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- 2021
- January (6)
- Could a Dental Bridge Be a Better Choice Than Implants?
- Smoking Could Increase the Risk of an Implant Failure
- Your Food's Micronutrients Make a Difference in Your Dental Health
- Here's to Healthy Smiles in 2021!
- Help Your Dentures and Your Health by Taking Them Out at Night
- This Odd Tongue Condition Isn't Something To Fret Over
- 2020
- December (6)
- Direct Veneers Offer a Quick and Affordable Alternative to Traditional Veneers
- Local Anesthesia Makes for a More Pleasant and Pain-Free Dental Experience
- Endodontic Treatment Could Save a Tooth in Crisis
- Don't Let Bad Breath Ruin Your Date Under the Mistletoe
- The Kind of Tooth Pain You Have May Identify the True Problem
- Keep Your Child's Fluoride Intake at a Safe but Effective Level
- November (6)
- Here's What To Do If Your Child Complains of a Toothache
- Targeted Tooth Removal Could Aid Treatment for Certain Bite Problems
- Smoking Increases Your Risk for Gum Disease
- Keep Your Implants Clean to Avoid a Damaging Gum Infection
- There's a Quick Fix For That Irritating Mouth Sore You Keep Biting
- Although Challenging, Cleaning Around Implants Boosts Their Longevity
- October (6)
- Far From a Safer Alternative to Smoking, Vaping Could Ruin Your Oral Health
- 4 Things You Can Do To Protect Oral Health During Cancer Treatment
- Call the Dentist Immediately If You Have a Loose Tooth
- Act Quickly With a Knocked Out Tooth to Ensure Its Long-Term Survival
- Preventing Gum Disease Could Help More Than Your Teeth and Gums
- Could a Metal Allergy Stop You From Getting Dental Implants?
- September (6)
- Improve Your Smile With These Dental Enhancements
- Eliminating an Infant's Lip or Tongue Tie Can Make Breastfeeding Easier
- Use Appropriate Hygiene Products for Maximum Smile Protection
- Want to Improve Your Athletic Performance? Try Tuning Up Your Dental Care
- Avoid This Numbing Agent to Ease Your Baby's Teething Pain
- The Day After Labor Day: Renew Your Focus on Your Family's Oral Health
- August (6)
- A Shingles Outbreak Could Interrupt Your Dental Care
- Take These Steps to Alleviate Chronic Dry Mouth
- Acid Reflux Could Lead to Tooth Damage
- 4 Simple Things You Can Do to Stop Bad Breath
- Stop Plaque Buildup Around Your Implant-Supported Bridge With Flossing
- 3 Things That Could Help You Avoid Another Round With Gum Disease
- July (6)
- Getting Implants Can Be a Long Process - But Worth it
- Some Simple Cosmetic Techniques Could Help Your Smile Age Gracefully
- Whatever Your Vacation Plans This Year, Don't Forget Teeth and Gum Care
- 3 Reasons a Root Canal Treatment Might Fail and What You Can Do About It
- New Studies Show: Sealants Could Help Your Child Avoid Tooth Decay
- Replace Your Teeth in Stages With the Help of Dental Implants
- June (6)
- Your Gums and Bone Need to Be Healthy Before Getting Implants
- Without Prompt Intervention, Gum Disease Could Damage Tooth Roots
- Follow These 4 Tips for More Comfortable Eating With Chronic Jaw Pain
- Sedation Can Help a Child Receive Needed Dental Care Now and in the Future
- Reducing Your Child's Dental Anxiety Now Could Benefit Them for a Lifetime
- Instill These Habits in Your Child for a Lifetime of Great Dental Health
- May (7)
- Reducing Teeth Grinding Leads to Better Sleep and Better Dental Health
- Diet and Lifestyle Changes Could Lower Your Risk of Oral Cancer
- 4 Things You Should Do - or Not Do - to Maintain Your Oral Appliance
- A Smile Makeover is a Transforming Experience
- The Graduation Season is the Perfect Time to Review Dental Health
- Friendly Bacteria Can Help Protect Our Mouths From Disease
- Too Much Sugar Can Wreck More Than Your Teeth
- April (6)
- Why and How to Save a Diseased Tooth
- Are Lasers the Future for Treating Advanced Tooth Decay?
