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What to Expect When Living With Orthodontics in Ocala FL

Posted on September 10, 2019 by admin
orthodontics

Orthodontics plans vary considerably from case to case, as the orthodontist attempts to correct the misalignment of teeth and jaw structure in order to improve your smile and overall oral health. This implies that different patients will have different experiences during their treatment. 

Here are some of the things you can expect for the duration of treatment:

Sore Mouth in the First Week 

From clear aligners to braces to orthodontics headgear, most orthodontic appliances cause your teeth to feel sore for the first week. It is normal to experience some discomfort during this time as your teeth begin to move from the forces being exerted to straighten them. But after the first week, the treatment becomes much simpler. Your orthodontist will prescribe some pain medication, such as ibuprofen or Tylenol to increase your comfort for these first few days. 

Gum Irritation for the First Week 

Your gums and cheeks may also become irritated for the first few days, but this should end in 1-2 weeks once they adapt to having braces on the teeth. During this time, your orthodontist may recommend rinsing your mouth with warm saltwater. Swish the saltwater solution in your mouth for 30 seconds and then spit it out in the sink. Repeat this several times, 3-4 times a day until the sores heal. 

Change in Diet 

The foods you eat also play an important part in the level of comfort that you experience during your treatment. If you’re wearing aligners, you need to remove them when eating. This allows you to enjoy many different types of food without the risk of destroying your aligners. But if you’re wearing braces, you need to restrict yourself to consuming soft and “mushy” items that won’t damage the brackets and wires. 

Some comfortable soft foods to consume during orthodontics include oatmeal, pancakes, eggs, yogurt, mashed potatoes, cooked pasta, soup, and smoothies. Avoid soft drinks, snacks, and candies that have high sugar content, as well as hard crunchy items like peanuts, corn nuts, popcorn, and ice. You may also need to cut your meat and raw vegetables into tiny pieces. 

Caring for Your Orthodontic Appliances 

Your orthodontist in Ocala, FL will instruct you on how to brush and floss your teeth and recommend special tools to help you clean underneath the wires if you’re wearing braces. If you’re using aligners, you should also clean them properly to prevent plaque buildup and subsequent damage to your teeth. 

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How Dental Implant Treatment Works | Ocala FL

Posted on August 22, 2019 by admin
dental implant treatment

Dental implant treatment is one of the best options to replace one or more missing teeth, with over 98% of patients getting satisfactory results. 

However, much of this success depends on the patient having enough bone tissue to bond firmly to the implant. If you don’t have enough bone tissue, perhaps due to bone resorption for staying with a gap for too long, then your dentist may recommend another procedure called bone grafting or bone augmentation to build up your bone tissue before implant placement. The health of the remaining teeth and gums is also important for a successful procedure. 

The Procedure 

If dental implant treatment is right for you, then the dentist will take X-rays of the site and prepare models of the teeth. These will be used to formulate a treatment plan detailing the steps of your treatment, time frames, and associated costs. 

The implant is surgically placed in the position of a tooth root so it connects to the jawbone. It takes a few months for the implant to bond to the bone tissue, after which the crown can be attached to it to give you a new artificial tooth. 

The three steps are as follows of a dental implant are:

Step 1: Titanium Implant Placement 

During the first procedure, the oral surgeon makes a small cut in the gum where the tooth will be placed. Next, a hole will be drilled in the bone tissue and the implant placed, after which the incision will be stitched closed. You may wear temporary dentures or bridgework as the site heals. 

Step 2: Attaching the Abutment 

After three to six months, within which time the implant will have bonded with the bone tissue, the second procedure will take place. This involves making another cut in the gum tissue to expose the top part of the titanium implant. A collar (healing cap) is screwed onto the top of the implant to facilitate healing of the surrounding tissue. The cap is removed after several weeks and the abutment, usually made of porcelain, titanium, or gold, is attached to the implant with a screw, so it projects above the gum line to receive the crown. 

Step 3: The Crown 

The crown can then be attached to finish the tooth replacement process. The porcelain replacement tooth is cemented or screwed onto the abutment to fill the gap in your smile. 

