If you are over 21-years-old and you want to acquire a perfect smile by having your teeth aligned, here are the four types of adult dental braces you can consider:

Metal Braces

This is the cheapest type of braces for use on adults. This is the original stainless steel brace that was the first to come out in the market. The good thing about this brace is its low-cost. However, it comes with a drawback as it is visible. It can also irritate gums and easy to be dislodged especially when the wearer eats hard food.

Ceramic Braces

This brace is a bit more expensive than the metal brace. It is not visible and it is held in place by elastic or metal ties. Ceramic braces don’t have as much drawbacks as their metal cousin. But they have two known concerns though. Their ties stain easily especially if you consume teeth-staining foods or beverages such as coffee. The discoloration of the ties prompts the dentist to have them replaced with new ones each time you visit his clinic.

Ceramic braces are also sensitive and breakable. They have to be handled with care especially during installation – a factor that raises its cost.

Lingual braces

This is a customized type of brace. It is installed behind the teeth which makes it invisible. It is more expensive than the metal or ceramic brace because its process is complicated and its installation requires the skillful hands of a knowledgeable orthodontist.

Lingual braces are may be ideal for adults because they don’t work quite well on small teeth. When the brace does not properly fit with the wearer’s teeth, it has the potential to get in the way of the tongue. This can cause speech problems and possible injuries.

Invisible braces

This is the most expensive type of dental brace for adults. It is invisible and it is designed for people with no serious teeth problems. An invisible brace does not come with brackets that are mounted to the teeth. A lingual brace is installed with custom-fitted aligners that the wearer puts on except when he is eating or brushing his teeth. Wearing of this brace also involves the use of different aligners once every two weeks. This will help to move the teeth to eliminate the gaps and align them.

These are the dental braces for adults and the respective attributes. If you are planning to wear a dental brace, the facts we have about each one of them can serve as your guide for making a decision.

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People of all ages should give importance to oral care especially as they get older, when dental hygiene is even more crucial.

Seniors can consider the following dental tips to avoid natural teeth loss, root decay and gum disease.

Check the toothbrush

Seniors have to think of the last time they changed their toothbrush. Is it the same style and brand of toothbrush since Nixon was still president? Does it have the proper bristle stiffness? What is best for them, manual or electric toothbrushes?

Aside from brushing with too much pressure, the bristles may be very stiff. They should ask their dentist about the type of toothbrush needed by seniors.

As suggested by dental professionals, a toothbrush needs to be replaced every 3 to 4 months or even sooner, when the bristles are irregular or worn out. When there is bacteria left behind on the teeth even after brushing, this can cause serious problems including periodontitis and gingivitis.

Floss

They need to floss their teeth everyday. Using a regular dental floss is the most effective way to clean tight spaces in between teeth.

There are some who like to use a water pick or an oral pulsated irrigator to remove the food remnants between their teeth. It may not be as effective as regular dental floss but it is a good alternative for flossing if this is not possible.

Avoid Smoking

Smokers have double the risk of non smokers in acquiring gum disease. Aside from the harmful effects of smoking tobacco, this weakens the immune system as well as overall health, which makes it harder to fight back gum disease.

Those who smoke more frequently and for a longer time have a greater risk of acquiring periodontal disease and treatments may not be effective for them.

Smoking any form of tobacco, whether pipes, cigarettes, dip or more modern forms, increases the risks of getting gum disease. So the best advice is to refrain from smoking. Or better yet, quit the habit.

Stay Healthy

Dental problems can be caused by some health issues, most especially diabetes. Therefore, it is best to eat healthy, nutritious meals from the basic food groups to promote healthy teeth and gums.

This is not only a great dental tip but also a lifelong advice for seniors.

Watch out for Dry Mouth

It is natural for people to experience changes in their body as they age. One example is a dry mouth. When they consult a doctor they may ask about the medications they take that make their mouth dry.

They should drink lots of water, avoid booze and chew gum that is sugar-free.

Visit the Dentist Regularly

Aside from the above mentioned great dental tips, seniors should observe regular oral care.

It is a must to visit their dentist every 6 months besides eating healthy, practicing proper oral hygiene, flossing once daily, drinking fluoridated water and seeking regular oral health care.

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Dental scaling is mainly intended to remove the tartar and plaque from the tooth surfaces. Scaling is one of the most effective ways to treat the gum disease before it becomes severe. Every time, instead of considering in office dental scaling treatment, you can find various alternatives to scaling. This article gives you top 5 alternatives to scaling.

Periodontal diseases need not be one of the reasons for your tooth loss. Many effective treatments are available to treat various gum diseases. Dental scaling is a thorough deep cleansing of tartar and plaque on the tooth surfaces and periodontal pockets typically located in the gums and smooths the teeth roots to eliminate bacterial toxins. Below is an alternatives list for dental scaling.

1. Ultrasonic scalers

This is an effective and fast scaling treatment used to eliminate tartar from the tooth surface rapidly. It works using scaling tip that vibrates depending on ultrasonic power frequency between 18 kHz to 32 kHz. The heat generated at the tip is cooled by jet water and is very essential to move over the mineralized teeth to remove plaque.

Remember that you should not use the scaler for more than 10 seconds on any individual tooth and don’t press it harder than one ounce of pressure.

2. Vita Pick

Vita Pick is a technique kills the damaging bacteria in pockets of gums three times deeper than any other conventional means. Vita Pick is a re-usable and durable pen-sized applicator specially designed to deliver effective antiseptic solutions comprised of hydrogen peroxide and salt solution in the gum pockets 12mm deeper and thus removes bacterial toxins.