- 3 Ways to Help Your Child Relax at the Dentist
- Lasers Could One Day be Commonplace for Treating Gum Disease
- These High-Tech Tools Help Your Veneers Look Attractive and Natural
- Seek Immediate Treatment for this Advanced Form of Gingivitis
- March (6)
- If at All Possible, Primary Teeth are Worth Saving
- Consider Clear Aligners Instead of Braces for Your Teen
- This Rare Tongue Condition Often Looks Worse than it Actually is
- One Visit May Be All You Need to Restore a Chipped Tooth
- Here's How to Avoid Dry Socket After Tooth Extraction Surgery
- 3 Questions You Should Ask before Undergoing Teeth Whitening
- February (6)
- Removing Teeth Could Improve an Orthodontic Outcome
- It's Best to Avoid This Online Trend for Your Enamel's Sake
- A Loose Tooth is a Sign of Deeper Dental Trouble
- Uncovering Early Gum Disease Through Periodontal Probing
- Removing One or More Teeth Could Improve Orthodontic Outcomes
- 3 Tips to Making Mealtime Easier During TMD Flare-Ups
- January (6)
- A Root Canal Treatment Will Improve Your Health, Not Harm It
- Tobacco: One Baseball Tradition We Can Do Without
- No Matter When the New Decade Begins, Be Sure You're Partnered With Us for Your Dental Care
- You May Need Something Other Than Ointment to Clear up This Facial Rash
- 4 Common Causes for Gum Recession
- Is There a Better Way to Manage Pain Without Narcotics?
- 2019
- December (6)
- Gum Surgery Can Improve Your Smile and Save Your Teeth
- 3 Ways to Take the Jitters Out of Dental Visits
- Here's How to Cut Through All the Choices to Find Your Right Toothbrush
- Don't Worry About Dental Amalgam: It's Safe for Treating Cavities
- Follow These Holiday Toy Tips for Your Kids to Avoid Dental Injuries
- It Takes Artistry and Skill to Achieve the Right Color Balance for Your Veneers
- November (6)
- Keep Oral Care in Focus for a Family Member With Special Needs
- Topical Fluoride can Enhance Your Child's Dental Care
- Don't Delay Seeing the Dentist If You Suspect Gum Recession
- Make Your Baby as Comfortable as Possible During Teething
- For a Smooth Transition, Be Sure Your New Dentist Has Your Dental Records
- Vitamins Can Help Keep Your Oral Health in Top Shape
- October (6)
- You May Need an Endodontist for a Tooth With Interior Decay
- Don't Panic Over Your Child's Teeth Grinding but Do Keep an Eye on It
- 3 Reasons to See a Pediatric Dentist
- Dental Sealants Give Children an Added Boost Against Tooth Decay
- 4 Ways You Can Take Years off Your Smile
- Clean Your Implants Just Like Your Other Teeth
- September (6)
- 4 Serious Health Conditions That Gum Disease Might Make Worse
- Your Quest for a Dental Implant Might Be Interrupted by Bone Loss
- Your Reoccurring Sinus Infections May Actually Be Caused by Tooth Decay
- Improving Hygiene Skills Maximizes Removal of Disease-Causing Plaque
- Despite Some Online Sources, Root Canals Don't Cause Disease
- Four Reasons Why Your Gums Deserve Your Care
- August (6)
- Be Alert to the Unintended Consequences of Cancer Treatment to Oral Health
- Do a Little Extra Food Prep to Ease TMD Discomfort
- If Appropriate, Antibiotics before Implant Surgery Could Reduce Infection Risk
- Don't Let Gum Disease Cut Short Your Implant's Service Life
- How to Keep Your Teeth and Gums Healthy During Pregnancy
- Don't Let Summer Heat Increase Your Risk of Dental Disease
- July (7)
- 3 Ways to Protect Your Teeth in the Great Outdoors
- Transforming Your Smile with Veneers, Step by Step
- A Minor Procedure Could Make Breastfeeding Easier for You and Your Baby
- Your Sinus Infection Might be a Sign of a Tooth Problem
- Don't Use Benzocaine Products to Ease Your Baby's Teething Pain
- Tooth Type and Condition can Affect Root Canal Therapy Effectiveness
- There may be more to that Toothache that Suddenly Stops Aching
- June (6)
- 3 Tips for Successful, Safe Home Teeth Whitening
- 5 Ways to a Beautiful Wedding Day Smile
- Root Canals are a Safe Way to Save Teeth
- Improve Your Dental Health by Mastering Your Brushing Skills
- Considering a Smile Makeover? Be Sure You Include Your Bite
- Dentures with Implants Could Help You Avoid Bone Loss
- May (6)
- Gum Disease Could be Affecting More Than Just Your Mouth
- Affordable Veneers Can Give You a New Smile
- Here's How You Can Protect Your Child's Teeth from Tooth Decay
- Preserving the Pulp is Priority One with a Newly Erupted Permanent Tooth
- How Dentists Provide Your Child the Benefit of X-Rays as Safely as Possible
- Jaw Joint Disorders and Fibromyalgia: Is There a Connection?
