enough. They should be aligned in a way that can set your bite right! Fixing the bite happens when rubber bands apply pressure on various points on the jaw. This is a lengthy procedure with no short-cuts and demands complete cooperation from the patients. This step of correcting the bite and fixing it in its new position determines the duration of the treatment. So, if the patient wears the elastics as directed by the orthodontist, he can take off his braces soon without undue delay!

Tips on how to wear elastics effectively

• Wear them always. Not every case needs elastics. In the cases which require elastics to be worn, your orthodontist may ask you to wear them 24/7. This means that you are having your food with your elastics on. Your chewing movements help the elastics to align your teeth into a correct biting pattern.
• Change them as instructed. You will be asked to change your elastics a couple of times every day. Remember to change them even if they are not broken as elastics lose their strength after few hours.
• Never overdo it. Never place double elastics with the hopes of finishing the treatment fast.
• Never stop wearing due to soreness. You may experience soreness due to the rubber bands during the initial days. That should never deter you from wearing them. The ache is due to the force that is applied by the elastics on your teeth. Pain is a sign that your teeth are moving to their new positions correctly.

Wearing elastics may appear tedious and cumbersome initially. Think of them as a routine form of exercise that will help you build a beautiful smile when done with sheer determination!

Do I Need Extractions with my Orthodontic Treatment?

Orthodontic treatment or braces is the treatment of choice for misalignment and malocclusion. Ideally, treatments will involve the mere pushing, pulling, tipping, tilting and rotation of the teeth. Different forces are placed on them to bring them to the proper position. And sometimes, there is a need for teeth extractions.

Teeth Extractions and Braces

While not all orthodontic cases require teeth extractions, sometimes it will be part of the treatment plan. This concerns many patients, because apart from the pain and discomfort involved in the procedure, people are reluctant to let go of perfectly good teeth. "My teeth are not even decayed!" Yes, most teeth extractions required for braces, involve teeth that are healthy. But they are performed because of the following reasons:

• To create space. The most common reason for teeth extractions for braces is to create space. When the teeth are crowded or crooked, you can relieve the space on the jaw, so that you can move the teeth around and bring it to its proper place. The common teeth removed are the premolars because of its size and position. Depending on the severity, two to four teeth may be removed on each quadrant. This extraction should be good enough to create space to be able to move teeth around.
• To remove "extra tooth". Sometimes the teeth are removed because they erupted outside of the occlusion or it did not erupt at all. Although in some cases, impacted canines and premolars are taken out and bought into place within the jaw, some teeth may just be removed. When they appear to be extra teeth because the smile can do without them, they are just taken out.
• To prevent relapse. In the case of impacted molars or wisdom teeth, their removal may be prescribed as a preventive measure. Wisdom teeth that are impacted will not come out into occlusion anymore, but their position within the bone can be destructive, because they can push the adjacent teeth. This is why relapse is common after braces. When the wisdom teeth are left after braces, they may render the treatment useless, because of the relapse. A valuable measure would be to take them out, whether or not they are present with any symptoms.
• To reduce the total treatment time. If the teeth are to be moved to the desired new position without extraction of teeth, the whole treatment may consume a lot more time than usual and the treatment may extend from one year to two or two and a half in some cases. 

Orthodontic treatment with braces is the most acceptable method of correcting misalignment and malocclusion.If you have crooked, crowded, crossed or spaced-out teeth, the best solution is to bring it to proper alignment with braces.

Unfortunately, treatment with braces means having to endure a metal mouth for months to a few years. This gets in the way of one's speech, smile, eating and life (so to speak). This hindrance is most especially felt in the midst of a special occasion. When a momentous event is along the way, patients with braces become anxious about the brackets in their teeth, and that's fine.

Travelling

When travelling to near or far places, with braces, the first issue will be the food. Travelling will always involve a lot of eating, so be smart about food selection. Another issue will be brackets getting dislodged during a trip. If this happens on a normal day, you would rush to an orthodontist and have the bracket reattached. As you are travelling, it will not be possible, so simply hold on to the dislodged components. If they were de-bonded from the teeth, but seem stable in the mouth, you may keep it there until you get back. Otherwise, you can try to remove it and keep it, so it may be re-bonded on your next visit. Before leaving for a trip, be sure to visit the orthodontist so all lose components may be checked. Bring a box of wax with you so that you can cover any poking metal, to avoid incurring cuts and wounds.