Final Note 

The implant process takes place over several months, usually 5 to 9 months. Please keep in mind that there’s a faster way to get implants, where the mini-implants and crown are placed simultaneously in one appointment. Make sure to discuss any concerns you may have with your dentist in Ocala, FL before the dental implant treatment begins. 

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Are You Ready for Dental Implants? | Ocala FL

Posted on August 15, 2019 by admin
dental implants

Dental implants are typically used to replace one tooth, or multiple teeth when combined with dentures or bridgework. If you’re missing one natural tooth, then a single implant will be sufficient. For larger spaces with two or more missing teeth, you don’t need one implant per tooth. Instead, the implants will be appropriately spaced depending on the volume and quality of bone tissue at each potential implant support, to support the replacement teeth. 

But before you proceed, there are a couple of things you should discuss with your dentist in Ocala, FL, including:

Amount of Bone Tissue at the Intended Implant Location 

Using dental X-rays, the oral surgeon can determine the height of the bone available to assess whether it’s sufficient to support an implant. In addition, the surgeon may use dental CBCT scans (cone beam computed tomography scans) to provide a 3D view of the jawbone to assess both its height and width, which are important to establish the quality and quantity of bone. CBCT scans also help to identify the position of anatomical structures (maxillary sinuses in the upper jaw and the inferior dental nerve in the lower jaw) that must be avoided. 

Duration of Dental Implants Treatment 

From the time of surgical implant placement to the time of placing the replacement tooth (crown, denture, or bridgework), treatment time can vary between four months and nine months, depending on the availability of good quality bone tissue. Patients with low bone density may require additional procedures like bone augmentation that increase the treatment time to six months or even more. Similarly, patients who require more dental implants to support dentures may need to have 3-4 implants placed at a time, which will increase treatment time to about nine months. 

Final Note: Filling the Gap While Undergoing Implant Treatment

If the teeth you want to replace are in a visible part of your smile, then it’s important that you have a temporary tooth to fill the gap during treatment. The common options are simple plastic dentures and removable bridges. These temporary restorations should not be put under heavy pressure (biting or chewing) as this could interfere with the healing of the underlying implants. Temporary restorations are not as comfortable or aesthetically pleasing as your final restoration, but they should allow you to function better until your treatment is completed

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The Invisalign Treatment Process in Ocala FL

Posted on July 24, 2019 by admin
invisalign treatment

Invisalign treatment has been gaining popularity as an alternative orthodontic treatment to the traditional metal braces. The new technology is just as effective for treating most orthodontic issues and improving your smile, but it uses clear aligners that are more comfortable, hygienic, and discrete. 

The Invisalign system uses a series of custom-made removable aligners to gradually move your teeth to the ideal position. Since the aligners are made from clear plastic, most people you interact with won’t even notice you wearing the nearly invisible aligners, so you can maintain your lifestyle during treatment. 

If you’re considering getting Invisalign treatment to straighten your teeth, you will likely go through the following process:

1. Consultation with an Invisalign Specialist 

The first step is a consultation with your Invisalign specialist or other orthodontist to determine whether Invisalign treatment is right for your case. Generally, the treatment is recommended for most mild to moderate orthodontic issues, including closing spaces between teeth, straightening crooked or crowded teeth, fixing malocclusion, and addressing overbites/underbites/crossbites. 

2. Creating a Custom Treatment Plan 

If you’re a good candidate for Invisalign, your Invisalign specialist will take photos, digital scans, and X-rays, or dental impression to assist in formulating a treatment plan that can address your teeth straightening problem with precision. The specialist will come up with a personalized treatment prescription that will be used together with the records – in the above step to create a customized 3D treatment plan for your specific problem. Using Align Technology, you and your specialist can view the expected final position of your teeth at the completion of the treatment. 