- April (6)
- A Detailed 'Smile Analysis' Sets the Stage for a Successful Makeover
- April Is National Facial Protection Month
- Catch Root Resorption Early for Best Chances of Saving Your Tooth
- The Parent-Dentist Partnership: Establishing Better Oral Health for Your Child
- Manage Your GERD Symptoms to Prevent Enamel Erosion
- Take a Look into Your Future with a Trial Smile
- March (6)
- A Root Canal Can Stop Tooth Decay and Save Your Tooth
- What You Should Do to Protect an Older Loved One's Dental Health
- Professional Whitening Offers an Effective Way to Restore Your Smile's Luster
- The 3 Top Ingredients That Make Your Toothpaste a Super Plaque Buster
- Why You Should Consider a Professional Procedure for Your Teeth Whitening
- Your Gum Tissue 'Biotype' Could Determine How Gum Disease Affects You
- February (6)
- Dental Sealants can help Prevent Tooth Decay in Children
- Legal or Not, Marijuana Poses a Health Risk to Your Gums
- Local Anesthesia Takes the Pain Out of Most Dental Work
- You may Need Orthodontic Treatment Before Obtaining Implants
- Keeping Gum Disease at Bay Could Help Your Overall Health
- 4 Important Facts About Gum Recession and What You can do About It
- January (6)
- Recessed Gums Could Endanger Your Teeth
- A New Resolution - Floss!
- Flossing Daily Around Implants will Help Prevent Losing Your Bridge
- Implant-Supported Dentures Could Boost Your Jawbone Health
- 'Get Rid' of Those Unattractive Teeth with Porcelain Veneers
- Safety is a Priority When Imaging Children's Teeth with X-Rays
- 2018
- December (6)
- Get a Look at Your Future Makeover Look Now with a 'Trial Smile'
- Need a Root Canal? Here's a Step-by-Step Guide on What to Expect
- What You Need to Know to Buy the Right Toothbrush
- Dental Visits are Key to Detecting Early Developing Tooth Decay
- Regardless of What You've Seen Online, Don't Fear a Root Canal Treatment
- Wisdom Teeth Warrant Close Watch to Avoid Future Health Issues
- November (6)
- Moderate Your Child's Juice Drinking to Lower Tooth Decay Risk
- Don't let Gum Disease - the 'Other Dental Disease' - Rob you of Your Smile
- Teeth Grinding in Older Children and Adolescents a Cause for Concern
- Inflammation: the Link Between Gum Disease and Cardiovascular Disease
- How to Maximize Your Child's Dental Health Potential
- The Connection Between GERD and Oral Health
- October (6)
- What You Should Know About Veneers for Teenagers
- Stop Root Cavities with Prevention and Prompt Treatment
- What You Should Know About Antibiotic Therapy Before Implant Surgery
- 3 Factors That Could Affect the Success of a Root Canal Treatment
- Stay Ahead of Plaque Buildup with Effective Brushing and Flossing
- Eat the Right Kind of Carbs to Protect Yourself from Gum Disease
- September (6)
- Why the Treatment Model for Your Jaw Joint Disorder Matters
- Provisional Restorations let you Try out Your New Smile First
- Treating Gum Disease around Tooth Roots is Hard - but Not Impossible
- Look After Your Teeth During Cancer Treatment to Avoid Dental Disease
- Keep on Course during the 3 Phases of a Smile Makeover
- What You Should Know About a Home Teeth Whitening Kit
- August (6)
- What You Can Do to Support Your Child's Dental Development
- Have Your Loose Tooth Examined as Soon as Possible
- Back to School Do's and Don'ts
- Take Years off Your Smile by Treating Age-Related Dental Problems
- Diabetes Doesn't Have to Stop You From Acquiring Dental Implants
- Treating a Child's Tooth Injury May Require Special Consideration
- July (7)
- Mouthguards Found to be Effective in Preventing Teeth and Mouth Injuries