​Birthday Parties, Weddings and Formals

The most significant problem with parties and formal is encountering the food and there's just too much food to conquer. Most of the food are not braces-friendly and they will be a problem. Sweets, caramels and candy floss are sticky and when they adhere to the brackets, can be quite hard to clean. They will just have to learn to choose their food wisely. At the beginning of the treatment, the orthodontist should have provided guidelines about food to ignore and enjoy while undergoing treatment. It is really all about choosing the right food and knowing how to bite through things that will help a child survive.

Wedding and formals are a whole different issue because appearances matter. People make a true fuss in the preparations and the braces can get in the way. If you cannot defer from installing braces, until after such an occasion, know that you can get Incognitos which are truly invisible or Invisalign. You can smile beautifully without that metal mouth.

Sport Activities

If you are into sports, having braces will be hard but it is not impossible. Braces can be an issue because physical blow to the face can lead to cuts, tears and fractures which are made even worse with braces on the teeth. You can protect your child from this by getting them a sport guard. Make sure that the mouth guard is fabricated especially for him, and not the ready-made ones, so that it fits comfortably and can provide proper cushion and protection. 

First Dates

If you are going out on your first date, with braces, you will be overcome by a lot of thoughts: appearance, food getting stuck in their braces, and the myth of getting stuck together during a kiss. All these thoughts can be mortifying so try to ease their fears by giving them helpful tips. First, disprove the myth because that is just ridiculous and you just have to choose your foods well so that they may be able to clean "debris" easily, in the middle of the date. If they need to bring an interdental cleaner, equip them with one. Otherwise, advise them to always flush their mouth with water, to help clean the surface.

Living with braces is not easy, no matter how old you are. As with any "obstacle" one needs to learn to look at the bigger picture. As a parent, it is your duty to make your child realize the purpose of the braces, so that he may embrace it. A beautiful and healthy-looking smile can do so much for a person. The decision to have braces at their age is important because the orthodontist is able to take advantage of the bone age and density of a youthful individual. This, of course, translates to faster treatment to achieve the perfect smile. If you make the child realize this, you help him embrace the braces on his teeth.

An Orthodontist is a specialist who has received extra training to obtain skills in the diagnosis, correction and management of teeth alignment and occlusion. People have varying degrees of alignment and occlusion problems. You may be troubled by your crowded or crooked teeth. Perhaps, you are annoyed that your teeth have spaces in between or they are crossed in some areas.

With the help of this professional, you can get a more beautiful smile, usually through braces. Now if you are about to see an orthodontist, it is most likely that you have a lot of questions that you want to ask. It is important that you do, so that you can make an informed decision about it.

Here are some good questions:

1. What are the different types of braces? There are different types of braces and if you are thinking of getting treated, then you need to choose the right path to go. You need to match your options with your preference and need. Standard or conventional braces are made of metal and they are adhered to the outer surface of the teeth. You can get ceramic braces that are tooth colored. Another option is the self-ligating braces. Also known as Damon braces, it comes with its own locks and does not need rubbers. You, even, have options like Invisalign wherein the aligners are practically invisible and difficult to be noticed when you have them on your teeth. Finally, you have the Incognito braces which are applied to the lingual or back surfaces of the teeth.Since Incognito are applied at the back of your teeth, this is the best path for true invisible braces.
   
   
2. Is it going to be painful? A lot of people are worried about the negative experiences about braces and at the most, they worry about pain and discomfort. That's a common question and surely your orthodontist will explain how why this is part and parcel, by explaining the mechanism involved on moving teeth. Along with this, he will discuss certain remedies that should help you go through it.
   
   
3. How long is the treatment going to take? The length of treatment varies per case and the type of treatment used. If you are working on definite time frame, knowing the time be important, so do not hesitate to ask about this.
   
