It’s always exciting when your child’s first tooth falls out. They get to tuck it under their pillow…and (hopefully) the tooth fairy visits in the dead of night. Typically, as adult teeth begin to erupt, they absorb the root of the baby tooth. This causes the tooth to become loose and eventually fall out. Problems may occur when the permanent teeth do not absorb the root of the baby teeth.

It isn’t uncommon for parents to notice that adult teeth are growing in behind their child’s baby teeth. This condition is formally known as “lingually erupting mandibular incisors” -- more commonly “shark teeth.”

In some cases, the baby teeth will eventually come out on their own. If this doesn’t happen, parents should consider a visit to the dentist for a tooth extraction. If the baby teeth stay in too long, adult teeth will not be able to move into place. This can result in a condition known as “crowding ” -- and the possibility of lasting bite problems (“malocclusion”). With crowded baby teeth out of the way, adult teeth should naturally shift comfortably into the proper aligned position.

For a long time, traditional metal braces were a big pain, but they were also the only option if you wanted to straighten your teeth. Those subjected to braces were forced to endure pinching and cutting and a restricted metal-smile lifestyle for years. They couldn’t eat hard foods (like carrots) for fear of breaking brackets, and brushing and flossing took forever!

Now, you don’t have to suffer through those daily inconveniences. When you visit your orthodontist, he or she can tell you all about removable braces – clear aligners like Invisalign®. The Invisalign® system is a series of removable, clear acrylic trays that you wear over your teeth. The trays gently move your teeth into a straighter position. Not only are the clear trays nearly invisible (hence the name), but you can remove them before sitting down to eat or brushing your teeth.

Invisalign® removable braces are not right for everyone, and they tend to be more expensive than traditional braces. Ask your orthodontist today to learn if you are a good candidate for removable braces, clear aligners, or Invisalign®.

Whether you’re an adult or a child, steady pressure applied to your teeth can slowly move and shift them. That’s how braces and retainers realign teeth and that’s how bad habits can shift them into mis-alignment. Adults with lifelong tongue thrusting habits or those who like to compulsively chew on pencils (or the like) may notice their teeth becoming crooked over time.

It’s usually a slow process and sometimes hard to notice. To realign your teeth, the first step is to stop whatever habit is causing the shift. Since many habits are unconscious, you may need to pay close attention to possible causes. The reality is, you’ll likely need the assistance of an orthodontist to realign your teeth with the help of a a retainer, braces, or Invisalign braces - somewhat of a hybrid between a retainer and traditional braces. Make an appointment with your dentist today to discuss your options.

You’ve been waiting months, maybe years for that sweet, sweet day when your braces come off. Finally, you can eat popcorn again and floss your teeth in under 20 minutes. Oh, and you’ll enjoy that pretty, straight smile in the mirror. As nice as it is to be free of clunky, uncomfortable braces, your journey toward a perfectly straight smile isn’t finished quite yet.

Most likely, your orthodontist will transition you to a retainer or a device called a positioner. Think of the positioner as the closer in the final innings of a baseball game. The job of this custom-made device is to bring home the win -- to make the final small adjustments to complete the straightening process. That accomplished, the positioner then helps keep your teeth in place so they don’t move back out of alignment again.

Depending on how your teeth are coming along, your orthodontist may tell you to wear your positioner throughout the day -- only taking it out to eat -- or to only wear it to bed. Follow your orthodontist’s instructions carefully, so that all those years in braces won’t be in vain! 

Are you ready for some football? Chances are, if you have children with football fever, you’re not.  Worried about injuries or concussion? While you can’t always prevent the bumps and bruises that accompany a commitment to sport, there are ways to limit serious injury by purchasing high quality equipment for your child.

If you’re willing to pay out big money for the latest and greatest pads and helmets, don’t forget to invest in a high-quality mouth guard. Emphasis on “high-quality.” You can buy a generic mouth guard for children at any sports store, but these won’t be fitted to the unique contour of your child’s mouth or the shape of their teeth.

When your orthodontist first puts braces onto your teeth, he or she will give you a long lecture on how to take care of them. You may even get a small pamphlet to take home. The orthodontist will show you how to carefully brush your teeth and floss with the braces…and caution you against eating “hard” foods -- like popcorn, hard candy and even carrots!

It may seem like your orthodontist is being over-protective, but your orthodontic brackets aren’t invincible. If you crunch down on a popcorn kernel, you could break off an orthodontic bracket. Orthodontic brackets all work together, putting combined pressure on each tooth to shift them into alignment. When a bracket breaks off, it weakens the entire structure, which slows down your tooth-straightening progress. That means you’ll have to spend a longer time in braces!

Heed your orthodontists’ advice. You’ll have straighter teeth before you know it. 

If you’ve always wanted a straighter, more beautiful smile, your orthodontist will give you several different options to make it happen. You can always go with the traditional metal braces (the most cost-effective option), but most adult patients prefer a more subtle look. That brings you to either ceramic brackets or Invisalign retainer trays.

Benefits of Ceramic Brackets

Ceramic brackets can be made to match the color of your teeth. They won’t be completely invisible, but they will be far less noticeable than metal braces. Though ceramic brackets are more expensive than metal braces, they are more cost effective than Invisalign -- and because Invisalign isn’t recommended for more advanced cases, you might not even have it as an option.

The need for crowns is a common occurrence, especially for middle-aged and older adults. Over time, your teeth will naturally begin to wear down, no matter how well you take care of them. They may also become cracked or decayed. All of these unpleasant tooth-maladies can be corrected with a well-placed white crown or crowns.

If your dentist recommends crowns to replace damaged or worn-down teeth, he or she will likely give you a choice. The lowest cost option is a metal crown. The drawback? It’s easily visible, especially if needed in the front.

Most dental patients prefer white crowns  (or even color-matched versions). For this reason, the more popular types of crowns are porcelain fused metal crowns or all-porcelain crowns. While they are the most aesthetically pleasing option, they can also be a little “pricey.”

Which is best for you? Ask your dentist. He’ll set you up with the type of metal or white crown that fits your preference and your budget. 

Have you ever wondered how your orthodontist is able to create special devices that fit your mouth comfortably and precisely? Have you imagined a little workshop behind a curtain in your orthodontist’s office where elves work to hammer out customized retainers, space maintainers, arch developers, and other types of devices?

The truth is that your orthodontist is able to offer so many different types of orthodontic devices because he or she probably works with a third party oral appliance laboratory like those in the SML Global network.

SML labs receive your x-rays and models from your orthodontist.   

You may wonder what causes adults to require bridges or even full dentures. The truth is that many adults will eventually experience gum disease or tooth decay, resulting in the loss of teeth.  Another less common reason? Trauma from a fall.

Many adults today remain active throughout their lives. They play football and soccer, ski and snowboard down slopes, surf the waves, and scramble over obstacles on foot or the back of a motorcycle. MMA fighting anyone?

It only takes one bad fall to crack teeth or even knock them out entirely. A cracked or chipped tooth can usually be fixed with a veneer. If you lose several teeth as the result of a fall, you will likely need a bridge. Consult your family dentist or a cosmetic dentistry specialist to discuss your tooth replacement options.