- Cosmetic Questions to Ask to Get You on the Right Path to a Better Smile
- Consider Saving a Tooth Before you Decide to Replace it
- What Happens in a Root Canal Treatment and How it Can Save Your Tooth
- Think Water First for Summer Thirst
- 3 Reasons You Should Consider Tooth Whitening
- Watch Out for Signs of Gum Recession
- June (6)
- Treating Gum Abscesses and the Underlying Gum Disease
- Tips to Brighten Your Summer Smile
- 3 Advantages for Improving Your Smile with Composite Resins
- Finding the Right Solution for Your Gummy Smile
- Keep Alert for this Extreme Form of Gingivitis
- Chewing Tobacco is Just as Addictive and Dangerous as Smoking
- March (5)
- Get a Dental Exam as Soon as Possible if you Suspect Gum Disease
- The Right Treatment for Your Child's Injured Tooth Increases its Survival
- Baseball, Tobacco and Oral Cancer
- Why the Bottled Variety Might not be Your Best Choice for Clean Drinking Water
- 4 Things You Should be Doing Now for Your Baby's Long-Term Dental Health
- January (5)
- 4 Areas We May Check During Your Older Loved One's Regular Dental Visit
- Replacing a Missing Tooth isn't Just About Improving Your Smile
- Office Fluoride Treatments Can Add Extra Protection to Your Child's Teeth
- Your Health Could Affect the Longevity of a Dental Implant
- Why You Should Still Floss with an Implant-Supported Bridge
- 2017
- May (5)
- Complications from Missing Teeth Could Limit Your Replacement Options
- Artificial Sweeteners are By and Large a Safe Alternative to Sugar
- Don't let Periodontal Disease Cause Your Gums to Recede
- Take Steps to Save an Incoming Tooth's Place to Avoid a Poor Bite
- New Saliva Test may Help Identify Oral Cancer Earlier
- April (5)
- Gum Disease Could Affect More than Your Teeth and Gums
- Protect Your Child's Long-Term Dental Health with Regular Office Visits
- An Affordable RPD Could be the Answer to Your Missing Teeth Problems
- A Solution for Restoring Adequate Bone for Dental Implants
- Improving a 'Gummy Smile' Depends on its Cause
- February (5)
- Don't Put Off Getting Treatment for Your Sensitive Teeth
- Don't Wait - Seek Out Treatment for Gum Recession Now
- A Root Canal Treatment may be Your Best Chance to Save a Tooth
- Try Conservative Measures to Treating TMD Before More Aggressive Options
- A Partial Denture Can Restore a Smile Marred by a Few Missing Teeth
- 2016
- November (5)
- Keep an Eye Out for Problems if Your Children Grind Their Teeth
- Don't Let an Eating Disorder Wreck Oral Health
- Extracting Certain Teeth can Boost Orthodontic Effectiveness
- Inflammation is a Key Element in Both Oral and Systemic Diseases
- Don't Let the Acid in Sports and Energy Drinks Ruin Your Tooth Enamel
- September (5)
- Certain Mouth Rashes Don't Respond to Topical Steroid Treatments
- Gum Recession Could Shorten the Life of Your Teeth
- Lasers Adding New Precision and Efficiency to Root Canal Treatments
- RPDs Offer Another Tooth Replacement Option for those on a Tight Budget
- Do you need Simple Tooth Removal or Surgery? It Depends on a few Factors
- May (5)
- A Root Canal Treatment can Save Your Tooth and Relieve Pain
- Dental Offices Hold to the Highest Standards to Protect Patients from Infection
- Sedation Therapy can reduce Anxiety in Children during Dental Visits
- Treating a "Gummy" Smile Starts with Finding out the Cause
- 4 Reasons Why You May Need to See a Periodontist for Your Gum Disease
- March (5)
- Beyond Their Marketing Claims, Most Toothpastes are Surprisingly Similar
- Surgically Accessing Sinuses can Help Grow New Bone for Implants
