1 in 5 orthodontic patients are adults…

Orthodontic treatment is no longer just for teens. In fact, the American Association of Orthodontists states that one in five orthodontic patients is over the age of 21.

At Global Smiles Orthodontics Many adults are choosing to receive treatment because they understand the importance of maintaining their health, and they want to feel better about their appearance. Adults everywhere are taking advantage of the opportunity to receive orthodontic care, and now you can too.

Today’s orthodontic treatment options offer a variety of braces and appliances that are comfortable, aesthetic, and customized to meet your needs. Types of braces include:

Clear braces option

Clear braces

Ceramic braces

Self-ligating braces

Lingual (behind the tooth) braces

Invisible braces

Traditional metal braces

What is an Observation or Recall Appointment?

Moms and dads have busy schedules. Picking their children up from school and taking them to the orthodontist is no small task. Sometimes the appointments are very short and seemingly meaningless. One of these appointments is the observation or recall visit. These appointments are usually less than 15 minutes and many wonder if they are necessary at all. Recall or observation appointments are very important, and here’s why…

Observation or recall visits are scheduled for orthodontic patients who are either not yet quite ready for braces or have had an interceptive phase of treatment and are waiting for their remaining permanent teeth to come in so they can finish. The orthodontist may take a progress x-ray at this appointment to help him evaluate your child’s dental development.

The objective of an observation appointment is to counsel with the family about the timing of the next phase of treatment.  This might mean waiting a few months or even years. If we start too early, your son or daughter may have the braces on too long. If we wait too long, we might miss the opportunity to keep treatment as short as possible or end up extending it into the prom or graduation years of high school (not popular with patients or their families).

Having your orthodontist follow your child’s development will help them receive the care they need when they need it.   Next time your son or daughter has an observation visit here at Global Smiles Orthodontics, make sure you make it in, we think you’ll find that these short, to-the-point appointments are as important as any you’ll ever have.

5 Step Guide to Preventing Tooth Decay While Wearing Braces

If you’re wearing braces, then you know we are working hard to straighten your teeth. However, your braces are also preventing you from easily cleaning your teeth. It is essential that you put some extra attention into preventing tooth decay while wearing your braces. When your braces are finally removed, you want a beautiful, white smile, not decayed or stained teeth. Here, we’ve listed the five best ways to help you have the smile you’ve always dreamed of once your braces are gone.

1.  Use a Special Toothbrush

5 steps to clean teeth

A regular toothbrush just doesn’t cut it when you are wearing braces. You also need to use an interdental toothbrush so that you can effectively clean behind the braces. This type of brush has bristles that are shaped like a Christmas tree that can remove food residue in the braces and on the teeth.

2.  Brush after Every Meal

Since braces block food from naturally escaping your teeth after eating, it’s important that you take the time to brush and floss after every meal. The less time food has to sit on your teeth, the less likely it is to cause decay. This may seem like an inconvenience, but trust us, when you get your braces off, you will be very glad you brushed after every meal.

3.  Don’t Forget the Mouth Rinse

Even after properly brushing and flossing, there are probably some food particles in your braces. A fluoride mouth rinse is the best way to ensure that every bit of food is removed after meals. If you do not have a mouth rinse available, we suggest using water — it’s better than nothing.

4.  Avoid Sweets

Prevention is definitely the best medicine when it comes to avoiding tooth decay. If you can nix decay-causing sugary foods from the outset, we promise you’ll spend less time trying to treat problems in the future.

5.  Get Regular Checkups

Visit your dentist regularly while you are wearing braces. Our office recommends a thorough cleaning every three to six months.

– our entire team at Global Smiles Orthodontics is here to make sure your teeth are as beautifully straight as they are healthy!

Why you should not bite your nails…

The habit of nail biting is one of the so-called “nervous habits” that can be triggered by stress, excitement, or boredom. Approximately half of all kids between the ages of ten and 18 have been nail biters at one time or another. Experts say that about 30 percent of children and 15 percent of adults are nail biters, however most people stop chewing their nails by the time they turn 30.

