10 Surprising Myths About Orthodontic Treatment

You must have heard a lot of myths and rumors about braces. Before getting orthodontic treatment, you must have all the correct information about it. Here are 10 myths about orthodontic treatment:

Any professional providing orthodontic treatment is an orthodontist

Not everyone can be called an orthodontist except the ones who have completed additional advanced training needed to become an orthodontist.

Cost of braces are more than they should be

Braces cost will appear to you like a significant investment of your time and money. They offer lifelong advantages that not only improve your appearance but also bring back your lost confidence.

Straightening teeth takes years

Orthodontic treatment needs close monitoring to find out whether your teeth are responding correctly to the treatment plan or not. The timeframe for each patient depends on their case. If only minor changes are required for your teeth, the treatment will take only a  few months.

The only appearance is changed with braces

Apart from improved appearance, braces have many benefits like better oral health, properly aligned jaw as well as daily benefits like ease in eating, chewing, biting or speaking. 

Metal braces are the best option for straightening teeth

Those days are gone when the only option available was metal braces for straightening teeth. Now you can choose the braces that suit your lifestyle and comfort and offer you a healthy smile. 

Mail order orthodontic treatment offers safe teeth straightening

If your orthodontist doesn’t see your mouth and gums regularly and monitor them, then mail-order orthodontic treatment can be highly risky as well as costly.

Straightening teeth can be done at home by yourself

An orthodontist is a warning for people not to go for DIY techniques for straightening teeth as they can lead to further irreparable damage.

Only teenagers and children can straighten their teeth

Orthodontics is seen common among children and teenagers, but a healthy smile can be attained at any age.

Braces are easily breakable

Braces are bonded to your teeth, making them durable and capable of withstanding your entire treatment.

Treatment results last for a lifetime

Once you take out your braces, they will start moving to their natural position. Shift prevention can be done.

If you are looking for orthodontics and orthopedics in Campbell, visit us at Lotus Dental Group and get exceptional services for a healthy smile. 

Dental Implants: Pros and cons

Unnecessary teeth gaps can be the reason for a person’s shy smile. These gaps may be as a result of an accident or disease. Tooth Implants work effectively in such cases. They have proven to fix the teeth gaps by placing an artificial tooth as a replacement. This replacement tooth looks exactly like an original one. It functions in the same way too but is made of titanium.

Dental implants have proven to be an effective long-term solution to dental problems caused by damaged, broken or lost teeth. The entire process might take a long time, depending on the situation of the patient. Firstly the base is laid on the jawbone of the person where the tooth would be placed. After it fixes in the jawbone, the implant or the artificial tooth is placed in it. 

Dental Implants is a cosmetic procedure that has a high success rate and is popular among people. However, it has its own set of pros and cons. Here, we discuss these points for you to decide the best. 

What are the pros?

  • The implants are self-sufficient when it comes to seeking support from neighboring teeth. These won’t be affected by the damage of the nearby tooth. 
  • They function like normal teeth and poses no difficulty to the person in chewing or talking. It also looks the same. 
  • People reportedly have better dental health after getting an implant.

What are the cons?

  • It requires your maintenance. After the implant, you would be required to take care of it by regularly brushing and flossing your teeth. 
  • For smokers, the success rate might not be satisfactory.
  • Since it involves the surgical process, people might have side effects in the form of infections. However, this happens rarely.
  • Implants are time-taking procedures. It takes up to six months for the procedure to be complete as it involves multiple steps.
  • Not suitable for people with osteoporosis or other health complication.
  • The procedure can be costly.

Overall, it is a safe and effective long term investment. Implants can help replace misplaced teeth and the lost confidence of the person. 

Dental Health benefits of Orthodontic treatment

Dental Implants

Orthodontic treatment helps to achieve a healthy dentition and an amazing smile which has motivated a lot of adults to get more treatments for improving their dental aesthetics. Do we know about all the benefits orthodontic treatment offers us? There is a list of benefits that are beyond a smile. Let’s know some of them.

  • Orthodontics helps in improving your teeth position, functioning and aesthetics if dental pieces. This benefit is clearly visible.
  • Your bones and gums appear healthier. It helps in correcting occlusion and positioning of teeth.
  • The condition of your mouth is improved and also increase dental hygiene. It provides correct alignment to your teeth that provide oral health and appropriate cleaning of your entire dental cavity improves the condition of your mouth.
  • It helps in relieving excess pressure on the jaw joint. Orthodontics correct your bites and malocclusion.
  • Your digestion is also improved. Due to malocclusion, you are not able to chew the food properly which leads to difficulty in swallowing and digestion. Once the issue is corrected, digestion is improved. 
  • As general oral health is improved the risk of periodontal diseases, infections, tooth decay.
  • Some of the patients who have severe bite problems have issues pronouncing words. After undergoing orthodontic treatment, these issues in speech are corrected and improved.
  • Through orthodontic treatment, dental trauma risks can also be reduced. 
  • A patient who has overcrowding or other oral issues loses his or her self esteem. Through orthodontic treatment, you get a new smile and regain your self-confidence.
  • In short, your quality of life is improved through the above-given benefits.