3. Periowave

Periowave involves a non-thermal laser light that is combined with a photosensitizing solution uniquely designed to kill toxic bacteria developed with a gum disease. It effectively removes the calculus build up in the gum pockets and relieves from gum diseases.

4. Metronidazole Gel

Metronidazole gel, anti-infective agent is a good alternative to deep scaling and root planning in the treatment of adult periodontics. It is designed to treat dental infections of bacterial origin over the tooth surfaces. It is not recommended if you are allergic to new medicines.

5. Soft tissue layers

Many dental professionals may employ the use of lasers to remove plaque and toxic bacteria in the roots of teeth. It traps the bacteria accumulated in the gum pockets and gives you relief from further teeth damage and pain associated with various gum diseases due to plaque formation.

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Professional Teeth Whitening

The professional whitening system is among the most well-known cosmetic dentistry procedures that dentists offer. This type of procedure has been proven to get rid of unsightly stains from teeth that have changed color due to age or food and colored beverages. These teeth whitening services are offered in the dental office and at home as a take out tray, which can be applied by the patients themselves.

Some people may wonder if they could just use white strips sold at the drugstore. For them, it has the same materials as well as function. The fact remains that it is crucial to have teeth whitened by an expert in the field since a cosmetic dentist can adjust the treatment based on the specific needs of a patient.

Such needs include tooth sensitivity, teeth stains, cavities and crowns, among others. Chemical whiteners that are available in the market can result to unfavorable reactions that could have been otherwise prevented when consulting an expert.

Invisalign

Invisalign is, basically, invisible braces that do not have the awkward and annoying metal parts of conventional ones. Also, they have been proven to work faster in correcting smiles. An orthodontist administers clear aligners at certain intervals during the treatment. Such aligners will cause the teeth to move upward, downward, horizontally, vertically and in a rotational direction as well.

Expert leading edge technology has enabled dentists to customize aligners to fit the patient’s teeth comfortably. Orthodontists will work out a custom treatment plan in detail to make patients see the difference whenever they receive a new set of aligners. These professionals recommend Invisalign because it not only reduces pain but it is more comfortable to use than the awkward metal braces of the past.

Veneers

Veneers are, basically, custom-designed shells often made of ceramic that can fit comfortably on a compromised or broken tooth. They are expertly designed to conceal the most bothersome teeth. They go together with tooth implants and can be used side by side with conventional dentistry.

Is it Safe to Undergo Cosmetic Dentistry Procedures?

The process of cosmetic dental procedures is similar to the usual dental procedures. The difference lies in the final outcome. The primary goal of cosmetic dentistry is to deliver an aesthetically beautiful smile while that of regular dental work is to promote dental health. Since they have similar processes, they involve the same level of risk, which is very low. Both Invisalign and metal braces entail the least risk among all the dental procedures.

One side effect of teeth whitening is the teeth becoming more sensitive in the long run. The dentist can curb this by reducing the amount of bleach in the formula and whenever possible, customizing the patient’s treatment.

At times when veneers are used together with a dental implant, the dentist needs to shave down and restructure the tooth and this may require a root canal later on. Though there have been such cases, these seldom happen.

As anyone can tell, cosmetic dentistry and regular dental procedures pose nearly the same risks. What is important is that patients should always consult the cosmetic dentist that will best address their needs to make sure they are in safe, expert hands.

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Cosmetic Dentistry Definition

According to dentists, the term cosmetic dentistry is the dental procedure carried out to improve the appearance (though not always the health) of teeth. In other words, a lot of cosmetic procedures are not necessary but they can provide patients with several, different advantages such as the ease of cleaning teeth, boost of a patient’s confidence and reduction in grinding of teeth.

Difference between General Dentistry and Cosmetic Dentistry

General Dentistry is the term referring to common procedures including cleaning, filling, root canal and extraction, among other similar procedures. On the other hand, cosmetic procedures are additional beneficial procedures that provides people with options to have a more beautiful, healthier smile.

Cosmetic Procedure Improvements

Improvements in the field of dentistry have brought about faster, more efficient and in most cases, pain free procedures. Since laser teeth whitening as well as gum treatments are painless, they do not require anaesthesia. However, more complex procedures like implants might require sedation and the use of state-of-the-art lasers to make accurate incisions. Improvements to the dental field and particularly cosmetic procedures mean that patients can have a pain and stress free, beautiful smile.

Smile with Confidence

People have their own reasons for choosing dental work that does not necessarily improve their dental health. Perhaps the most important one is to improve their quality of life. A smile is essential to their work, social life and especially their love life. When people are confident in their smile, it makes them easier to do it and several studies have revealed the advantages of smiling always.

As a matter of fact, it is a lot easier for people to smile when they do not have stained, chipped or crooked teeth. Receding gums and an unsightly gap can be addressed in nearly all cases. A person can just imagine being interviewed for a job, where he smiles with confidence at his potential employer or perhaps leaving a good impression with his first date and not worrying about his appearance.

Aside from just hiding unsightly teeth, in reality, cosmetic dentistry gives people enough reason to smile and boost their confidence.

Dental Health and Cosmetic Dentistry

Cosmetic dentistry is essentially about aesthetics, but it can also improve oral health. Cosmetic dental procedures make it a lot easier to floss and reaching in between teeth. Just the same, fixing chipped, cracked or decaying teeth by means of cosmetic procedures reduces the likelihood of infection and rapid tooth decay.

Minimizing teeth grinding or bruxism can improve the strength of teeth in the long run. These are only some of the ways that cosmetic dentistry improves dental health.

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