- Thumb Sucking One of Many Factors to Consider When Treating a Poor Bite
- Find out What Kind of Tooth Staining you Have Before Seeking a Solution
- 4 Advantages to Using Composite Resins for Restoring Teeth
- 2015
- December (5)
- Sealants Provide a Little Extra Protection for Children at High Risk for Decay
- Dental Amalgam Continues to be a Durable and Safe Tooth Filling
- Dental Offices Uphold the Highest Standards for Infection Control
- Three Considerations for Working with Your Dentist on Your Smile Makeover
- 3 Tips for Denture Care to Help Them Last and Keep Your Mouth Healthy
- October (5)
- 3 Questions to Answer Before Your Smile Makeover
- You May Need Surgery to Repair the Damage of Gum Recession
- Diabetics with Gum Disease Benefit from Coordinating Treatment for Both
- Tooth-Colored Fillings Provide a Viable Alternative to Dental Amalgam
- Preventive Care for Your Child is a Partnership between You and Your Dentist
- 2014
- September (5)
- Saving a Baby Tooth is the Best Option for Permanent Tooth Development
- Dry Mouth - Causes, Risks and Cures
- Bleeding Gums are a Possible Sign of Periodontal Gum Disease
- Determining the Cause of Tooth Looseness Key to Effective Treatment
- Successful Outcomes With Dentures Depends on Attention to Detail
- August (5)
- Composite Resins are a Viable Restoration Option for Mildly Defective Teeth
- Major Benefits for Tooth Replacement With Dental Implants
- Crown Lengthening can Increase Your Restoration Options
- Minimizing X-Ray Exposure Risks in Children to Maximize Benefits
- Frequently Asked Questions about Cosmetic Bonding
- 2013
- 2012
- August (7)
- Don't Let Tooth Pain Linger — The Cost May Just Be Too High
- Understanding The Importance Of Dental X-Rays
- Tooth Replacement: It's Come a Long Way
- Your Smile Design: Perfection vs. the Natural Look
- Testing Your Knowledge on Caring for Your Dentures
- Designing A New Smile. What's involved?
- Testing your Knowledge: Dental Implants
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Categories:
My Blog
Posts for tag: orthodontic treatment

Before we begin correcting a malocclusion (poor dental bite), we need to ask a few questions: How extensive is the malocclusion? How far must we move the teeth to correct it? How might the patient's jaw size impact treatment?
Answering these and other questions help us develop an effective treatment plan. And depending on the answers, we might need to look at other procedures before we install braces—like removing one or more of the teeth.
This isn't a subject to approach lightly: All teeth play an important role in dental function and smile appearance, and ordinarily we want to preserve teeth, not remove them. Sometimes, however, it may be a necessary action to achieve our goal of an improved dental bite.
For example, it might be necessary for correcting a malocclusion caused by severe teeth crowding. This occurs when one or both of the jaws hasn't grown to a sufficient size to accommodate all of the teeth erupting on it. As a result, some of the teeth could come in out of their proper alignment.
If caught early before puberty, we may be able to use other techniques to alleviate crowding, like a device called a palatal expander that influences an upper jaw to widen as it grows. If successful, it could provide later teeth more room to erupt in their proper positions.
But even if additional jaw growth occurs, it may not be enough to avoid a malocclusion or treatment with braces. Alleviating further crowding by removing teeth in little noticed areas could help with subsequent orthodontics.