If you require orthodontic treatment for your dental health, visit us at Lotus Dental and improve the quality of your oral health through our exceptional treatments. 

How long does it take to recover from a tooth extraction?

Tooth extraction

Dental accidents or trauma can take place at any point in time. Sometimes your situation is that critical that you understand your teeth is going to be extracted. When the thought of tooth extraction treatment comes to our mind, along with fear we are also occupied with several other thoughts. What will be the recovery time? Will a lot of work be missed? These questions run through our mind. Let’s find out through this blog how soon you get recovered.

Recovery time varies from patients to patients and depends upon various other factors like size and position of the tooth, the patient’s oral health, and how well the patient follows the aftercare instructions. 

In case of a simple extraction in which a tooth is removed that has already erupted into the mouth, the process of recovery is not that long. Your dental surgeon will ask you to relax for about 42 to 78 hours after the treatment so that the treatment area is allowed to clot. You can return to normal daily activities after. The soft tissues heal completely in about 3 to 4 weeks. 

In case of surgical extraction, wherein the tooth is still in the gums and the jawbone is removed, the process of recovery is long. The patient will be asked to take rest for 48 to 72 hours as in the case of a simple extraction. Before resuming to normal activities they should limit their physical activities for about a week. 

Nowadays due to modern dental technology and local anesthesia, extractions have become quick and easier and recoveries are also nice and short. If you are looking for tooth removal dental service, at Lotus Dental Group we provide amazing services of tooth extraction dentistry. Our top priority is patients health and comfort. 

Cosmetic Dentistry – What You Need to Know

Cosmetic Dentistry

In cosmetic dentistry, the facial appearance of the person is changed by making a certain correction in the structure of the teeth. There are various procedures by which this can be done. Amongst these, the most popular ones are false teeth, teeth whitening, shaping the teeth, implants, and veneers. Sometimes, a combination of these sets is used to aim for improvised facial features.

These procedures are carried out by a cosmetic dentist. A cosmetic dentist undergoes intense training before carrying them out on patients. These dental procedures are expected to be costlier than say a regular visit to your dentist for a routine check-up. However, procedures like teeth whitening are cheaper. It is also available at most of the dental clinics and doesn’t require the practitioner to have a specific skill set. To save some more money, one can buy the readily available dental whitening tooth kits and try it at home.

Is cosmetic dentistry different?

Yes, cosmetic dentistry is very much different from normal dentistry. A regular dental visit might involve procedures that deal with the functionality of the teeth. General procedures deal with various diseases and problems of the teeth while cosmetic surgery aims at improving the appearance of oneself by making changes to the facial features. 

Why is cosmetic surgery expensive?

Since the procedure aims at improving the look of the person, thus it might include a combination of several methods. The instruments involved to perform such cosmetic dental care service are expensive. This can also b accompanied by certain general procedures like removal of teeth. It takes years of study and practice to become a cosmetic dentist. Thus, the visiting fee of the dentist is high. Add to this the diagnostic tests required before the procedure. 

If you are looking forward to enhancing your facial features, then you can opt our cosmetic dentistry Campbell services today! We, at Lotus Dental Group, provide you with expert consultants and ensure the safety of the patient.

Your step-by-step guide to teeth whitening at the dentist

We all need a sparkling and whiter smile. It builds our confidence and makes us look beautiful. Discoloured teeth have become a common issue for everyone now. With professional teeth whitening option you can easily get your teeth whiter and brighter. Here is the step by step guide to your teeth whitening treatment.

The professional teeth whitening procedure starts by consulting with your dentist. Everyone cannot be a good candidate for teeth whitening, so you need to talk to the Teeth Whitening dentist before you get it done. If you have a large filling or crown, this is not an option for you.

Next is the actual whitening appointment. Once you get comfortable in the chair, your dentist will put a lip retractor into your mouth that moves your lips out of the way for easy teeth access. Your gums will be covered with a gel and then hardened with a light. This provides protection to your gums from teeth bleaching. Your dentist can also apply a compound that can prevent tooth sensitivity.

The actual whitening process starts by applying a gel which is made up of 15 to 35% of hydrogen peroxide to your front teeth. Hydrogen peroxide penetrates the porous outer layer of teeth and breaks apart stain compound through oxidation. The application of whitening gel may be followed by usage of high powered light which speeds up whitening. Many systems require multiple application of gel during the treatment. Within 40 minutes the dentist will rinse off the gel and apply a fresh coat as many times as necessary. After the completion of the whitening procedure, you can achieve up to eight shades lighter teeth.

If you require teeth whitening treatment, at Lotus-Group Dental we offer professional teeth whitening services by our experts to achieve a sparkling smile. Schedule an appointment today and get a dazzling smile.

Should Children Use Mouthwash?

Much like the tic-tac-toe, good dental habits come in three.

A Female with liquid

Proper brushing and flossing are crucial towards keeping your children’s teeth healthy and strong. But mouthwash also plays an important role. Mouthwash is effective in fighting against tooth decay, plaque, as well as gingivitis [1]. It’s especially useful for treating hard-to-reach areas of the mouth that a toothbrush or floss simply can’t.

