Sugary Treats on Valentine's Day
Valentine’s Day can be filled with sugary candies and treats that stick to your braces or break them off. Sticky or crunchy foods can break your appliances, damage your teeth, and slow down your treatment. Maybe skip the sugar and look for options instead. But if you do indulge, remember to brush thoroughly after eating.
Can I play sports during orthodontics?
Kids and teens can absolutely play sports while wearing braces or Invisalign. While injuries can happen at any time when playing sports, protecting your mouth and teeth during physical activity can reduce the risk of dental injuries. Hockey, lacrosse, wrestling are some common sports with the regular use of mouth guards. Other sports like basketball, baseball or soccer may or may not involve mouth guards. Talk with your sports leader about recommendations.
Braces are a time tested successful orthodontic method of aligning teeth and correcting bite contacts. To optimize a patient's results and keep the teeth and gums healthy, additional oral hygiene practices are needed during orthodontic treatment using braces. Brushing additional angles with your toothbrush and long enough is important to understand. Flossing and other methods to clean around hooks and ties are modified as well. In addition, a waterpik can also help keep the gums and enamel healthy. It is also very important to continue with regular dental cleanings at your general dentist office and with your hygenist since your orthodontist works with your general dental office team to maintain your dental health. One more tip is to use a daily fluoride mouthwash to reduce the risk of white markings or cavities. These recommendations, techniques and accessories are also reviewed once your orthodontic adventure begins at our office!
Crowding can present generalized throughout the arch, localized to a particular region in the arch form, and also vary from upper to lower arch. Some factors to consider in crowding evaluation of the developing dentition are size of teeth, arch shape, supporting bone and tissues, arch symmetry, order of eruption, direction of erupting teeth, and rotational position of teeth. Once the crowding assessment is determined, then this information is applied to other factors to best manage the crowding for each patient. These additional factors include: chronological age, dental eruption schedule, jaw growth pattern, family history, impaction risk, and anterior functional arrangement (overjet, overbite, coordination). With this assessment, orthodontic treatment options, timing recommendations, and risks/benefits of a phase I treatment or waiting for more growth and eruption of teeth can be advised.
Wax diagnostic set ups in orthodontics are now replaced with scans, 3D printing and digital orthodontic software. Dr. Ekim prefers the itero and aligntech software to manage orthodontic prediction, planning and communication with colleagues and patients. An easy 3-5 minute scan has now replaced the impression tray of alginate, plaster pouring, model trimming and sectioning teeth for a wax set up. Instead, Dr. Ekim can digitally plan orthodontic treatment options and demonstrate them to patients, their dental providers at in-person consults or live virtual meetings with shared screens!
A beautiful smile is also a healthy smile! The first orthodontic visit is recommended between 7 and 9 years old. This initial assessment of crowding, symmetry and arch form is very valuable in planning ahead for better results and likely easier treatment. Although not everyone benefits from a phase I orthodontics treatment plan, an initial baseline can be very valuable to the overall orthodontic plan. And with methods, procedures with braces and clear aligners like Invisalign, there are many options to learn about.
NEW and AWESOME! Virtual orthodontic appointment options for our patients. Our options include email assessment or live assessments through our secure online platforms. It has been an excellent way to keep in touch with our patients and plan ahead. And now that we are open, we continue to provide virtual visits for certain appointments and even as an option for new patients. It has been a great addition that allows us to communicate orthodontic treatment options, social distance as needed, provide information to working parents, help with financial planning etc. Patients simply click the emailed link from anywhere and we are there to greet them! You can also refer a friend or have professional referrals made through our website. We are looking forward to continuing our virtual orthodontic services. In office or virtual, we are here for you!
I hope this update finds you all safe, healthy and back to work and life. The last several weeks have challenged us all in ways like never before. Armed with additional personal protective equipment, air filtration systems, barriers, a COVID19 preparedness plan, careful scheduling, additional disinfection protocols, wellness screening protocols and a trained healthy team, Ekim Orthodontics was able to safely reopen on May 14th, 2020. I am so happy to return to my patients, my team and to what I love to do. In addition to COVID19, we also find ourselves in grief and turmoil as we tackle deep issues of equality and a senseless loss of life. As we fight against COVID19 and continue the quest for social justice, we also see our kids graduate another school year. This reminds us that teaching our youth and modeling daily kindness and respect for all people is of the utmost importance for the brighter future of humanity. From my heart to yours, great job returning to work, homeschooling and navigating such uncertain difficult times. Please let me know if we can help. I look forward to seeing you all in person again (with a mask and hopefully soon without a mask).
