What Your Smile Says About You and How a Charles County Orthodontist Can Help
Your smile says a lot about you, and it is often the first thing that people notice about your appearance. For these reasons, many people want to improve their smile. This could mean straightening the teeth, replacing missing teeth, or correcting the alignment of the jaw. If you need any of these or other issues corrected to improve your smile, the first step is finding a good orthodontist. An orthodontist is specially trained to improve the position of the teeth and can help you achieve a beautiful smile using a number of techniques.
What’s in A Smile?
Often the first thing people notice about you, your smile is a critical component of how people perceive you. A warm, genuine smile creates a comfortable and welcoming environment, and a beaming, confident smile radiates warmth, creating a great first impression and allowing people to feel at ease. Your smile even transmits confidence and professionalism in the workplace. A smile can show so much, but many people shy away from sharing this expression if they are insecure and self-conscious about the appearance of their teeth. No matter what concerns you have about your smile, an orthodontist can help.
What Can an Orthodontist Do for Me?
An orthodontist is a dentist that specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of dental and facial irregularities. They are responsible for correcting jaw alignment and straightening teeth through the use of corrective procedures and appliances, such as braces. Common issues orthodontists treat include:
- Overcrowding – Arguably the most common issue orthodontists see, overcrowding is when teeth are too close together and overlap in the jaw. Suggested treatment may include braces or retainers to space out teeth and realign them.
- Underbites – Misalignments of the jaws can cause the lower jaw to stick out from the bottom of the mouth. Underbites can cause issues with tooth overlapping, staining, and bacteria caught between teeth.
- Issues resulting from tooth loss – If you are older and experiencing a weakening in your teeth or tooth loss, you may be looking for a solution. Dentures can be uncomfortable and sometimes unsanitary, in which case an orthodontist can help in replacing lost teeth with dental implants.
Sequence Orthodontics is proud to offer procedures and corrective treatment for a variety of orthodontic conditions to the Charles and St. Mary’s counties. If you are concerned that you may have one or more of these issues and are interested in learning more information, contact our offices today.
A Charles County orthodontist advises on what to do if you break a bracket.
A broken bracket is one of the most common issues a patient with braces may face and can be caused by a number of reasons, such as:
- Brushing teeth incorrectly
- Eating the wrong foods
- Using a toothpick or flossing roughly
- Sustaining an injury to the mouth
If you find yourself with a broken bracket, don’t panic! Follow these four steps to minimize any damage.
Assess the Damage
So, you’ve broken your bracket. The first thing to do is assess the damage. Is the wire still attached to the bracket? If so, leave it in place. If it is attached but sticking out, gently use a cotton swab to push it back into place and then place orthodontic wax on the affected bracket to hold it in place. If the bracket has come loose entirely, remove it and be sure to bring it with you for your next orthodontist appointment.
Take Control
After examining the bracket, the next step is to see if there is any damage to your wires. If the ends of the wires are long or protruding, try to cut them as close to the teeth as possible using nail clippers. Cover the area with orthodontic wax to ensure you don’t get cut from any sharp wire ends.
Book an Appointment
Regardless of how well you take care of the situation, you will need to make an appointment with your orthodontist to have the bracket and wire repaired and reattached. How soon you should make an appointment depends on how much damage there is to the bracket and how much discomfort you are experiencing. If you are able to, bring the bracket in with you to your appointment to make any repairs easier on your orthodontist.
Interim Tips
If you aren’t scheduled for an immediate appointment, take measures to make yourself as comfortable as possible. Rinse your mouth regularly with salt water to promote healing and eat soft foods to avoid further damaging your bracket. As always, continue to avoid any hard or sticky foods. If you have mouth sores from the broken bracket or wire, use a soothing product to heal your mouth or take an over-the-counter painkiller to lessen your discomfort.
If you are in need of orthodontic care or are Sequence Orthodontics patient who has a broken bracket, contact us to schedule an appointment today. We are proud to offer a variety of orthodontic services to the people of neighboring Charles and St. Mary’s counties.