3. Manufacturing Your Custom Aligners 

This custom-treatment plan will then be used to develop your series of personalized aligners, and will determine the duration of your treatment. Your customized aligners will be fabricated and sent to your orthodontist’s office to initiate the treatment 

4. Delivery of Your First Set of Aligners 

Once your aligners are ready and delivered to your orthodontist’s office, you will be provided with a series of your custom-made aligners (either 3 or 4 sets) that you can change yourself every 2 weeks. The Invisalign system requires that you wear your clear aligners every day for 20 to 22 hours, removing them only during meals and brushing/flossing. This allows you to maintain your quality of life while receiving orthodontic treatment that will improve your smile and transform your life.

5. Follow-up Visits 

Every 6-8 weeks, you will have to return to the orthodontist for the next sets of aligners in the series. These visits are also important to monitor the progress of your treatment

6. End of the Invisalign Treatment 

After completing your Invisalign treatment, your orthodontist may recommend that you wear retainers to help maintain the new position of your teeth

Visit your orthodontist in Ocala, FL today to discuss ways to improve your smile.

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Invisalign for Teens and Adults: Is There a Difference? | Ocala FL

Posted on July 14, 2019 by admin
invisalign

The Invisalign system is used to correct mild to moderate orthodontic issues such as overcrowded or protruding teeth, malocclusion or bad bite, or under/cross/overbites. Many people prefer Invisalign over traditional braces because:

  • The clear aligners are less noticeable 
  • The aligners are removable, which makes it easier to maintain your normal diet and oral care routine. 
  • It’s more comfortable  – there’s no metal to irritate your gums, tongue, or lips

The aligners are made from medical grade, thermoplastic polymer that has high elasticity to allow for a more precise aligner fit and superior tooth movement, as well as to facilitate the delivery of a gentle and constant force during treatment with great comfort. Each set of aligners is custom-made to deliver a perfect fit over your teeth. 

Invisalign for Adults 

Generally, Invisalign treatment is recommended for adults of all ages because their teeth and jaws have finished growing and developing. Adults are also motivated and responsible enough to wear their aligners as directed by the Invisalign specialist. 

Unlike braces that are fixed to your teeth, which means that the treatment will continue without requiring your input, clear aligners require active participation from the patient. You’re required to wear your aligners for 20 to 22 hours a day, removing them only when eating and brushing/flossing your teeth. 

Invisalign for Teens 

That said, there is an on option for teens known as Invisalign Teen that allows teenagers to enjoy the benefits of clear aligners when straightening their teeth. Some unique features of this option include:

  • Power ridges that facilitate the growth of tooth roots into the right places 
  • Extra features to accommodate the developing teeth in teens 
  • Tools to help ensure teens wear each set of aligners for the recommended time 
  • Complimentary replacements in case the aligners are lost or damaged 

You need to follow the direction strictly to ensure that your treatment proceeds as required, and doesn’t take longer than intended as this will increase the cost of treatment as well. Please visit your orthodontist in Ocala, FL to determine whether you’re a good candidate for Invisalign. 

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Dental Cleaning Vs. Dental Exam: Is one more important than the other? | Ocala FL

Posted on May 22, 2019 by admin

Dental cleanings and examinations are two different procedures that are typically performed in a single appointment, but involve different things that are equally important for your long-term oral health.  

Dental Cleaning

Professional teeth cleaning requires the dentist to use special instruments to remove calculus (hardened plaque) from the surface of your teeth and polish them. Generally, your dentist will:

  • Remove accumulated plaque and tartar using special tools, such as a metal scaler that physically scrapes off the built-up bacteria, or an ultrasonic scaler that uses vibration.
  • Squirt water into your mouth to rinse of the plaque. A suction tool will also be applied in your mouth to suck the water out immediately
  • Polished the teeth using a gritty toothpaste, and then floss them.