   
4. How will I clean my teeth? From teeth that are completely free, you now have teeth that are "caged" by brackets, wires and rubbers. It could be a suffocating sight and it is not going to be easy to clean them. Food can get stuck easily and they are harder to remove. Ask you orthodontist if you need special tools to properly tackle plaque, once you have braces, so that you can prepare for it.
   
   
5. What cases are contraindicated with braces? This determines whether you will be a good candidate for braces or not. Maybe you have a dental or medical condition that renders you unfit to go through orthodontic treatment. If you are engaged in regular activities that may complicate the treatment, this needs to be dealt with, as well.
   
   
6. How do I eat with braces? Eating will be slightly difficult for the first few days, but you will master the skills to chew food with your wired teeth in just about a week or so. You need to be careful when you bite into food because the brackets can dislodge easily if you make a mistake. The best thing for you is to avoid hard, sticky and tough foods. 

​TMD (Temporomandibular Disease): Causes, Symptoms and Diagnosis

The temporomandibular joint is a hinge joint that links the jaw to the skull's temporal bones located in front of each ear.  It facilitates the movement of the jaw up, down, and from one side to the other, thus facilitating talking, yawning and chewing.

TMD or temporomandibular disease or disorders is the collective term given to problems with the bones and muscles that form this joint and help in its function.

Causes of TMD

It is not clear what causes this condition.  However, dentists believe that issues with jaw muscles or with parts of the temporomandibular joint itself are responsible for causing TMD.  For instance, injury to the jaw, joint, or muscles of the neck and head such as whiplash or a heavy blow can trigger TMD.

The following are additional causes:

• Grinding or gritting the teeth, that results in the joint being pressured excessively
• The soft pad or disc moving between the joint's ball and socket
• Stress which can lead to the tightening of facial as well as jaw muscles, or gritting of teeth
• The existence of arthritis in the joint (especially in elderly people)

Symptoms of TMD

Mostly, this disease causes severe pain as well as discomfort. It can affect either side or both sides of the face. Also, it could be momentary or could last for several years. TMD is most prevalent among individuals aged between 20 and 40 years, with the majority of victims being women.

The following are some of the common symptoms:

• Aching or tenderness in the jaw joint area, face, neck and shoulders, plus in and around the ear when talking, chewing, or opening the mouth wide
• Difficulties when trying to open the mouth wide
• Jaws getting locked or stuck in the open/closed mouth position
• Problems with chewing or having an abrupt, uneasy bite as if the teeth are not fitting together correctly
• Clicking, cracking noises in the jaw joint while opening or closing the mouth, or chewing (this may be painful or not painful)
• Swelling on the side of the face

Toothaches, headaches, aching in the neck, upper shoulder pain, earaches, hearing difficulties, dizziness, and tinnitus (ringing in the ears) may also be experienced.

How TMD Is Diagnosed

There are several other disorders that cause the same symptoms, for example sinus problems, arthritis, tooth decay, or gum disease. The orthodontist will therefore inquire about a patient's health history and do a physical exam in order to find out what is causing the symptoms.

This will include checking the jaw joints for pain or swellings, listening for clicking, popping, or grating sounds that accompany any movement. The orthodontist will also ensure that the jaw works properly, without locking when opening and closing the mouth.He will test he patient's bite to see if there are any problems with the facial muscles.

Full face X-rays may be taken to view the patient's jaws, temporomandibular joints, as well as teeth in order to rule out other problems.

The ideal smile is desired by almost every person, but not many people realize the importance of an ideal bite. You may be surprised to know how many people fail to realize that they have a problem with their bite. It's not until they develop a problem or are informed by an orthodontist about it, do they understand that their bite is off. So, what really is an ideal bite? An ideal bite may be described as a bite where the teeth of the upper jaw come in contact with those of the lower one at the same time when the mouth is closed. At the same time, the top teeth should only cover half of the lower ones at max.

There are a number of different types of abnormal bites that may be developed due to certain habits in young children or due to other dental manipulations. Here we describe the most common abnormal bites that a person can have.

• A Deep bite, is one where the upper incisors cover the lower teeth too much when your mouth is closed.
• An Open bite is one where the upper teeth just do not overlap with lower ones enough.
• A Cross bite is a type of bite where the teeth cross over one another because the arch isn't perfect.
• An overbite is where the upper teeth stick out in front of the lower ones. 

