How do I find a Good Orthodontist ?

Recommendations from friends, family - You want an orthodontist who delivers good customer service and has a good bedside manner. Polling your friends and family  is always a great place to start.

• Board Certified in Orthodontics - Less than 25% of orthodontists have earned their board certification. On the americanboardortho.com you can search for which orthodontists are board certified in your area.

A Top Provider of Invisalign - Invisalign is much harder to master than braces, so seeing a doctor who is extremely experienced using the product is important. You don't want to be fooled into thinking that you are not a candidate when in fact the doctor is simply not comfortable treating with Invisalign. Additionally, more skilled doctors with Invisalign will be able to deliver a better result more predictably. Use the Doctor Locator on Invisalign.com to find out who the top provider of Invisalign for adults and teens is in your area.

• Orthodontic Technology - Being up to date with orthodontic technology is important because is can affect the quality of the orthodontic result and your overall orthodontic experience during treatment. Things to look for today would be iTero digital scanner (no messy impressions) and accelerated orthodontic modalities (Acceledent, OrthoPulse, Propel, etc.).
• Do they understand the goals you have for your smile - Orthodontics is about a lot more than straight teeth so it is very important to get things right. How and where your teeth are positioned can have a dramatic effect on facial appearance and aging as well as on things like sleep disordered breathing (i.e. sleep apnea). You want to know that your orthodontist has a handle on what you want achieved for your smile, bite, and face and has a plan to achieve what you want.

 Factors that should not be the primary influences of your selection of an orthodontist:

• Insurance participation - Letting your insurance company dictate the care you will receive is a recipe for trouble. The irony is that whether the doctor participates with insurance or not, your lifetime orthodontic benefit (how much your insurance contributes towards treatment) is more or less the same. The only difference is that a participating doctor signed a contract with the insurance company capping their fees with the promise of a higher volume of patients being directed their way by the insurance company.
• The problem with capped fees is that it can lead to cutting corners on your treatment because the cost of delivering care has not changed. To get around this, practice management consultants frequently advise orthodontists in insurance-based offices to use more expanders, recommend phase 1 treatment more frequently, upcharge for Invisalign or "special braces," and "unbundle" procedures to make up the difference between the capped fee and what it actually costs to provide care. Additionally, certain insurances may not pay the full benefit to the doctor if the patient finishes treatment early, so you may be kept in braces longer so that your entire benefit is paid out (yikes). If you find a good orthodontist and they happen to participate with your insurance, great, but having this factor decide your treatment is a bad idea. Doctors treat patients, not insurance companies.

Source: Quora 

What Are Some Of The Ways To Get Whiter Teeth ?

Everyone wants a white, bright smile. And actually, lifestyle can make a big difference as to what shade the teeth take on. The following are the top ten ways to get whiter teeth from the experts:

1. Brush Frequently

It's a good idea to brush you teeth a few times a day. A person with poor eating habits that might stain the teeth, like drinking red wine and coffee, will want to brush three times daily. Otherwise, twice a day is good enough.

2. Floss After Meals

This might seem to be a pain, and if a person can only floss two times a day, then this is a great start. In fact, most dentists will recommend once before bed, and once in the morning to help get their patients into a workable routine. But if you really want to get in there and ensure the teeth stay clean, then after a meal is also a good time to floss. This way the gaps in between the teeth will have no chance to collect food.

3. Use a Straw

This is a well-known trick among celebrities. They might want to have coffee frequently, but they don't want to constantly go in for teeth whitening procedures. So they put a straw in their coffee and sip it. That way the coffee will not hit the front of the teeth. The same could be applied to red wine, but be careful. Sipping through a straw will make a person less able to tell if they have had too much to drink because they tend to drip more with each sip.

4. Drink a lot of Water

If a toothbrush is not convenient, another way to clean teeth is to drink water. This will help to rinse away all debris.

5. Use To Go Brushing Strips

These popular strips are transportable because they are sealed in plastic. And they have a great minty taste. Each strip is completely sanitary, so those who worry about germs will especially like this product.

6. Eat a Few Pieces of Apple

This will really help to get rid of the bits that are in the teeth. It cleans the teeth as well. However, there is still fructose in this treat, so don't use this instead of a tooth brush.

7. Get Professional Whitening

Of course, everyone will want this done once in a lifetime. Nothing can get teeth whiter than a professional whitening job. There are lasers or peroxide solutions to choose from, so consult an orthodontist for more information of whitening a smile after the teeth have been straightened.

8. Avoid Smoking

People who have smoked all their lives can have so terrible side effects. Their teeth may begin to decay. If one is having a hard time quitting, then try to maintain excellent oral hygiene. Consult a doctor about smoking cessation aids before the teeth show wear and tear.

9. Use a Dry Mouth Aid

If a person is on medication, then the mouth will produce less saliva. This saliva is what helps to clean the teeth. Use a dry mouth spray such as Biotene to combat dry mouth syndrome.

10. Eat Less Sugar

Really, sugar does attack the enamel. While it might not be feasible to always avoid treats, try to minimize the habit. Make sure after a sugary treat that you brush your teeth.

These habits and tips will have the teeth sparkling for a lifetime. White teeth are a by product of conscientious choices to maintain cosmetic procedures and avoid tooth decay.

Porcelain Veneers vs Braces, Which One Is Right For You ?

 

The perfect smile can give you a great deal of confidence. It can help you feel good about yourself, and it can illuminate a room. Having a great smile can be rough at times, if you need dental work, and haven’t addressed certain issues. It’s for that reason that you may want to visit an orthodontist to help you get your teeth looking amazing. A great smile is a wonderful thing, and it’s not an impossible thing to manage. There are two major options to consider in this regard, including porcelain veneers and braces.

Which solution is right for you? Well, before you decide, consider a few notes on both porcelain veneers and braces so that you can make the right decision for your dental needs.

Porcelain Veneers

When you visit an orthodontist, they may suggest veneers. This is a solution that covers the existing teeth and closes small gaps. It can help with misalignment, and it can help with correcting and straightening your smile. This can give you luminous brightness, and allows you to keep your teeth with relative ease.

Porcelain veneers are fabricated based on your existing smile. Dental professionals will custom make the veneers to fit the contours of your smile exactly. This takes a bit of time, as the pieces have to be put into place with local anesthetic. Before this is placed, teeth will get cleaned, and the veneer will get made in a lab. Once they are made, each one will get an exact fit, and get wrapped around the existing enamel. This will take several office visits, and can last upwards of 20 years if taken care of.

Braces

Braces are suggested for people that have major misalignment. While veneers are great, they don’t fix the issue that many people have. Many have large gaps in the front of their teeth, crooked teeth placements, overbites or under bites. This requires marginal changes that are done with braces. There is new technology given to braces, some of which allow invisible solutions.

This option takes time to place, and is custom fitted in the mouth. Over several office visits, the braces are tightened, cleaned, and help close gaps and make sure that teeth come in and remain straight. This can take several months or several years, but it is one of the premier solutions for closing gaps in teeth, etc.

Which Option Is Best For You?

If you’re not sure which option is going to be best for you, visit an orthodontist. They will be able to see whether you have small misalignment issues, or teeth separation. They will see whether you are a prime candidate for braces or porcelain veneers. Each option has advantages, and they are used in accordance with the issues that you may be dealing with.

There is no “one” size fits all solution here. Orthodontists have to measure teeth, separations, and look to see if there are problems with bite, alignment, enamel, and more. One thing is for sure, both options can give you an incredible smile; it’s just a matter of getting a helping hand.

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