Friday, December 7, 2012

Do Braces cause Puffy Gums?

True or False:  Braces cause gingival inflammation or "puffy gums"
The answer is False

We at Bales Orthodontics are often asked this question.  The gingival or gum tissue does not simply "puff up" automatically because braces are placed.  The gums can become puffy due to the irritation of plaque over a long period of time.  Braces and wires can increase the chance for plaque to stick around the tooth surface so it's important to brush AND floss regularly. 

Our advice for our patients is to divide your cleaning into thirds:  1-Gums 2-Teeth 3-Brackets.  Be sure to check all 3 areas carefully to make sure no plaque or food debris remains after brushing and flossing.  We do not want gums to look like this picture, so please do your best to keep those pearly whites clean!

Friday, August 17, 2012

How long do Braces need to be on?

How long will my braces be on? 

Do you know when I'll be finished with Orthodontic treatment? 

When do I get my retainers?

When do I get my braces off?


These are common questions we hear almost every day in the Orthodontic office.  During our Initial Complimentary Exam, each patient can sit down with our Doctors to discuss the problems we see with you or your child's bite.  After identifying the issues, we will recommend a few options for correcting the problem.  Once we've made a decision together on which treatment plan is best suited for each patient, we will give you an estimate on treatment time and treatment cost.

This estimated treatment time is exactly that:  an educated guess based on the diagnosis and treatment plan.  Everyone is different!  Orthodontic treatment time varies depending on the complexity of the malocclusion and how your teeth respond to orthodontic forces.  Some teeth move faster or slower than others. 

What affects treatment time?

Compliance:  Bite correction plays a big role in treatment time and compliance is a huge factor in bite correction.  If our patients wear elastics or other removable appliances as instructed, the bite will correct in an efficient time.  Teeth need a consistent force in order to move properly, so do as your orthodontist asks and your teeth should be straight in no time!

Oral Hygiene is also a strong contributing factor:  if brushing and flossing are done properly then treatment time should be on track.  However, if poor brushing occurs the gums become inflamed and the tooth movement is delayed.  Healthy teeth and gums move as fast as nature will allow it! 

Monday, February 13, 2012

Can a mouth guard protect my teeth?

Protect your teeth with a mouth guard!

We have many sporty patients at Bales Orthodontics and we want to make sure our important people protect those teeth while engaging in their favorite activity.  The Bales Team ask our patients to wear mouth guards during most sporting activities to avoid a trauma from a flying ball or elbow.  We urge our young athletes to play it safe when out on the field. Here are a few ways to ensure your mouth’s safety this year, courtesy of our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists:

1. Wear mouth guards for contact sports such as basketball, wrestling and hockey
2. Wear a helmet
3. Wear protective eyewear
4. Wear a face shield to avoid scratched or bruised skin
5. Be alert, even as a spectator