Dental Exam

During a dental examination, the dentist visually inspects your mouth using a mirror and small instruments, including a probe to test the surface of each tooth. This is intended to

  • Examine teeth, checking for signs of decay, sensitivity, grinding, or excess tooth wear
  • Evaluate your gums for signs of swelling, bleeding, or irritation. Your gum pockets will also be measured to check for gum recession
  • Evaluate your bite and temporomandibular joint (TMJ), checking for proper alignments and shift in your bite (underbite, overbite, or crooked bite)
  • Check the soft tissues in your mouth, including the texture and size of your tongue, tonsils and throat for signs of infection, and salivary glands for proper saliva secretion
  • Complete an oral cancer screening to check for signs of infection around your cheeks, tongue, palate, neck, head, and lymph nodes
  • Take dental X-rays for diagnostic information about non-visible parts of your mouth, including the underlying bone structure

After both processes, you can consult with your dentist about any existing oral health issues you’re concerned about, as well as get your questions answered about your dental health.

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Professional Guidelines to Keep Your Teeth Clean Between Dental Visits | Ocala FL

Posted on May 12, 2019 by admin

Many people wonder whether it’s necessary to keep each and every dental appointment for regular checkups and cleanings, and how beneficial they actually are. Getting your teeth professionally cleaned to get rid of disease-causing bacteria that has hardened on the surface of your teeth (as tartar) actually helps to prevent most dental issues, including gum disease, cavities, and bad breath. The exams also help to detect problems in their early stages, including oral cancer, for timely interventions.

Dental consultations also provide a good opportunity for you to learn more about caring for your teeth and gums. You may consider asking:

  • Which toothpaste, toothbrush, floss, or other product should I use for my teeth?
  • Based on your examination and my dental/medical history, what is my ideal interval for cleanings?
  • What dental diseases am I prone to if any? Why? What can I do to reduce this risk?

What next after your dentist appointment?

In between your dental cleanings and examinations, you will be required to maintain good oral hygiene at home. Your dentist will remind you of the best way to care for your mouth, including using proper brushing technique for at least two minutes per session and developing good dental habits, like not using your teeth as a tool to bite nails, open bottles, or crush ice.

The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends that you:

  • Brush your teeth twice a day using an ADA-accepted fluoride toothpaste
  • Clean between your teeth everyday using floss or an interdental cleaner
  • Replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months or sooner if you suffer an oral illness
  • Maintain a balanced diet and reduce the intake of sugary items, soft drinks, and snacks between meals
  • Visit your dentist regularly for oral exams and professional cleanings

Final note

Dental cleanings are intended to keep your gums and teeth clean and healthy, which will in turn help you avoid paying for costly dental procedures in the future. With a 45-minute dental appointment, the dentist can detect the early stages of problems, including chips, gum disease, cavities, and even oral cancer, so you can start interventions early to prevent them from getting worse or even reverse them.

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Who is the Right Candidate for Dental Implants?

Posted on April 30, 2019 by admin

Studies show that missing teeth can not only affect your health, but also ruin your confidence, damage your professional and social life, and generally interfere with your entire life. Fortunately, all of these can be regained with dental implants.

Dental implants are a state-of-the-art tooth replacement option that also replaces your roots, giving you the strength, stability, and bone stimulation that you would enjoy with natural, healthy teeth. The implants prevent bone loss and help to restore your youthful appearance, giving you added confidence.

But can anyone get dental implants?

Dental implants are recommended for most adults, and have been successfully placed in over 95% of patients between 18 and 90 years, who have lost one, several, or even all their teeth. They’re not recommended for children and teens because their jaws are still developing, and placing the implant might affect proper growth of permanent teeth.

There are very few medical or dental conditions that could prevent a successful dental implant placement. For patients with severe bone tissue loss, your  dentist may recommend bone grafting to ensure that you have sufficient bone tissue to integrate with the titanium implant, and subsequently provide strong support for your replacement teeth. If you have a medical condition or taking medications that may affect bone healing, your dentist will advice on the best course of action during the consultation.

Starting your Treatment

If you want to restore the proper health and function of your mouth, get rid of ill-fitting dentures, or avoid treatments that affect the structure of healthy teeth (like bridges), dental implants are a great option. But if you have already experienced too much bone loss, your dentist may recommend bone-augmentation to rebuild the lost bone tissue before proceeding with the procedure. This may, however, increase your treatment time by a few months, from the standard 5-8 months needed for a standard dental implant procedure.