Parents realize that even though your child’s baby teeth will be lost in a few years, they are still important and need to be taken care of. Healthy oral habits need to be established at an early age, to ensure their adult teeth are protected later on. However, you should wait until your child is older before using mouthwash. According to the American Dental Association (ADA), only children older than age 6 should use mouthwash since they are less likely of swallowing it [2].

One way to see if your child is ready for mouthwash is by using the ‘spit test’. Fill a cup with some water, have your child rinse their mouth with it, and spit it back into the cup. If they’re able to spit all the water back into the cup, it means they’re ready for mouthwash [3]. Since learning to gargle can be difficult for young children, they should always be supervised by an adult.

Benefits of Children’s mouthwash

There are numerous lifelong benefits of using mouthwash from an early age. Your teeth will be healthier and stronger and will be less prone to cavities in the long run. And though these lasting benefits are great, it’s the immediate ones that kids will notice the most.

There is an assortment of rinses available. Many of them are aimed at kids, including alcohol-free ones. Adult mouthwashes contain alcohol for a deeper clean, so children’s mouthwashes are safer in case of accidental ingestion. Some rinses will even coat the teeth in a different color where there are food debris and bacteria left behind after brushing. This shows the exact spots that children have missed, and gives them the chance to fix the problem, by getting rid of the color and food debris that’s still there. This teaches children not to hurry and to pay attention to how well they are brushing.

Many children’s mouthwash is also taste-friendly, with flavors such as berry and juicy mint. A yummy tasting mouthwash encourages them to use it on a daily basis. A good idea is to let your child choose the flavor to make it more likely of them liking it.

Just remember before teaching your kid to use mouthwash, make it clear that it doesn’t excuse them from regular brushing and flossing. By teaching your child good dental habits early on, they will understand the importance of taking care of their teeth for many years to come.

Sources

[1] Reviewsmdd. [2013, November 14]. “4 Benefits of Using Mouthwash” Retrieved from http://www.martindaledental.com/4-benefits-of-using-mouthwash/
[2] Morrow Lai & Edwards Pediatric Dentistry. [2012, October 22]. “When should Your Child Start Using Mouthwash?” Retrieved from http://www.tulsadentistryforchildren.com/blog/2012/10/when-should-your-child-start-using-mouthwash/
[3] Dentistry for Children. (n.d.). “When should My Child Start using Mouthwash?” Retrieved from http://www.dentistry4children.com/when-should-my-child-start-using-mouthwash/

Are you making these toothbrushing mistakes?

Brushing your teeth seems like a fairly simple task right? After all, you’ve been doing it every day since you were a child. Well, turns out most people aren’t very good at brushing their teeth.

As with any habit, teeth brushing can become tedious. You can go through the motions without thinking about whether or not you’re using the proper technique. But improper brushing can lead to bigger problems, such as cavities, enamel erosion, and gum disease. So find what you’re doing wrong and learn how to correct those bad brushing habits.

Not Brushing Long Enough

This is probably the single most frequent mistake people make while brushing. Don’t rush your brushing just because you’re late for work or ready to collapse into bed. Proper brushing takes about two or three minutes, but few people ever make it to that. Try using a stopwatch or an electric toothbrush with a timer. Do whatever it takes to make sure you’re brushing long enough. All this brushing is necessary to get rid of food debris and bacteria in your mouth to keep it clean and healthy.

Brushing Too Hard

Brushing harder doesn’t make your teeth cleaner. In fact, you could be doing more harm. Aggressive brushing can erode tooth enamel and wear away gum tissue, leading to receding gums. Next time use gentle pressure, holding the toothbrush at a 45-degree angle to your teeth, with the bristles pointing to your gums. This is the best way to remove plaque by brushing.

Keeping Your Toothbrush Too Long

Toothbrushes can wear down quickly, so it’s recommended you should get a new one every few months. Check your toothbrush regularly to make sure the bristles are flexible and not worn out. As toothbrush bristles flare, their ability to remove plaque decreases considerably. There are even toothbrushes that have color indicators on them, letting you know when it’s time to replace your brush.

Using the Wrong Toothbrush

Make sure you choose a toothbrush that fits your mouth. If you’re straining to open wide enough to let the toothbrush in, it’s probably too big. The handle should feel comfortable as if you’re holding a fork when you eat. The better your toothbrush fits your mouth and hand, the more likely you’ll use it correctly.

As for the bristles, they should be soft or extra soft to minimize any damage that may come from brushing too hard. Hard bristles increase surface abrasion which causes wear and damage to your teeth when brushing.

You can also try investing in an electric toothbrush. Studies show that electric toothbrushes do a better job at cleaning your teeth and remove more plaque than manual brushing.

Not Rinsing Your Toothbrush

A toothbrush that isn’t rinsed can harbor harmful germs and bacteria (bacteria that you’ll be putting back into your mouth next time you brush). Rinse and dry your toothbrush after you brush to remove food particles, and rid the moist environment that bacteria love. You can also use soap and water or antibacterial rinses for a better clean. Remember, a cleaner toothbrush means a cleaner mouth.