Many people wonder how pacifiers and thumb sucking can affect their child’s teeth. In short, it is a valid worry because if these actions are prolonged it can cause oral health issues. Thumb sucking or pacifier use is one of an infant’s natural reflexes, prolonged sucking can exert force on the teeth and jaws. To learn more about common orthodontic problems caused by prolonged thumb sucking or pacifier use, read on from Dr. Amir Davoody, Dr. Rana Mehr, Dr. Niloufar Azami, and Dr. Adam Skrypczak at Greater Houston Orthodontics.
If your child sucks a thumb, finger, pacifier, or lips, their teeth or jaw may growth may be affected. These bone changes can actually occur as early as 18 months. The most common issues include: protruding front teeth, an open bite, or a crossbite. If you continue to notice prolonged thumb sucking or pacifier use, it is time to consult an orthodontist.
Two-thirds of what goes on in your mouth is below the surface. Most people are just concerned about having straight teeth and pearly whites, however, oral health goes far beyond that. That is why orthodontists use x-rays. Orthodontists use x-rays to check below the surface of the mouth to look for extra teeth, missing teeth, impacted teeth or teeth coming into the wrong positions. To learn more about the importance of x-rays keep reading from Dr. Amir Davoody, Dr. Rana Mehr, Dr. Niloufar Azami, and Dr. Adam Skrypczak at Greater Houston Orthodontics.
Looking below the surface is so important because some things may be hiding in your mouth that can only be seen through x-rays. Impacted teeth may prevent adult teeth from “erupting”, or growing into your mouth properly. An impacted tooth can even harm the roots of nearby teeth, cause crowding and other teeth to move into unhealthy positions.
Straight teeth help to create a beautiful smile. However, straight teeth actually do so much more than provide a great smile. Teeth are made to fit together in a certain way. If they don’t fit together properly, they can’t function properly, which can lead to a variety of oral health problems. To learn more about the importance of straight teeth from Dr. Amir Davoody, Dr. Rana Mehr, Dr. Niloufar Azami, and Dr. Adam Skrypczak at Greater Houston Orthodontics, keep reading.
Straight teeth are easier to clean. It is easier to remove plaque when teeth are aligned. Additionally, crooked teeth provide more places for plaque to hide and get missed while brushing. Plaque buildup can result in cavities and gum inflammation.
It is common knowledge that smoking tobacco is bad for our teeth and mouths. Smoking drastically increases your risk for several things, including oral cancer and gum disease. However, it is important to know these side effects do not go away with e-cigarettes. Read on to learn more about why vaping is bad for your teeth from Dr. Amir Davoody, Dr. Rana Mehr, Dr. Niloufar Azami, and Dr. Adam Skrypczak at Greater Houston Orthodontics.
Research shows that vaping is bad for your teeth just like smoking traditional cigarettes, even with no tobacco in e-cigarettes. E-cigarettes use an aerosol, or vapor, to deliver nicotine into the lungs. This vapor not only contains nicotine, which is bad for the teeth and body by itself, but also ultra-fine particles of toxic chemicals and heavy metals. Many of these chemicals are linked to cancer, respiratory disease, and heart disease.
How to Choose the Right Practice for Your Orthodontic Treatment
Choosing the right practice to trust with your orthodontic care is an important decision. Here are the three biggest factors to consider to help you make the right choice.
1) The Doctors
The team of doctors at an orthodontic practice is one of the most important factors in ensuring that you get the best care available. One of the first steps we recommend is to research the group of doctors to get a sense of their experience and expertise. Most practices will feature their doctors on the bio page of their website. Some good indicators of top-rated doctors are accomplishments and achievements they’ve made in the field of orthodontics. This can include publications of important peer-reviewed research studies, memberships to elite orthodontic societies and other important awards. Top orthodontists will regularly participate in continuing education events to ensure they stay current with state-of-the-art technologies and treatment modalities.