Reasons to stop biting your nails

 

Here are four dental and general reasons to stop biting your nails:

1. Its unsanitary: Your nails harbor bacteria and germs, and are almost twice as dirty as fingers. What’s more, swallowing dirty nails can lead to stomach problems.
2. It wears down your teeth: Gnawing your nails can put added stress on your pearly whites, which can lead to crooked teeth.
3. It can delay your orthodontic treatment because nail biting puts additional pressure on teeth.
4. It can cost you, literally: It has been estimated that up to $4,000 in extra dental bills can build up over a lifetime.

Global Smiles Orthodontics recommends the following to kick your nail biting habit:

Using nail polish can help

Keep your nails trimmed short; you’ll have less of a nail to bite.

Coat your nails with a bitter-tasting nail polish.

Ask us about obtaining a mouth guard, which can help prevent nail biting.

Put a rubber band around your wrist and snap it whenever you get the urge to gnaw on your nails.

Think about when and why you chew your nails. Whether you are nervous or just bored, understanding the triggers can help you find a solution and stop the habit.

Keep your smile healthy and stop chewing your nails!

Sweets are not so Sweet

Now that you have braces, it is more important than ever to maintain good oral hygiene during your treatment. While we trust you will continue brushing and flossing on a regular basis throughout your treatment at Global Smiles Orthodontics, you also have to mindful of what you eat. While all those sweet, sour, and sticky candies may taste great, these treats can actually damage your teeth and braces!

Sour candies can be acidic to your teeth, and actually wear down the enamel that protects them, resulting in tooth decay and cavities.

Hard candy can cause brackets to break

Biting a hard candy may cause part of your braces to snap. Furthermore, once the candy is broken into a bunch of little pieces, it’s not uncommon for one of those sugary shards to get wedged between your braces and teeth … and that’s a cavity waiting to happen.

Besides cavities and tooth decay, many people do not realize that good oral health and hygiene are important to your overall health, too; researchers have discovered the connection between periodontal disease and other major health concerns, such as heart disease. Therefore, it is important to maintain a good oral hygiene routine just as you did before your braces. This includes visiting your dentist every six months, brushing and flossing daily, and using an antibacterial mouthwash, as well as keeping up with your regular adjustment appointments.

For more questions about foods you should avoid while wearing braces, or if you have any general questions about your treatment, we encourage you to give us a call, ask us at your next adjustment appointment or ask us on Facebook!

 

How to protect your baby’s teeth

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Did you know that by age 5, 30% of kids have tooth decay.  It is extremely important to impart good oral hygiene early on in every child’s upbringing.  A visit to the Pediatric dentist should be done between 6 months and 1 year old.  This is when your child will start to show their first baby tooth.

Bottom baby teeth erupt first

Wash Cloth used to relieve sore gums

Some tips to give the baby teeth a fighting chance from decay is to take a wash cloth and gently wipe the gums and teeth after feeding.  Sore gums as teeth erupt (teething) can be alleviated with a cold wet wash cloth over the gums.

Visit your Pediatric Dentist prior to age 1 or when the first tooth erupts and visit your Orthodontist by age 6.  Thanks for visiting!

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Different types of Retainers

It is a true fact that retainers are a very important part of every patient’s treatment plan.  Without a retainer to keep the teeth in place, the teeth will begin to shift naturally causing the treatment of your child’s braces to be compromised.

The retainer keeps the teeth in place after the braces are removed.  There are many options out there for retainers such as a clear Essix, your old-school acrylic and wire, Hawley retainer, that will show the wire across your teeth, or a permanent retainer that is hidden behind your teeth with wire to keep your teeth in place.

