In this blog post, we will shed some light on what components make up your braces and how they move your teeth.

Components of Braces

Brackets

Brackets are the most visible part of your braces. They bond to the surface of each tooth to hold them in place throughout the orthodontic treatment.

Archwires

Your orthodontist will place these thin metal wires over each bracket. They are necessary for building up the pressure against your teeth that will move them in their appropriate positions.

O-Rings

These small elastic bands are responsible for holding the bracket on the archwire.

Now that you have a know-how of what braces are made of let’s discuss how they move your teeth!

Moving the teeth through bone remodeling

After the braces are in place, they will begin to put pressure on your teeth. The periodontal membrane (encases a bottom portion of the tooth) is stretched on one side and compressed on the other, which slightly loosens the tooth. Then a new bone grows in to support the tooth. This is the process of bone remodeling, and it’s where the magic happens!

The force behind the movement

Your brackets and archwires are responsible for providing your teeth with the necessary force and pressure for positive tooth movement. Therefore, the archwires are typically made of materials activated by body heat to increase the stiffness level.

The wire we use in the beginning is known as a twisted wire and when this wire is placed on your teeth, it is activated by the heat of your mouth. Once you advance into the treatment process, a more flexible one will replace the twisted wire. Your body heat activates this wire, too, causing it to become stiff. Once we place the brackets on your teeth and tie them together with the wires, the transmission of forces is on the go.

If you want to get really technical, meet one of our dental experts at Smiles on Greatwood Dentistry. To schedule, an appointment calls us at 281-937-7530. 

Does Invisalign work for crowded teeth, or metal braces are my only option? You do hope to hear a YES for the former, right? Fortunately, Invisalign can straighten your smile. They also correct teeth spacing problems and work effectively for patients with crowded teeth. Invisalign can be a perfect treatment plan for you in the following scenarios:

• You have issues such as gapped teeth, crowded teeth, overbite, and crossbite. Or your teeth are severely misaligned that may require additional treatment.
• You want a subtle and unnoticeable treatment option. The best thing about clear aligners is that they are comfortable, removable, and convenient. They work perfectly for teens and adults.
• You can wear them throughout the day. For a fully effective treatment, you need to keep the clear braces on for a minimum of 22 hours daily. However, you can take them off when you are eating or cleaning your teeth.

Benefits of Using Invisalign for Crowded Teeth

Some significant benefits of choosing clear aligners that many patients look for and appreciate are:

1. Improved physical appearance: Unlike metal braces, the Invisalign can hardly be noticed and still work perfectly to correct your crowded teeth. They allow you to enjoy an attractive smile throughout the treatment.
2. Better dental hygiene: You can take off your aligners whenever you feel like eating, drinking, or cleaning your teeth. This way, your teeth will remain clean, and no food particles will get stuck in the aligners.
3. Precise and personalized treatment: Every aligner is designed based on the precise 3D impression of your teeth. That is why they fit perfectly and are very comfortable to wear.
4. Removable aligners: You can take them off any time you want. They fit perfectly into your normal lifestyle, and metal brackets, elastics, or wires will not hinder you.

If you are looking for a dental clinic to get your clear aligners, Smiles on Greatwood Dentistry is your best stop. To book an appointment, call us at 281-937-7530 .

There is a variety of dental splints available to dental patients. The use of each type of splint varies, depending on the patient’s clinical needs, the clinician’s requirements, and the desired outcome. One of the most commonly prescribed dental splints is the traditional flat-plane occlusal splint, which fits over the maxillary arch. This splint’s ability to treat a wide variety of issues makes it a popular choice among many.

Materials

For many years, a clear or tooth-colored hard acrylic (made with methyl methacrylate) was used. But this material had many issues. One major flaw was polymerization shrinkage, causing the appliance to warp during the curing process.

New Days

These days, the use of pressure-molded technologies, to create plastic splints is more common. These splints are more flexible and can also capture undercuts for greater retention. After formation, small amounts of hard, light-cured acrylic can be placed onto these bases, creating the correct occlusion to match the opposing dentition. The more the stability of the occlusal plane, the greater the relief from jaw pain.

Thermoplastic materials offer even greater patient comfort. They capture even deeper undercuts that offer more retention with less chance of breaking. These materials can slightly flex when softened in warm water while still retaining the correct shape. Once inserted into the mouth, they can conform to the contours of the patient’s teeth.

Benefits of Dental Splints

Dental-splint therapy can treat multiple problems such as TMJ pain and severely worn dentition, often caused by bruxism. Always ensure that the occlusal schematics are accurately captured, that the splint protects the opposing dentition, and that it does not feel too bulky to wear, which will increase patient comfort.

Since the introduction of the dental splint, its design has significantly evolved, leading to higher patient comfort. The techniques for producing dental splints have also improved, requiring less chair-side time to fit them properly.

If you wish to discuss a case in more detail, our experienced team is here to assist you. Call Smiles on Greatwood Dentistry at 281-937-7530. 