How do we develop poor bites?

There are multiple causes of these abnormal bites. Some can be caused due to damage to the teeth, or have been affected by trauma impacting jaw development. It's common to have misalignments after a dental procedure, but not treating that condition can lead to long-term problems for you. Sometimes, a common treatment like a dental filling or a root canal may shift your tooth into a misaligned position that disturbs your whole bite.

Another reason can be inflammation. The Jaw joints are susceptible to being inflamed, and any such process can lead to severe pain and inability to open or close the mouth. Also, some people have bad habits like grinding their teeth which can lead to bite defects.

A bite defect, although initially not of significance, can cause problems in the long run. They can cause discomfort on closing your teeth and can be cosmetically deforming. Also, any abnormal bite that is making a particular tooth touch the lower jaw first, will result in extra sensitivity and pain in that tooth. Besides this, an abnormal bite may cause severe wear of your teeth by constantly grinding against each other. This will make your enamel wear down at a much faster rate than normal to expose your teeth to harmful carious bacteria.

So, are there any ways that you can correct these problems?

As a matter of fact, there are. You can have that ideal bite, and the good thing is that it isn't complicated either. There are a number of ways that an orthodontist can assess a bad bite and treat it. Once the cause is identified, the orthodontist can improve the cosmetic appearance as well as the function by correcting the problematic tooth or teeth with manipulating your teeth and jaw. These procedures can help relieve the pain and discomfort during eating, talking or just closing your mouth, in general.All in all, we do know the importance of having the perfect smile, it's time we get that perfect bite too!  

Children between ages 7 to 10 is around the best age to allow an orthodontist to evaluate their teeth to see whether early treatment is required.

If some form of conditions is found, parents can begin their children on preventative treatments as it presents the opportunity for an orthodontist to have control over the development the children's permanent teeth. The benefit that comes in by addressing the shape of the jaw and the health of their teeth.

At the age of around 7 years, the mouth has grown and has enough sound structure to know how it's going to increase because it's when adult teeth will begin to emerge. It allows the orthodontist to predict their teeth's development.

It can be challenging to predict whether they require evaluation but if you see any characteristics or behavior below, then please talk to our team

• ​Thumb Sucking
  
• Facial Imbalance
  
• Chewing difficulties
  
• Teeth grinding and clenching
  
• Speech Impediment
  
• Breathing through the mouth
  
• Early or late loss of baby teeth
  
• Protruding front teeth
  

With early orthodontic treatment, the benefits to your children teeth health includes:

• ​Guiding the growth of the jaw to promote facial symmetry
  
• Create space for crowded teeth
  
• Reduce bad oral habits
  
• Prevent jaws/teeth development flaws leading to bad bites or TMJ (Temporomandibular Joint Disorder)
  
• Reduce future treatment time when braces are required (Saves time and money)
  
• Improves patient self-esteem
  
• Proper chewing and biting
  

Early treatment is a preventive measure which sets the foundation for the development of healthy teeth and gums. Early intervention are often easier to correct (while the child's jaw bone is soft) than later in their life. Your children will thank you in the future (hopefully) with their beautiful and charming smiles. Book an appointment for your child's orthodontic evaluation at Perfect Smiles Orthodontics.

This is a commonly asked question as patient are overjoyed when braces are removed at the end of their treatment plan.  So why do I have to wear a retainer right after?

Retainers are needed to hold your teeth into their new positions.  After your braces are removed, teeth position will creep out as there is nothing holding them in place anymore.  Your bone and teeth tissues need time stablised into their new position which takes up to a year.

Straight after treatment, you'll wear retainers, full-time every day for the first 6 months.  The first month is very important as you have a higher risk of relapse meaning it'll take more time to stablise after treatment and you'll have to wear your retainers for longer period of time.  After six months, retainers can be worn at night time for a few more years.

As with braces, it takes time to get used to your new retainers.  After a month, the discomfort and difficulty in speaking will pass by so don't get discouraged.

Will retainers last a lifetime?  No, but it can take a few years to 10 years depending on the type of retainer and the condition of your teeth/gums.  Keep in mind, as we grow older, our faces mature and the teeth will continue to push forward.   Adult patients tend to wear retainers for the rest of their life to keep their perfect smile.