Retainers at Global Smiles Orthodontics

Speaking to your Orthodontist about your options will help you decide which is best for you. Listen to your Orthodontist for the retainer schedule that is fit for you; normally patients are supposed to wear their retainer 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for a year after removal of the braces excluding eating and brushing your teeth. After 12 months, you may talk to your Orthodontist about your retainer treatment plan to keep your smile looking great!

START SMILING TODAY!!!

Your smile might be your top asset. In a study by the American Association of Orthodontist, people rated faces (regardless of physical characteristics) with beaming smiles as more attractive than those with not-so-big grins. More support for smiling: Women with great smiles and no makeup on were considered better-looking than those with makeup and a straight face, a U.K. study from Wrigley gum notes.

Global Smiles provides orthodontic care for all

Want to appear toned without the agony of pushups? Yes, please! People with “perfect” smiles (white, aligned teeth) are considered more athletic than those with bad teeth, a study in the American Journal of Orthodontics an Dentofacial Orthopedics reveals. Braces, anyone?

Oral Piercings Part II

You can see the span of Cranial Nerve VII.

Most people pierce the front part of their tongue. Watch out for Cranial Nerves V, VII, and XII.

Oral piercings seem to be a part of our society today.  For a lot of people it is not a big deal.  If you or someone you know is thinking about getting a piercing be aware of what complications may arise.

Here are just some of the nerves that may be affected by a pierced tongue or a piercing somewhere on the face.

The function of each nerve can easily be found by doing a search.  Although we at Global Smiles have heard of infections, we are glad that most people have had safe experiences.

Our suggestion is to become informed about the piercing procedure, its risks, and what happens to the pierced area after you take the stud out.

If an individual is piercing their tongue, one of the Cranial Nerves which may be affected is Cranial Nerve XII

Giving Back through Dentistry

Dr. Edgar Mendieta
Specialists in Orthodontics
“Because you and your smile are going places”
3079 W. Broad Street, Suite 6
Columbus, OH 43204
GlobalSmiles.us
T: 614 279 6481
F: 614 279 0199

Giving Back through Dentistry

After I graduated from dental school, I began my search for an associate position. I was ready to work and in debt thanks to my student loans! I reached for my alumni directory and scheduled a meeting with a dentist who fit the profile of someone who might be looking to bring on an associate. When I gave him a call he informed me that he was not looking for an associate at the time but if I was interested in working I should go volunteer. The nerve! After all hadn’t I essentially been volunteering my whole life? I needed a J-O-B!

However, after giving his words some thought, I ended up taking his advice and volunteered for a non-profit clinic on my days off from my part-time dental position. As it turned out, I really enjoyed working at the clinic. It gave me the opportunity to treat adolescents doing everything from endo to ortho. It paved the way to being hired by the organization and becoming their first senior staff dentist. Eventually, I cut my hours in private practice and began working more and more at the clinic where I ran the whole operation. It was so rewarding for not only me but for everyone involved. The patients we treated were so appreciative, the staff was eager to work, and my involvement in the community and with other doctors grew. It was a position that paved so many roads for me including my decision to become an orthodontist.

Fast forward to the present, some of you reading this may be looking for a change, could be at a crossroads in your career, or just looking to give back to the community. Well, a wonderful opportunity to get involved will soon be presenting itself to members or our society and profession. In the next few weeks, The Columbus Dental Society and Physicians CareConnection will be opening a clinic day at the Columbus Health Department. The purpose of this clinic will be to reach out to individuals who are in urgent need of dental work and have few other places to turn. If you are interested in volunteering please contact the society.

Who knows where your volunteerism and involvement may lead. Aside from getting a sense of gratification in helping your community and helping our profession express its goodwill, you may be inspired to improve or change your perspective.

Dr. Edgar Mendieta

Specialists in Orthodontics

“Because you and your smile are going places”

3079 W. Broad Street, Suite 6

Columbus, OH 43204

GlobalSmiles.us

T: 614 279 6481

F: 614 279 0199