Retainers after Braces

For people with a misaligned bite or crooked teeth, braces can straighten and align their smile.

Braces are placed on teeth by an orthodontist, which is a dentist who specializes in correcting irregularities of the teeth.

In the beginning, your orthodontist will conduct an exam of your teeth and gums, take impressions of your teeth, take photos of your face and teeth and order X-rays of your mouth and head.

The braces will then be placed on your teeth by your orthodontist. Periodically, you will return to see your orthodontist who will gently tighten the braces a little bit to move your teeth in the correct direction.

After the braces straighten your teeth and your orthodontist removes them, your choppers should look straight. However, teeth have a natural inclination to go back to where they were (crooked) before you had your braces put on. If that were to happen, then you would have wasted a lot of time and money on braces.

That’s why your orthodontist will have you fitted for a retainer, which you will need to wear regularly.

A retainer is a piece of plastic and metal that is custom-made for each person, after his or her braces are taken off. Each retainer is designed to fit each unique mouth; that’s why your orthodontist will make a mold of your newly straightened teeth to create a retainer.

Your retainer will help your teeth stay set in their new positions. Children and adults who have had braces both need to wear their retainers. Children and teens are especially vulnerable to shifting teeth because their bodies are still growing. The retainer helps to control this shifting, which happens naturally. 

Visit our website to learn more about the retainers or call 702-838-0707 to make an appointment today. Our experienced orthodontists will make sure that your comfort is their priority. Start on the road to straighter teeth today!

It's Not Too Late for Braces

Everyone understands the importance of the beautiful smile. It can be one of the key elements of your self-confidence and social life success. That is why most parents try to straighten their kids’ teeth as soon as possible. But what if you already skipped these happy childhood years when braces were nothing but just some metal things in your teeth?

The decision to straighten your teeth can be obviously very tough for some adults and teenagers. Not everyone feels comfortable and confident wearing braces. That’s why a lot of people tend to postpone the decision to straighten their teeth. Now you don’t need to find a compromise between your lifestyle and the perfect smile you dream about.

Sounds like a miracle that Invisalign® can straighten your teeth in a way that nobody would be able to guess that you are wearing braces. Curious to know more? Let’s see what Invisalign® is and how it works.  

Invisalign® features plastic clear aligners that are customized especially for you. Invisalign® orthodontic treatment includes multiple sets of aligners, which goes after each other, as a part of series of treatments. Each set of aligners gradually shifts your teeth to the right place. The huge benefit of Invisalign is that, unlike standard braces, you can easily remove your invisible braces any time when you want to eat or brush your teeth.

You must be excited to know that there are invisible braces for adults and teenagers, so you can get a treatment for your particular case. Check our website to learn more about the whole treatment and Invisalign® cases or call 702-838-0707 to make an appointment for the FREE consultation at Braces LV.  

Help, I stained my Braces

When it comes to braces, ceramic braces are far less visible than metal braces and often the choice of many people these days. 

One of the most common worries that people, who wear ceramic brackets, have is staining their white braces. The ceramic brackets will resist picking up stains, but the rubber bands that connect the braces can become stained. 

Fortunately, elastic bands are usually replaced by an orthodontist every 4-6 weeks. So the next time you have an adjustment by your orthodontist, the stained elastic bands will be replaced with new ones. 

Some people may think they can clean the elastic bands themselves. You can try brushing with whitening toothpaste, but the stain will likely be visible to some degree. Another trick is to drink lemon water after drinking beverages that tend to stain. 

Try avoiding foods like curry, mustard, black coffee and red wine. Avoid black tea, as it can seriously stain. Try herbal, green, and white teas, which are less likely to stain. 

Dark colas can stain elastic bands and all colas contain acids that make teeth more likely to stain. Also, avoid foods such as dark berries and deeply-colored sauces. 

If you (or your child) have staining or any other problems with your braces, you should contact an experienced orthodontist. Please check our website for more information or call 702.838.0707 to make an appointment today.

Your First Orthodontic Consultation

Approximately 3 million American teens have braces. The number of adults who are having orthodontic treatments is steadily rising. You’re never too old or too young to have straight teeth.

The initial consultation with the orthodontist is basically a visual exam of your teeth and facial structure. Sometimes the orthodontist requires more in-depth information, but none of this causes any pain or discomfort.

Your orthodontist will explain to you how your teeth, jaws, and alignment are doing and explain what type of solutions may be needed. You will be encouraged to look at your X-rays and pictures, and ask questions or express any concerns. The goal is to personalize your treatment for the best outcome.

During your consultation, you will also be told how much future treatment(s) will cost. The orthodontist or a member of the staff will go over your treatment fees, insurance coverage (how much it will cover), and the payment policies of the office.

Call our office at 702-838-0707 or visit our website to learn more about the first orthodontic consultation. 

Good Bite vs. Bad Bite

Do you have a good bite or a bad bite?

Here is a way for you to test your bite right now. 

If you close your mouth, do your teeth tap together in a sharp, clean sound with many teeth touching at exactly the same time? When teeth bite together, this is a good bite. The opposite one is a bad bite. Bad bites are more than just unattractive; they can cause serious problems with the teeth and jaw.

A bad bite can cause mild to severe tooth pain, loose teeth, make teeth sensitive to cold and air and wear down tooth enamel. Bad bites may cause chipped, cracked and fractured teeth, as well as crowding and poor alignment of teeth. 

Sometimes bad bites can cause more pain, suffering, and destruction than tooth decay and gum disease. However, like gum disease, bad bites can be treated. 