Drinking water is healthy for our bodies. It’s the healthiest drink out there, which keeps our skin and other organs healthy. But did you know that water is beneficial for your oral health too? Below are some of the ways that water is good for your teeth!

Acts as a mouth cleaner

Drinking anything helps wash down your food, but drinks like juice, sports drinks, and soda only leave unwanted sugars behind on your teeth.

It strengthens teeth

The U.S. is one of the few countries that adds fluoride in its water. Fluoride in the water fights cavity and is one of the best things for your teeth. It is a natural element that mixes with tooth enamel in growing teeth that helps prevent tooth decay.

It keeps your mouth from being dry

A dry mouth contributes to tooth decay. That is because saliva is a great defense against tooth decay. Minerals in saliva like calcium and phosphate help your teeth fight against tooth decay. With a dry mouth, you produce less saliva, which will only help tooth decay. Drinking water helps prevent dry mouth and prevents tooth decay in return.

It is calorie-less!

You may think that it has nothing to do with oral health, but it does! Most other drinks contain tons of sugar, which is a major contributor to tooth decay. By drinking water, you are not adding any extra sugar to your meal. Moreover, it helps to lose weight, so it’s even more guilt-free!

Bad breath fighter

Drinking water helps fight against bad breath. Dry mouth causes “Morning breath,” and drinking water throughout the day helps with that. Water also washes away food particles and tooth decay, which can also contribute towards bad breath and keep bad breath from forming in the first place.

If you have any queries about how to help pair up other fluoride treatments with drinking water, don’t hesitate to call Smiles on Greatwood Dentistry at 281-937-7530.

When patients are asked to go for “periodontal maintenance,” they often ask why because all they want is normal teeth cleaning. If your dentist recommends that you be scheduled for periodontal maintenance, and if you notice the difference between the costs for these procedures, here is a brief explanation:

Regular Cleaning vs Periodontal Maintenance

Prophylaxis, or Regular Cleaning

Regular cleaning is for patients with no periodontal disease, bone loss, or infection around the teeth. There should be no mobility of the teeth or bleeding, or receded areas, where the spaces around the roots of the teeth are open. In simpler words, the mouth should be healthy with no bone or gum-related issues.

Regular cleaning removes tartar, soft plaque, and stains from the teeth above the gum line. It is usually done 2 to 3 times a year, depending on how quickly plaque, stain, and tartar accumulate.

Periodontal Maintenance (PM)

Regular cleaning is not appropriate if you have:

• periodontal disease resulting in bone loss
• bleeding gums
• exposed root surfaces
• gum “pockets” deeper than 4 millimeters
• had periodontal surgery
• or root planing to treat periodontal surgery
• or root planing to treat periodontal disease

PM scaling maintains bone and gum health. This procedure removes tartar and plaque from above and below the gum line, all the way down the length of each tooth.

You may need to go for PM 3 to 4 times a year. It depends on several factors like, how:

• quickly the plaque and tartar accumulate
• stable the present condition is
• much bleeding or inflammation is present
• well you can maintain your teeth at home daily

If you would like to learn more about regular cleaning vs. periodontal maintenance, please contact our office. To schedule an appointment with your Sugar Land dentist, call at 281-937-7530. We will be happy to hear from you.

Many patients think that after they have received a dental crown, and the restoration is complete, that tooth will never create any issue. If patients experience toothache under a crown, they think it is nothing serious. However, this is not a very good thing to do. Many problems can happen underneath the dental crown, and as long as there is a living tooth root and/or a stub that the dental crown is mounted on, it may need dental treatment.

What it means

There can be two reasons for a toothache. Either the dental crown is damaging the tooth stub that it’s on, or there is an infection in the tooth, or it is undergoing a tooth decay in some form. Both conditions can have adverse effects on your oral health and require immediate dental attention.

The first scenario is somehow good news in which the dental crown is pushing down on the tooth stub. This requires the removal and replacement of the dental crown.

Tooth decay underneath the dental crown

The problem becomes a little more complicated if there is an infection or tooth decay underneath the dental crown. You may need to undergo a root canal treatment and also have a new dental crown. The scenario becomes worst when the tooth stub is beyond saving and must be extracted. Here a dental implant needs to be put in place or a dental crown that is held in place by the tooth next to it.

These infections can spread and affect your jawbone and can even cause an abscess to form underneath the crown. Therefore you should never ignore situations like these as they can lead to greater problems in the future.

Do you have any more questions related to the toothache under a crown? If yes, please feel free to call Smiles on Greatwood Dentistry at 281-937-7530.

Dental implants function the same way your natural teeth do, which is the reason for their ever-growing popularity and benefits. However, with the light, there is also a darker side. Your dental implant can catch infection the same way your natural teeth do. The reasons can be ignoring dental care for a long time, diabetes, smoking, or a weak immune system.

Symptoms

There is no specific time when an infection can happen; it can either happen right after the surgery or several weeks later.

There are some of the symptoms you may notice, such as:

• Fever
• Difficulty in chewing
• Bad breath
• Redness around the implant
• Bleeding around the implant

If you have continuous bleeding or severe pain, pay a visit to your dentist as soon as possible. Your dentist will carry out the necessary test to identify the disease.