So is it worth slacking in wearing your retainers?  No.  You've made the investment for a perfect smile and endured throughout the treatment plan.  Wear your retainers to keep the perfect smile that you've always wanted.  

Middle school was usually synonymous with getting braces (which might've also induced bullying among kids). However, the trend right now sees a growing number of adults getting braces with some even starting in their 60s or 70s!

If you are considering getting braces as an adult, fear not for you are not alone. According to Oral-B, around 20% of those getting their braces right now are adults and this trend is still likely to grow. Some of the reasons braces are gaining ground in the older age brackets are because it takes a shorter period of time to finish treatment and a lot of today's braces are more aesthetically pleasing.

Traditional/Metal Braces
Old school metal braces are still fairly popular and if you're not too concerned with having "metal mouths" these are the braces for you. These classic variants are no doubt more noticeable but they still do get the job done very well and if you are on a tighter budget or want to save more, they are more on the lower price ranges compared to let's say lingual braces of Invisalign. 

There's a lot of hustle and bustle for couples who are about to get married - cue in the dress fittings, the cake tastings, the somewhat daunting task of making seat plans and of course readying the picture perfect smile for those wedding photos you'll be looking back for the years to come.

Lucky for you, we're giving you some great tips on how to improve your wedding day winning smile!

During the wedding preparations, try to slip in orthodontist appointments on your wedding calendar. It is best to start getting consultations many months ahead of the big day. Why? Certain gum or tooth conditions have treatments that might take time to finish in order to produce great looking teeth (especially for those on the front teeth).

Crooked teeth can make any groom or bride feel self-conscious and most orthodontist will suggest braces to correct this. However, conventional braces can take a lot of time or the metal brackets are very noticeable upon smiling.

A new type of braces removes the use of "train track" looking brackets in front of the teeth and placing them on the back surfaces instead. This new system is called Incognito which offers a very comfortable and seemingly invisible braces experience. Brackets used in Incognito are fully customized for each individual patient and promises great results in a short period of time. It also doesn't do any damage on your teeth's front enamel which is crucial for great looking natural smiles. Even if the treatment is still not completed on your wedding day, you never have to worry about them showing on your photos. 

For those who'd like to flash pearly whites on their wedding day, one appointment teeth whitening procedures are available as well as veneers that will only take a few returns to the dentist. Veneers can also be your go-to option if you'd like something that will last longer as teeth whitening can diminish in time.

While most of these treatment options achieve great aesthetics, we must not forget to keep our gums healthy. Healthy gums are also a crucial part of making teeth feel and look great so set up a dental cleaning appointment if you haven't had yours in the last six months!

Once all your needed orthodontist/dental treatments are done it is time to practice that perfect wedding smile worthy of dozens of Facebook likes. Try smiling in front of a mirror and always remember to relax. A helpful tip would be to tip your head up a bit and have your upper and front teeth separated by a bit of space to make it look more natural and a little less stiff. Pay attention to how much teeth you are showing and practice the most complimentary look until you can do so without thinking.

Lastly, it is important to know your photographer well. You can preview their portfolios to look at their photography style and if it jibes with what you are looking for. Being comfortable with your photographer will also make you at ease during the photo shoot and will make you smile more naturally.

Also, if you have any insecurities about certain camera angles you can tell your photographer about this so he/she could take note of it on your wedding day. Seasoned and great photographers no doubt can work with you in producing the best smiles you want and would like to request for. All that grinning during the big day will definitely pay off well in the end as you flip through the pages of your future wedding album in the years to come.

There is no doubt in anyone's mind that the payoff of getting braces is having a great smile once they are removed. However, the aesthetic advantage of braces is just one of the many benefits that might not be known to a lot of people.

Correct alignment of teeth not only looks good but it also feels good to chew with them as they are more effective in gnashing food into tiny pieces. This easier and more effective way of breaking down what we eat also leads to easier digestion and is very helpful to those who might have nutritional or chewing problems.