2) The Treatments and Technologies
Treatment techniques and technologies are constantly evolving. Choosing a state-of-the-art orthodontic practice means having access to treatments that provide better results, in a shorter amount of time, while providing a more comfortable experience to patients. For example, advanced 3D-imaging technologies such as iTero scanners allow the patient to view a detailed map of their teeth as well as simulations of what their smile will look like by the end of treatment. Scans are quick, easy and don’t involve biting into a tray of messy goop or exposure to harmful radiation. Other technologies such as Dental Monitoring combine powerful artificial intelligence, the convenience of your smartphone and the expertise of your doctor for high-tech remote monitoring of your treatment. That means staying on track with your treatment if you are away for college, traveling, or have a busy work schedule.
3) The Reviews
Making a decision about where to receive treatment can be difficult, but nothing quite says “care you can trust” like the recommendation of others who have been in your shoes before. The right practice doesn’t just provide a great end result, they also provide a positive and welcoming experience throughout treatment. Reading reviews from patients at the practice can give you a good sense of what you can expect during your time there. Knowing you can trust a practice with your comfort, safety and privacy can make your decision to start treatment there much easier.
At Greater Houston Orthodontics we are proud of our team of top doctors, caring staff and state-of-the-art facilities. Click below to schedule a complimentary consultation and learn why so many Houstonians choose Greater Houston Orthodontics for their care.
Dr. Amir Davoody, Dr. Rana Mehr and Dr. Niloufar Azami are leading orthodontists helping to pioneer advancements in the field of orthodontics. The doctors and team at Greater Houston Orthodontics use advanced treatment techniques and technologies to provide the most effective, safe and comfortable experience for their patients.
With two convenient locations in West University and Memorial, we are ready to help you start smiling. Please contact our West University or our Memorial office to schedule a complimentary consultation.
Our teeth, and braces, can encounter a lot when we’re out living our lives. These activities are not limited to: sporting events, pizza crust, cake and ice cream at birthday parties, and maybe even a hot dog eating contest. Fortunately, our teeth are strong and often allow us to go through these activities without too many major problems.
There are a few ways to safeguard against dental emergencies. This includes: wearing a mouth guard during sports, taking good care of your teeth and gums, and staying away from food that is hard, crunchy, and/or sticky (especially when in braces).
The majority of people’s teeth will come through in a specific order and in specific positions. However, some people have missing teeth. They may have one or more gaps because the teeth that should have erupted and grown in simply aren’t there. This condition is known as hypodontia, and it can affect both baby and permanent teeth. Read on to learn more about how orthodontics can help with hypodontia from Dr. Amir Davoody, Dr. Rana Mehr, Dr. Niloufar Azami, and Dr. Adam Skrypczak at Greater Houston Orthodontics.
From a dental health perspective, having gaps in your mouth can affect the health and functioning of your teeth. Gaps mean that neighboring teeth won’t have the right support to keep them in their correct positions. Additionally, from a cosmetic perspective, gaps in the front teeth can affect the appearance of one’s smile. If you have hypodontia, it is likely you will need some kind of treatment to either reinforce the surrounding teeth or to deal with cosmetic concerns. Fortunately, orthodontics can be a great solution for those with hypodontia.
Braces are a great option for correcting several dental issues. These issues include overcrowding, misalignment, spacing, and overbites and underbites. A lot of people like braces because of the aesthetic change that they can make, however, braces can also fix non-aesthetic issues that are pertinent to the health of your teeth and jaw. Braces help to bring your teeth into proper intercuspation, which means that your teeth will align properly over one another. Read on to learn more about how orthodontics can help jaw alignment from Dr. Amir Davoody, Dr. Rana Mehr, Dr. Niloufar Azami, and Dr. Adam Skrypczak at Greater Houston Orthodontics.
An overbite or underbite has an impact on how your jaw is positioned. The jaw extends outward because the teeth are misaligned when one has an underbite. When one has an overbite, the chin may look weak, and the lips may protrude from the face in a harsh, unflattering manner.