Treatment

It is always best to control things before they get out of hands. The same is the case with a dental implant infection. It is relatively easy to prevent it rather than running for treatments. Therefore, a good oral hygiene routine can be at your advantage. Regularly brush your teeth at least twice a day to keep your teeth and gums free from bacteria. Flossing and use of mouthwash are also good things to add on your list.

If you have an infection, our dentists at Smiles on Greatwood Dentistry will thoroughly examine your condition to provide the best possible treatment. The treatment depends on the level of infection. If it happens after the surgery, the dentists will prescribe you antibiotics along with some other medicines. However, if the condition worsens, you may have to undergo another surgery to replace or adjust the implant.

If you are facing any of the mentioned symptoms, don’t wait for them to go on their own. Call us at 281-937-7530 and book an appointment.

Tooth extraction can occur due to several reasons such as tooth decay, trauma, or for the preparation of orthodontic treatment. You may also require extraction for an over-retained tooth. In this condition, the eruption of permanent teeth is delayed for more than a year than the expected date. To begin exercise after tooth extraction, you should wait at least for a week.

Dentists generally recommend that tooth extraction patients should not indulge in any physical activity in the first 24 hours after the procedure. The reason behind this is that when you exercise, it causes blood pressure to increase, resulting in active bleeding from the extraction site. A formation of a blood clot at the extraction site is very important to ensure a healthy recovery. In this case, any exercise can displace the clot leading to a very painful condition known as dry socket.

After 24 Hours 

You may still need a few more days after tooth extraction to continue with your exercise routine. If you are taking any painkillers or antibiotics, it is good to wait until its course is complete. This is because medicines may have their own set of side effects. If you are using painkillers, there is also a chance of not feeling any pain due to a pulled muscle or other exercises related injury, which is not good.

The time required to return to normal exercise routines greatly depends on the strength and condition of each individual. You can consult your dentist in this regard, and he or she will be able to give you better guidance. If your surgery was a simple one, then there is a chance of return after a week. But if it was something more severe and complicated; then you might have to wait a little bit longer.

If you have any queries feel free to call Smiles on Greatwood Dentistry call us at 281-937-7530.

Overbite is a condition that has effects on the way you smile and the appearance of your mouth plus the mechanics of the jaw. Overbite occurs when the front teeth of the upper jaw unevenly fit and overlap the lower teeth. It is not as bad as it sounds, and most people have an overbite to some extent. But if you are unhappy with your smile and looking for a way to correct an overbite, Invisalign is one such way to do it.

Does Invisalign Help Correct Overbite? 

Invisalign treats a variety of dental issues, and research continues to find more of its benefits. If you are eligible for Invisalign, a unique set of plastic aligners will be created to fit your mouth. The aligners straighten and reposition the teeth, and you do not even have to change your diet and habits completely. Unlike other treatments, it follows a slow and gradual path, so patience is very important here. The time required will depend on the condition of your overbite.

For a successful treatment, you will have to wear aligners for at least twenty hours per day. However, you can remove them anytime you feel like. To avoid damage, it is good to remove them while chewing something crunchy or sipping your hot coffee. Or you might end up having another pair of Invisalign. For proper brushing and flossing and maintaining good oral hygiene, remove them without any second thought.

Once your teeth make a slight movement, your dentist will give you a new molded aligner to wear to address your specific conditions. One of the best things about them is that they are clear and hardly visible to naked eyes. This allows you to undergo treatment without worrying about your smile.

To set an appointment with Smiles on Greatwood Dentistry call us at 281-937-7530.

Before getting to an alternative to a dental crown, let us find out why would you need a dental crown in the first place? There are many reasons to this question, among them the top three are:

• If you have a fracture or highly decayed natural tooth, a dental crown can help to make it stronger.
• There can be cases when you may not be happy with your smile due to a chipped or discolored tooth. Here you can use crowns for aesthetic reasons.
• Your previous restoration is falling, and now you need a more permanent solution to it.

 Alternatives to Dental Crown

Most of the time, when a dentist recommends a dental crown is because you need it. However, there are some other options as well, such as:

1. Phasing Treatment:

In some cases, you can go for a filling instead of getting a crown. Although it is not a long-lasting solution, it can buy you some time before you decide to get a firmer treatment.

2. Porcelain Onlays:

It is a safer approach as it tends to preserve most of the natural tooth structure and leads to a healthier mouth in the end. The porcelain onlay is bonded onto the tooth’s enamel. This helps to avoid fracture and saves most of the enamel. Though this procedure is very rare and requires high skills and time, when the right dentist performs it, it can be a great alternative to a dental crown.

3. Provisional Crowns:

A provisional crown is bonded to the tooth and can buy you some time to get a more definitive treatment. It is only a temporary solution and can last for only 3 to 9 months.

To help decide which alternative is best for you, call Smiles on Greatwood Dentistry at 281-937-7530 and talk to our experts.