Straight teeth are just one of several benefits you get from braces.....

Everyone wants a naturally aligned and beautiful smile, and it is no secret that orthodontic braces can help deliver one. However, there are greater benefits to wearing braces than just having straight teeth. You'll also gain many oral health benefits.


Tooth Decay and Gum Disease

Crooked or crowded teeth may overlap and create tight spaces in between. This can make it very difficult to brush and floss effectively, allowing bacteria and plaque to build up, which eventually leads to tooth decay and gum disease. With orthodontic treatment, your teeth will become properly aligned and spaced, which allows for more effective brushing and flossing.

Difficulties with Speech

Your teeth play an essential role in speech. When they are out of line or lean too far forward or backward, speech patterns can be affected. Braces will readjust the positioning of the teeth to allow for clearer pronunciation.

Bone Erosion

Without the support of the teeth, bone and gum tissues begin to erode. This is also true for poorly aligned teeth that leave gaps and spaces, or place too much pressure on the jawbone due to a misaligned bite. With braces, the bones and tissues are less likely to erode, allowing for continued support for the teeth in their new alignment.

Digestion

Your teeth play an important role in digestion. Before food ever enters your stomach, it has been partially digested during the chewing process. If teeth are severely misaligned, they may not play their role in breaking down food as effectively as they should. With braces, your teeth will be straightened into optimal alignment for eating and chewing.

Our doctors and staff at Sondhi-Biggs Orthodontics will be happy to answer any of your questions about orthodontic treatment. Visit our YouTube channel and watch our "Introduction to Orthodontics" video to learn more.

Indirect Bonding

Many of our patients at Sondhi-Biggs Orthodontics ask us about indirect bonding, a method of applying braces to the teeth in such a manner that an entire set of braces can be applied at once, usually in less than an hour. In many orthodontic offices, braces are placed on each individual tooth, one at a time. The procedure required meticulous, long, painstaking sessions for both patient and doctor, to ensure each bracket was in the correct position, especially in the back of the mouth. Indirect bonding helps provide more accurate placement of braces, and therefore makes the process more precise and efficient .

Indirect Bonding Process

Indirect bonding is a techniques in which molds of the teeth are made and most of the work for the braces is done in the lab. It is a remarkable process that depends on our ability to make particularly accurate models of your teeth. Much detail goes into the accurate measurement and alignment of the model, since your mouth is naturally unique to you.

The braces are placed on the models of the teeth, exactly in the right place, fitted into the trays made on the model, and sealed and cured.

Setting the Braces

When you come to Sondhi-Biggs Orthodontics to have your molds made, your braces are made from the molds of your own teeth. All that remains is a short appointment to fit the trays onto your teeth, align them, and separate the braces from the trays.

Your own teeth will have to undergo some preparatory work in order to accept the braces. This involves preparing the surface of the teeth for the adhesive for the braces, as well as preparing the surfaces of any crowns. You will also have a short period to wait while the adhesive cures.

All the other work that would traditionally have been done in the orthodontist's chair has been done on the models, and by the time the orthodontist sees you for the appointment to place your braces, your braces are precisely aligned to your teeth, Visit our YouTube Channel on our website to view the basics of this process. Indirect Bonding is just another example of how Sondhi-Biggs Orthodontics is Smiles Above the Rest.

Cold Temps are Not the only Thing in the Air....

The dreaded cold and flu season is here again! This raises a common question around the office: Should we replace a toothbrush when we have been sick?

Since the flu is a viral infection, antibodies are developed once you have been infected, which helps prevent you from catching the same illness twice. Even for bacterial infections or minor illnesses like the common cold, the likelihood of becoming re-infected from your toothbrush is fairly slim. Also, toothpaste frequently contains antibacterial compounds, which further decrease the chances of becoming re-infected.

 

The American Dental Association recommends the following tips for toothbrush care:

• Do not share toothbrushes, especially if you are sick.
• Allow the brush to air dry after each use.
• Store the toothbrush in an upright position to allow water to drain and dry faster.
• Replace your toothbrush every 3-4 months. Worn bristles are less effective in properly cleaning your teeth, and can actually be damaging to teeth if used too long!

We hope these tips help! Feel free to give any one of our Sondhi-Biggs Orthodontics team members a call if you have any questions!

What is your New Year's resolution?