Proper positioning of teeth also helps in speech through correction of certain speech impediments or lisps caused by gap/spaces and improper alignment of teeth that might make it hard to pronounce certain sounds or words. The correction of tooth positions also aids in the proper closing and opening of our jaws and can address jaw problems and/or prevent grinding that tend to wear away certain teeth.

The achievement of this alignment also makes cleaning of the teeth and gums easier. Food tends to get trapped in between teeth and they become more difficult to remove upon brushing and even flossing. The build-up of plaque and bacteria in these areas promotes the occurrence of gum disease. If this is not addressed properly it can ultimately lead to the destruction of bone that supports our teeth through the condition called periodontitis. This loosens the teeth in time and can make them mobile; in their advanced stages, the tooth involved will have to be removed since they have become non-functional.

Medical Experts has also led to believe that poor oral health can lead to various health conditions such as cardiovascular disease, diabetes, dementia and respiratory infections.This is due to the fact that your teeth provides a direct path to your bloodstream where the infection can enter.

The presence of braces becomes a great reminder of how important it is to properly brush and floss our teeth because the brackets themselves are potential food traps. This reinforcement of dental hygiene will be carried out even after the removal of the braces and helps maintain healthy teeth.

Thinking about getting braces?  Most people's concern about braces (and most orthodontic procedures) is,  if it's going to hurt.  If you are considering getting braces, it will be helpful you can get an overview of what it will be like when you have them on,  so you won't get too surprised of how they will feel in your mouth.

Getting braces will admittedly be, not a walk in the park especially during the first few weeks.  However, the discomfort will lessen in time and before you know it, it'll feel as though you never have them in the first place.

So what can be expected during the first appointment?  Your orthodontist will initially clean your teeth and place the brackets with the arch wires (Invisalign an exception). The process usually last for about 1-2 hours and no pain or untoward sensation is expected.  However, you will most likely start to experience a dull ache/uncomfortable feeling a few hours after the braces have been placed.  This pain is due to the force exerted by the wires/brace on your teeth in order for them to start moving in their ideal positions.

Try pressing hard on your fingernail and this feeling will most likely be the same sensation you will start feeling on your mouth.  Take note however, that pain tolerance and pain sensation will be different for each person and if the pain gets a little too much, you can take pain medication provided they are of the correct dosage.  You will also be advised to go on a soft diet as your teeth might feel tender during the first few days.

Mouth sores can also be experienced in the next few days as your mouth is still adjusting to having brackets inside.  Patients are advised not to move their lips too much to avoid rubbing of the inside of the cheek against the brackets. Some surfaces of the brackets are not exactly smooth to the touch and the areas that contact these become sore - you can place orthodontic wax (to be given by your orthodontist) on the brackets to address this.

It can be tempting to pick on your brackets after they've been placed but try to fight the urge as you might further irritate the areas that rub against them (also, it could prolong treatment if brackets get dislodged).

Most of the uncomfortable feeling will be at its peak a few hours after placement of brackets but will expectedly taper off within the first month.

Every month, your braces will be adjusted by your orthodontist to continue moving your teeth to their desired position.  Unsurprisingly, you will feel some dull pain or discomfort afterwards but this sensation is relatively milder than when brackets and arch wires that were first placed.  Tension caused by tightening of the wires for each adjustment is the major culprit for the discomfort but rest assured, this is tolerable and will eventually disappear.

Ideally, braces are worn for about a year or two before they are removed and you can finally rejoice in knowing that no pain is expected during removal (hooray!).  If you're still squeamish about getting braces, just think about the payoff of a great smile once treatment is done and that will make it worth it.

Anyone who has tried flossing (and unsuccessfully prevented injuring their gums in the process) will know that it can be challenging to get into this habit.

The question is if mouth wash can be used as an alternative to flossing. We hate to be a bearer of bad news but the answer is no.

Many people would hands down choose mouthwash over flossing thinking that the former can be a substitute for the other. However, these two dental aids have different uses and are both needed to keep our teeth and gums healthy. 

"So what does mouthwash really do?" you might ask. Mouthwashes or mouth rinses are liquids we swish around the mouth usually after brushing and flossing. Most mouth washes that you can see in the supermarkets usually address bad breath but a lot of them also prevent bad bacteria from increasing in number in the mouth or sticking onto tooth surfaces.