Your dentist will examine your case and determine your suitability for the procedure before progressing with the treatment.

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Dental Implant FAQ

Posted on April 30, 2019 by admin

What are Dental Implants?

Dental implants are a state-of-the-art tooth replacement option that also replaces your roots, giving you the strength, stability, and bone stimulation that you would enjoy with natural, healthy teeth. The implants prevent bone loss and help to restore your youthful appearance, giving you added confidence.

Are Implants safe?

Implants have been successfully placed in over 95% of patients between 18 and 90 years, who have lost one, several, or even all their teeth.

What are the advantages of implants over other tooth replacement options?

  • Implants integrate with the jawbone, which helps to prevent bone loss and stop adjacent teeth from shifting.
  • This in turn prevents jaw pain and popping, TMJ disorder, and migraines.
  • The stabilized soft and hard tissue also reduces the risk of the formation of gum pockets that trap bacteria and cause periodontal disease.
  • They reduce the risk of gum disease associated with other solutions that create hidden spots between your teeth where bacteria can hide.
  • Most people who get implants report better sleep at night  
  • Dental implants don’t require any special care when cleaning your teeth and mouth.
  • Implants are a hygienic option that will save you a lot of expense over time, both in cumulative dental expenses and enjoyment of life.
  • Eat and speak well. Implants function like your natural teeth, giving you the ability to chew and eat anything you want, with no embarrassing moments when in the company of your family and friends.

Am I a candidate for dental implants?

If you want to restore the proper health and function of your mouth, get rid of ill-fitting dentures, or avoid treatments that affect the structure of healthy teeth (like bridges), dental implants are a great option. Most adults are good candidates of this treatment. But if you have already experienced too much bone loss, Dr. Andrew Sand may recommend bone-augmentation to rebuild the lost bone tissue before proceeding with the procedure.

What would disqualify me from getting implants?

There are very few medical or dental conditions that could prevent a successful dental implant placement. For patients with severe bone tissue loss, we may recommend bone grafting to ensure that you have sufficient bone tissue to integrate with the titanium implant, and subsequently provide strong support for your replacement teeth. If you have a medical condition or taking medications that may affect bone healing, we will discuss your case during the consultation.

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Why Should You See a Dentist Regularly?

Posted on March 29, 2019 by admin

Research shows that the health of your mouth is connected to your overall health and wellbeing. In fact, multiple studies show a link between oral disease and diabetes, heart disease, and other life-threatening systemic conditions. General dentists believe in early detection of dental problems before they worsen. If you have a toothache, sensitive tooth, bleeding gums, bad breath, or other oral issues, a timely diagnosis can help to detect the early signs of cavities, gum disease, and other problems. Your dentist will recommend the appropriate restorative treatments to repair and prevent problems as they develop.

Visiting your dentist

Whether you’re young or old, scheduling a visit with your dentist can help you enjoy a beautiful and healthy smile. Regular dental exams allow the dentist to diagnose and treat issues before they cause major damage to your teeth. This significantly reduces the risk of requiring costly and lengthy procedures in the future.

You can also receive routine dental exams and screenings, tooth cleanings, fillings, and other services that help to restore or maintain your smile. General dentists don’t just fix issues as they come up. Through regular professional cleanings and dental checkups, they can prevent most problems before they even get started. Where a problem already exists, they design your custom treatment plan so it not only addresses the symptoms, but also solves the root cause of the problem. More importantly, they will recommend lifestyle changes to help maintain your optimal oral health, and schedule follow up visits to help keep you on track.

In addition, they use the latest technology, such as digital x-rays and intra-oral cameras to carefully examine your mouth and provide a complete treatment plan that treats the root of the problem and prevents the symptoms from reoccurring.

Final Note

Dental checkups should be scheduled every six months, and oral cancer screenings once a year. Oral cancer affects about 40,000 Americans each year, which is why you should take the screenings very seriously. Visit your dentist today for professional dental care in Ocala.

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