It is important to be prepared for when a minor or major orthodontic emergency occurs. If you find yourself in a situation where you are unsure if you need urgent medical attention, you will need to first assess the severity of the problem. Dislodged, fractured, or knocked-out teeth usually require urgent

Thumb sucking is a damaging habit that can cause tooth and surrounding skeletal structures to develop abnormally as your child grows. If your child has a persistent thumb sucking problem past the age of four to five, thumb and finger appliances, or thumb sucking appliances, can help your child stop this

Elastics Elastics are small rubber bands that help move teeth into proper alignment. Typically, one side is connected to the top jaw and the other side to the bottom jaw, and are helpful in creating an ideal bite. Forsus™ Nitinol Flat Spring A Forsus is a small rod with a spring surrounding it, and

Metal Braces Traditional metal braces are the most common type of braces, as they correct a variety of orthodontic conditions and are generally the most affordable. Made of high-grade stainless steel, metal braces straighten your teeth using metal brackets and archwires. With metal braces, you have the

It’s always important to maintain great oral hygiene, but it’s especially important with braces, as food and plaque have more places to hide. You should brush and floss at least two times per day for at least two minutes each time. Make sure to cover all surfaces, including the front, back, side,

Clear aligners are a popular alternative to metal braces, and are a great, discrete way to correct minor misalignment of the teeth. Just like traditional braces, clear aligners put a small amount of pressure on the teeth to move them into place. Unlike traditional braces, they are made of a clear and

Teens should begin orthodontic treatment between the age of 11 and 13, especially if they experience oral problems such as a bad bite, tooth gapping, or misaligned teeth. During adolescence, the body is still growing and developing, making it more malleable to work with. Today, there are a variety of

Temporary anchorage devices (TADs), also known as “mini implants,” are titanium devices that are screwed into your gum and jaw. TADs act as anchors to support the movement of your teeth. They can be positioned in different areas of your jaw, depending on what anchorage and movement you need. Since

It’s never too late to achieve your perfect smile, and now more than ever, adults are seeking orthodontic treatment. In fact, approximately 25% of orthodontic patients are adults. Adult orthodontic treatment differs from child and adolescent treatment in a few ways. Since the bone development in adults

Orthodontic treatment can correct jaw and teeth misalignment, and give you an amazing smile in the process. It works by harnessing our body’s natural ability to remodel its own tissue. With application of light, constant force, orthodontic appliances gently reshape bone and move teeth into better positions.

Oral cancer may not be as well known as other forms of cancer, but that doesn’t make it any less dangerous. Oral cancer screenings are vital to detect any precancerous or cancerous conditions in the mouth before they progress to an advanced stage of the disease. An oral cancer screening is a quick

When accidents happen, our oral and maxillofacial surgeons are here to help. Facial trauma refers to any unexpected force to the face that results in any injury to the teeth, bones, or soft-tissue of the face. These injuries can affect vital functions, like breathing through the nose or blinking, and

Blood thinners are a type of medicine that prevents your blood from clotting inside a blood vessel, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke. They can also keep blood clots from forming or getting larger. They are typically used to treat certain types of heart disease, heart defects, or other medical

A cleft lip and cleft palate are common birth defects that occur in the very early stages of fetal development. A cleft lip is the separation of the two sides of your child’s upper lip, appearing as a narrow or wide opening that can extend to the roof of the mouth. A cleft palate is a split or opening

Orthognathic surgery, also known as corrective jaw surgery, aims to correct abnormalities of the jawbones in order to realign the jaws and teeth to improve overall function. This surgery can also improve the outside appearance of your face. If you have problems with your jaw that cannot be corrected

An oral biopsy is a tissue sample gathered from an abnormality in the mouth and is sent to a lab to undergo further testing. The procedure would be required when a dentist cannot diagnose the problem by examination, X-rays, and symptoms alone. Common Oral Diseases There are a variety of oral diseases