While flossing involves the use of good hand dexterity, mouth washing gives us a hassle free way of cleansing around the inside of our mouth. It is also useful after dental surgery for areas that are not easy/painful to brush.

As good as all of these sound, flossing still tramples mouth washing in terms of removal of food debris and bacteria because it actually involves mechanical removal on the tooth surface. Much like how toothbrushes work, flossing scrapes away the bacteria in between the teeth that tooth brushing is not able to remove. 

A lot of us believe that flossing is an optional addition to brushing but these two go hand in hand in cleaning different areas of the teeth. After eating, you can see food debris that gets stuck in between teeth. Brushing these areas might make us feel like they're clean already, however, thin films of bacteria are still lodged in these tight areas and they can only be removed by flossing. If these area are not cleaned, in time cavities can develop which then means another trip to the dentist for new fillings. 

Granted mouth washes prevents and/or kills bacteria on our teeth, it does not effectively remove everything on the surface. A lot of mouth wash brands also only offer temporarily relief from bad breath. This can make us think that our mouth is clean because of the fresh and pleasant taste it leaves (and make us even lazier with using the floss).

The way to look at tooth brushing, flossing and using mouth wash is to see them as a triumvirate of oral health essentials. They each serve a specific purpose in cleaning our teeth and gums and needs to be used with proper technique to be able to be efficient.

As much as we'd like mouth wash to replace flossing, we definitely cannot substitute one from the other. Flossing may seem like a tedious thing but it ultimately gets the job done in preventing gum diseases and tooth decay.

So you're almost ready to invest in your smile and improve your confidence but how much do braces costs?

Prices can't be provided verbally because an orthodontist is unable to determine your treatment costs without a consultation. Here are some factors and reasons why:

• Nature and the condition of your teeth:  The length of your treatment plan is affected by your teeth conditions and alignment
  
  
• Dental Hygiene:  The current condition of your teeths hygiene and the maintenance during the course of your treatment will have an effect on the duration.  So healthy teeth and gums will help your treatment go according to plan.
  
  
• Choice of brace type:  There are many orthodontic treatment options to choose from.You may not like the standard metal orthodontic appliance and go for Invisalign or Incognito to suit your lifestyle.  Keep in mind that each orthodontic appliances requires different level of skill and time therefore affecting the price of braces.
  
  
• Treatment provider level of skill:  General dentist are starting to overstep their skill level by offering orthodontic treatment.They are normally cheaper at the beginning (can be more expensive in the long term to fix mistakes) but do you really want to trust a dentist who isn't specialised in orthodontic treatment, not to mention the health/appearance of your teeth?  Be assured that at Perfect Smiles Orthodontics, our specialist orthodontist "Dr Chin" has the experience and can provide you the range of treatment options to suit your needs.

Those with health insurance with extras, orthodontics may be covered as part of your plan so be sure to take advantage of it.

Your health and smile is a very important investment so it's best to request a consultation with our orthodontist.  By analysing the condition of your teeth and going through the treatment options, it is then that we can provide you with costs of your braces.

The anticipation of having your braces off is very exciting. Our orthodontist develops an orthodontic treatment plan based on your condition of your teeth and treatment selected. If the given estimated treatment time is longer than advised, then you'll be wondering what is going on. 

Here are reasons why:

1.  Appointment Visits

Your orthodontist book regular appointments to check the progress and make changes to your treatment. Most of the orthodontic appliances require adjustments. So if you missed your appointment or reschedule regularly, you'll prolong the progress of your treatment.

2.  Poor Oral Hygiene

Healthy teeth and gums will make your treatment more successful. Foods are easily trapped in the orthodontic appliance causing plaque build-up on teeth and will lead gums to swell up. So it's important to take greater care of your teeth especially during orthodontic treatment. Be sure to brush and floss several times a day and after meals.

3. Treatment Problems

Breaking your orthodontic appliance such as broken wires and brackets will delay the treatment process. Be sure not to leave it too long and contact our clinic to get your orthodontic appliance repaired. Forgetting to wear your aligners with treatments that utilise it (Invisalign), over a long period of time will cause your teeth to shift. Removable aligners are convenient, such as sports or playing music but forgetting to put them back on will have a reversal effect on your treatment.