Removing teeth may also be the answer for other problems like an impacted tooth, in which the tooth has not fully erupted and remains submerged in the gums. It's sometimes possible to use a technique to “pull” the tooth down where it should be; but again, that will still require jaw space that may not be available. The more effective course might be to remove the impacted tooth.
Whether or not tooth extraction will be needed can depend on a thorough orthodontic evaluation and full consideration of all the available options. Even though the ideal situation is to correct a bite with all teeth present and accounted for, it may be for the better good to sacrifice some.
If you would like more information on orthodontic techniques, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Removing Teeth for Orthodontic Treatment.”

In case you missed it, September is Self-Improvement Month. Don't fret if you weren't aware—we're not sure how the ninth month acquired this celebration of positive human development either. But as long as we're celebrating, do something good for yourself—like improving your smile.
If this doesn't seem like a lofty enough self-improvement goal, remember this: There's much more to a smile than its looks. Smiles “speak” a social language, allowing us to wordlessly communicate acceptance, happiness, or even sympathy. A smile is a valuable part of beginning and maintaining relationships, be they familial, social or professional.
So why not go all out and enhance your smile during Self-Improvement Month? To that end, here are a few options:
Teeth whitening. Maybe your teeth are a little yellowed. If you have mild to moderate enamel staining, consider undergoing a professional whitening procedure. We use a safe but effective solution to give you just the level of brightness you want. And with proper maintenance and occasional touch-ups, you can have a brighter smile for years.
Bonding, veneers or crowns. If your teeth have chips, heavy discolorations or other mild to moderate defects, we can offer a variety of solutions. We can bond special dental materials to repair slight defects that make a tooth look good as new. For moderate flaws, heavy staining or slight gaps, we can bond a custom-made veneer to the front of teeth to hide these imperfections. We can also cap teeth with natural-looking crowns to cover larger disfigurements.
Orthodontics. Misaligned teeth can detract from an otherwise attractive smile. Orthodontics can help—and as long as you're in good oral and general health, you can undergo bite correction at any age. Braces aren't your only option: Removable clear aligners are nearly invisible to others, and because they're removable, they make it easier to keep your teeth clean.
Dental implants. Missing teeth can definitely dim a smile. And while there are a number of restoration options, dental implants are one of the top choices. Implants not only look and feel lifelike, they're exceedingly durable. Although they may be more expensive up-front, they have been shown to last longer and tend to require less maintenance than other restorations. Dental implants are a worthwhile investment in a long-term smile.
Cosmetic enhancements like teeth whitening or bonding may require only one or two visits, while other options like orthodontics or implants can take much longer. But you can still get the ball rolling now. Make an appointment this month for a full dental exam and consultation to start your journey toward improving your smile.
If you would like more information about enhancing your smile, please contact us or schedule a consultation. To learn more, read the Dear Doctor magazine article “Cosmetic Dentistry: A Time for Change.”

Moving teeth through orthodontics may involve more than simply wearing braces. There are many bite conditions that require extra measures before, during or after traditional orthodontic treatment to improve the outcome.
One such measure is extracting one or more teeth. Whether or not we should will depend on the causes behind a patient's poor dental bite.
Here, then, are 4 situations where tooth extraction before orthodontics might be necessary.
Crowding. This happens when the jaw isn't large enough to accommodate all the teeth coming in. As a result, later erupting teeth could erupt out of position. We can often prevent this in younger children with space maintainers or a palatal expander, a device which helps widen the jaw. Where crowding has already occurred, though, it may be necessary to remove selected teeth first to open up jaw space for desired tooth movement.
Impacted teeth. Sometimes an incoming tooth becomes blocked and remains partially or fully submerged beneath the gums. Special orthodontic hardware can often be used to pull an impacted tooth down where it should be, but not always. It may be better to remove the impacted tooth completely, as well as its matching tooth on the other side of the jaw to maintain smile balance before orthodontically correcting the bite.