The beginning of a new year is often a time to reflect on the year that was, and to set personal goals for the upcoming year. Do you have ideas on how you plan to improve your health and happiness in 2014? It's never too late to think about New Year's resolutions, and we recommend making a commitment that benefits your oral health!

It's important that New Year's resolutions are reasonable and attainable, and that they improve your overall quality of life. For example, did you know that flossing every day is the very best way to prevent gum disease during your orthodontic treatment? Using a straw when drinking sugary beverages can also help prevent cavities while you are wearing braces. There are many small steps that you can take to prevent cavities, oral infections and bad breath.

If your resolution is to attain a great looking smile, Sondhi-Biggs Orthodontics would love to help! Please feel free to contact any one of our team members to schedule your appointment. Happy Holidays!

Holiday Candy Caution

You don't often think of candy caution with this time of year. Please remember when you are looking at all the wonderful cookies with nuts, candy canes and other hard/sticky items to be careful. Breaking brackets, retainers or causing arch wires to shift can prolong treatment times and cause other opportunities for problems within your treatment. Have a wonderful holiday season. Have a wonderful holiday season from your friends at Sondhi-Biggs Orthodontics.

Crossbite, overbite, and underbite... What's the difference?

As you know, your overall health is connected to your oral health. When your teeth and jaws are not properly aligned, your breathing, speech, and overall appearance could be affected. As a result of malocclusion, also commonly referred to as a "bad bite", your teeth may become worn, or have other effects of long term damage. The only way to properly address and correct your malocclusion is with orthodontic treatment, usually with braces.

A malocclusion may also be referred to as an underbite, crossbite or overbite. The difference in the 3 types of malocclusions are explained below:

• Crossbite: This could be one single tooth or an entire section of your mouth in which the upper and lower jaws are misaligned, usually causing one or more upper teeth to bite inside the lower teeth. Crossbites can happen on the front or along the sides of your mouth and are known to cause wear on the teeth, gum disease and/or bone loss.
• Overbite: The upper teeth overlap the lower teeth excessively. Overbites can lead to gum issues or irritation and even wear on the lower teeth, and can potentially cause jaw pain or possible jaw joint problems. An overbite can be caused by oral habits, such as thumb sucking.
• Underbite: The lower teeth protrude past the front teeth. This can be caused by undergrowth of the upper jaw, overgrowth of the lower jaw, or a combination. Underbites can also be caused by missing upper teeth, which can prevent the normal function of the front teeth. This, in turn, leads to unfavorable wear on teeth, and possible TMJ issues.

Fortunately, we are able to treat these bite problems.  If you suspect you or your child has a bite misalignment, we encourage you to contact any of our Sondhi-Biggs staff members to address your concerns. By initiating an orthodontic consultation at the ADA recommended age of 7, you can help your child avoid years of unnecessary problems and/or self-consciousness about their teeth. Our doctors will evaluate your child to determine whether treatment now or later is in their best interest.

Common Misconceptions....

 

There are several common misconceptions regarding the difference between the types of treatment handled by dentists and orthodontists. These misconceptions can create confusion about what the Sondhi-Biggs Orthodontics team will do for our patients and exactly how our team can help them. Therefore, we would like to explain a couple of myths and misconceptions about orthodontics.

One of the biggest misconceptions is that Dr. Sondhi and Dr. Biggs are just like your general dentist. The truth is that they are actually very different from your family dentist. It is true that both dentists and orthodontists care about helping you enjoy a lifetime of good dental and oral health, their methodology is very different.

While a dentist treats the overall health of the teeth, an orthodontist is seen due to very specific concerns regarding the positioning of the teeth. Most of the patients that we see are concerned with the alignment of their teeth/jaws. It is important for an orthodontist to see children as early as age 7. At that age, it is possible to detect problems that have not become too advanced to treat. Your family dentist may also refer your child when they feel appropriate.

Another common misconception about orthodontists, is that they only treat children. It is true that when you visit an orthodontic clinic, you will see a lot of young kids, but many teenagers and adults are in active treatment at any given time. Because the alignment of your teeth can change for several different reasons at any point in life, orthodontic treatment can be recommended at any age.

If you have any questions about what Dr. Sondhi and Dr. Biggs can do for you, feel free to ask any one of our team members. Just one more reason Sondhi-Biggs Orthodontics is "Smiles Above the Rest".