Summary

On your appointment visits, your orthodontist will let you know how your treatment is progressing and how close you are in getting them removed. Be assured that Dr Chin is passionate with orthodontics and wants your treatment to be successful so you can have the perfect smile.

Ugly traditional braces are the things of the past. With Invisalign Teen, they can get that smile they always wanted. It's like having clear braces without the metal brackets and wires. Invisalign Teen are a series of custom clear aligners that effectively fixes misaligned teeth.

How does it work?

What are the benefits?

• ​They're clear. Virtually invisible. Avoid being embarrassed if appearance matters​
• Very comfortable. The aligners are made out of smooth custom made plastics. No wires poking your mouth causing irritations​
• Play sports or a musician? No problem, since they are removable take them off and keep enjoying your interests​
• Invisalign can treat a variety of teeth straightening issues such as crossbite, underbite, gapped and crowded teeth​
• Maintain good oral hygiene as you can brush your teeth and floss normally​
• Keep enjoying the foods you like. Normally you'll be cautious bent and broken brackets with traditional braces. Not with Invisalign Teen.​ :)
  

How can I convince my parents in getting Invisalign Teen?

We got you covered. Download the cheat sheet and prep yourself.

Can I get Invisalign Teen?

Visit our qualified orthodontic at Perfect Smiles Orthodontic to see if the treatment is right for you. Patients are eligible if they have erupted or erupting dentition. Since many teens teeth are still developing, Invisalign Teen have specially designed indents that accommodate the natural growth of teeth.

Testomonials

Braces are not just for children and teens so it's never too late to improve and enhance your smile. When your teeth are healthy, they can be moved at any age.

Here are great reasons why adults are getting braces: 

1) Everybody notices a beautiful smile. It changes the way how people interact with you in a positive way, improving your self-esteem significantly. This in turn can help you reflect and build confidence in life such as your education, career, relationships and socially.

2) As an adult, you'll be able to afford braces where your parents could not in the past. Your extra earnings as an adult can be put aside for braces. There's payment plans and dental health insurance coverage which will make your expenses easier to manage. As an adult you'll understand spending on your smile and health is very well worth while.  

3) Innovations in orthodontic technology. Traditional treatments involving direct bonding, ceramic brackets and tooth-coloured wires have discourage many adults who would not otherwise seek orthodontic treatment. Improved appliance placement techniques, latest developments like Lingual Braces, clear braces or Invisible braces such as Invisalign has made it more attractive for those concern with their appearance to seek out orthodontic treatment.

4) Associated health concerns when teeth are not straight or their bite is incorrect. This can contribute to headaches, migraines and stomach problems. Many start orthodontic treatment at a younger age to avoid surgery and extractions in the future issues that can cost a lot more to fix.  Those who undergo orthodontics treatment usually are more motivated to maintain their oral hygiene.  

The family dentist is now more aware of the problems of bite and the role of proper teeth alignment so they plays an important role in motivating adult patients by referring them to a orthodontist. 

Adult are also becoming more and more conscious about their esthetics as today there is greater awareness of health and appearance. With the ever changing times, more adults has awakened to the benefits of orthodontics.

Waiting rooms don't have to be boring.  We have done some renovations at our Ballajura practice to ensure that you aren't bored when waiting for you next appointment.

​Play or Browse on our iPads - ​We have installed a few iPads in our waiting rooms but don't worry, they aren't for show.  They are for you to either get a high score on Candy Crush or read up on the latest news.  Next time you are in, we want to see you on them.

​Come to Our Game Centre - ​If you have booked a consultation or regularly visit our Ballajura practice, you may of heard some sound effects and giggling coming from around the corner.  We have setup four stations to ensure everyone gets a turn with Karoke, Nintendo Wii, Xbox and Playstation console as they are setup and ready to be played.

Refreshments - ​In all our facilities, we have fresh drinking water and easily accessible toilets in case you forget to brush your teeth on the way to your appointment.  

​See our past graduates -​ Somewhere in our office, we have put our past graduates who are proud and on display with their brand new smile.  Can you find where they are?