A dentist can put together a treatment plan to turn the pain of a bad bite into a beautiful pain-free good bite. Please call our office at 702-838-0707 to learn more about the treatment and make an appointment today.

Brushing Your Teeth with Braces

Getting your braces on can feel strange. It will take some getting used to, but it will also be more challenging to clean. Brushing and flossing, is even more important when your have braces, so make sure you clean your teeth thoroughly as part of your daily hygiene routine.

We can help show how to properly brush and floss your teeth, to ensure that your teeth stay clean and healthy during your orthodontic treatment. To learn how to maintain the health of your smile and why it is so important, visit our page Brushing and Flossing with Braces.

Avoiding Orthodontic Relapse

Just because you have worn braces and have straightened your teeth, it doesn't mean they will stay straight forever. It is important to care for your newly aligned teeth in order to make sure your results are long lasting. There are two main things you must do in order to make sure the months (or years) of wearing braces were worth it.

First, when you get your braces off, you will have to wear your retainers for a majority of the day. For the first year, you will only remove your retainers when eating or brushing your teeth. Always make sure to brush your braces gently with warm water and toothpaste every day to keep them clean.

After a year has passed, the second thing you must do is make sure you wear your retainers to bed every night. You will enjoy not having to wear them during the day, but don't assume that skipping out on your retainers a few nights will be okay. If this happens, you will notice that after the first night of wearing them again you will feel sore. Your teeth will still be somewhat loose, so always wear your retainers!

If you ever break or lose your retainers, call use immediately to have a replacement made. Learn more about  orthodontic relapse and give us a call at (702) 838-0707.

The Benefits of Straight Teeth

Never take things for granted. This saying can apply to many aspects of your life, including health. Those with straight teeth may not even realize how lucky they are if they don't understand the benefits of having straight teeth. If your teeth are crooked you may be familiar with how difficult it can be to thoroughly clean your teeth. Depending on the severity of your personal case, you may get cavities easier than others and you may even have a harder time pronouncing certain words or taking a clean bite when eating.

Teeth that are perfectly aligned help improve the look of your smile, but they also greatly improve your oral health. There are many benefits of having straight teeth. The most important ones are the ability to keep your teeth clean and to use them properly for biting and speaking. For more information on the benefits of straight teeth as well as how you can straighten your teeth, read about it on our page.

What is a Malocclussion?

A malocclusion is the technical term for crooked teeth. When your teeth are not properly spaced, different sizes, or positioned out of the smile line, you have a malocclusion. Malocclusion in children usually improves over time, but in adults it will usually worsen.

You may not think your crooked teeth are anything to worry about, but they can affect your oral health. Crooked teeth tend to be harder to clean and food can get trapped in between teeth more easily. Sometimes they can affect your speech or ability to chew and bite properly as well. From a psychological standpoint, crooked teeth can make a person feel self conscious about the appearance of their smile.

Malocclusion is resolved with orthodontic treatment. Usually braces are the most common form, taking anywhere from two to three years to straighten all teeth. There are other options like Invisalign, oral surgery, but most patients are better candidates for braces. 

Whitening After Braces

For many patients, getting their braces off is an exciting time, a time to see the full results of their smile transformation. Straighter teeth helps boost the confidence of many and have health benefits like a better bite, chewing ability, and aids in speaking properly. If you are almost done wearing braces, you are probably counting down the days until they come off.

You are probably aware that you will need to wear retainers. You should also know what getting them off can feel strange for a while, almost as strange as the sensation when you first got them on. There are many things to look forward to- biting into an apple, enjoying popcorn, and even hard candies again.

If you have worn your braces for several years, you may be concerned about the color of your teeth. After all, you might have waited years to see all of your teeth again, they might as well be whiter too. If you consume food and drink that can stain your teeth, there is a good chance that over the years the areas around your bracket might be slightly discolored. At this point in your treatment, you might want to consider teeth whitening. There are many forms of whitening for those who only need some whitening to those whose teeth are noticeably stained. Read more about teeth whitening options post-orthodontic treatment at our page. An in office treatment can whiten teeth up to eight shades, but if you only need minor whitening, take home kits might be a better option for you.

Orthodontics- A Dental Specialty

Orthodontists straighten teeth with special attention to both the aesthetics of a smile and the function of a bite. You might already know that orthodontists help patients straighten their teeth with the use of braces, but did you know that to be a specialist, one must go through extra training beyond what is required of a general dentist? They must pass the Dental Admission Test even before going to dental school. Braces are kept on sometimes for years at a time, and an experienced orthodontist can help make the process as painless as possible. In order to get the best results with your new smile, make sure you are being treated by an experienced licensed orthodontist.  At Braces Las Vegas, Dr. Kate Nguyen is our orthodontic specialist, having graduated with a BS in Biological Sciences from the University of California, Irvine, and her doctorate, a DDS, MS from the University of the Pacific, Arthur A. Dugoni School of Dentistry, San Francisco. Read more about her and general orthodontics at our website. 

Foods to Avoid with Braces

Before getting your braces, you might want to enjoy foods like hard candies and whole apples while you can. While braces are sturdy and made to adhere to your teeth for months and even years, some foods can damage your brackets and wires, so you will have to put off eating those foods until your braces come off. Basically anything hard that is meant to be chewed, or anything highly acidic should either be eaten in very small quantities or avoided altogether.

Certain foods can also do damage to your enamel, so it is important to be aware of the foods you consume and which ones are safer options with braces. The last thing you want to deal with is the extra cost of repairing your orthodontic gear or going through extra treatments to whiten teeth. For more information on specific foods to avoid while wearing braces, visit our page.