Front teeth protrusion. This bite problem involves front teeth that stick out at a more horizontal angle. Orthodontics can return the teeth to their proper alignment, but other teeth may be blocking that movement. To open up space for movement, it may be necessary to remove one or more of these obstructing teeth.
Congenitally missing teeth. The absence of permanent teeth that failed to develop can disrupt dental appearance and function, especially if they're near the front of the mouth. They're often replaced with a dental implant or other type of restoration. If only one tooth is missing, though, another option would be to remove the similar tooth on the other side of the jaw, and then close any resulting gaps with braces.
Extracting teeth in these and other situations can help improve the chances of a successful orthodontic outcome. The key is to accurately assess the bite condition and plan accordingly.
If you would like more information on orthodontic options, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Removing Teeth for Orthodontic Treatment.”

You have a lot of options for replacing missing teeth, from state-of-the-art dental implants to affordable, but effective partial dentures. But if the teeth in question have been missing for a while, you may first have to undergo orthodontic treatment. Here's why.
While they may feel rigid and firm in the jawbone, teeth are actually held in place by periodontal (gum) ligaments. These elastic tissues lie between the teeth and the bone and attach to both with tiny filaments. This mechanism allows the teeth to incrementally move over time in response to biting pressures or other environmental factors.
When a tooth goes missing the teeth on either side of the space naturally move or "drift" into it to help close the gap. This natural occurrence can reduce the space for a restoration if it has gone on for some time. To make room for a new prosthetic (false) tooth, we may have to move the drifted teeth back to where they belong.
If you're thinking metal braces, that is an option—but not the only one. Clear aligners are another way to move teeth if the bite problem (malocclusion) isn't too severe. Aligners are a series of custom-made, clear, plastic trays worn over the teeth. The patient wears each tray, slightly smaller than the previous one in the series, for about two weeks before changing to the next one. The reduction in size gradually moves teeth to their intended target position.
Many adults prefer clear aligners because they're nearly invisible and don't stand out like metal braces. They're removable, so you can take them out for cleaning or for special occasions. And, we can also attach a prosthetic tooth to the tray that temporarily covers the missing tooth space.
Whichever orthodontic treatment you choose, once completed we can then proceed with restoration to permanently replace your missing teeth. While it can be a long process, the end result is a beautiful smile that could last for years to come.
If you would like more information on your dental restoration options, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Straightening a Smile before Replacing Lost Teeth.”

While braces are a tried and true method for achieving a more attractive smile, they may also give rise to problems with dental disease. This is because their hardware — the brackets and bands that serve as tracks for the tensioning wires — make it more difficult to access the tooth and gum surfaces to clean away plaque. This thin film of food remnant may then become a haven for bacteria that cause gum disease or tooth decay.
One of the more common conditions to occur while wearing braces is gingivitis. This is an initial inflammation of the gum tissues caused by bacterial plaque that hasn’t been removed by brushing or flossing. As the inflammation grows unchecked, the infection could advance deeper into the tissues to become a more serious form of gum disease that threatens the survival of affected teeth.
Difficult as it may be for those wearing braces, the best way to avoid gingivitis is through more thorough oral hygiene practices. Fortunately, there are many hygiene products that can help you get around many of the access difficulties posed by braces. Smaller toothbrushes known as interproximal brushes and floss threaders, small aids that thread dental floss under braces wires, can access the spaces between teeth more readily than conventional brushes or floss. Water flossers (which use water under pressure to remove plaque between teeth) and motorized toothbrushes can further increase efficiency. We can also reduce bacterial growth in the mouth if need be with prescription-strength antibacterial mouthrinses.
If, however, gingivitis or gum overgrowth (another common occurrence during orthodontic treatment) continues to be a problem, we may need to take other actions including surgery. In extreme cases, the braces may need to be removed to adequately treat the gums and allow them time to heal before proceeding with orthodontics.
Extra care with daily hygiene and regular dental checkups and cleanings in addition to your orthodontic visits will help keep gum problems at bay while you’re wearing braces. Taking this extra care will stop or minimize the effect of disease as you continue on to the ultimate goal of your orthodontic treatment — a more beautiful smile.
If you would like more information on dental care during orthodontic treatment, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation.