Tackling Your Dental Treatment Plan

Tackling Your Dental Treatment Plan

About Me

Tackling Your Dental Treatment Plan

Hi! My name is Addy Reed. I’m 57 years old and have been neglectful about going to the dentist. Last month was my first dentist visit in six years. I had always been diligent about twice a year cleanings and checkups, but time got away from me until one of my crowns came out. As we age, the dental work from years past tends to do that. When you neglect to visit the dentist on a regular basis, the list of things that need to be done may grow; at least this was my experience. I left the dentist office with an extensive list of things I needed to have done. The office staff was very kind. They are working with me to set up a plan. I’m going to share some ideas on how to tackle a dental treatment plan, keeping it affordable and not too overwhelming.

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Retain Your Child's Straight Teeth With The Right Retainer

30 September 2018
 Categories: Dentist, Blog

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A straight smile is important not only for improving your child's appearance but also for preventing serious orthodontic problems in the future. Parents invest a lot of time and money into braces that can effectively reposition a child's teeth to eliminate any crookedness in the smile.

Orthodontists often want their patients to wear a retainer once braces have been removed to prevent the teeth from shifting back to their original position. Your child might rebel against wearing a retainer because of pain or social stigma. The right retainer will help your child maintain the results achieved through months of wearing braces.

Hawley Retainer

When parents think about retainers, they usually are picturing a Hawley retainer. These are among the most common types of retainers used by orthodontists today.

An impression of your child's upper teeth and the roof of your child's mouth will be taken when your child is fitted for a Hawley retainer. This impression will be utilized to create an acrylic plate that fits snugly in the roof of the mouth to maintain the width of your child's newly-straightened arch. A Hawley retainer can be adjusted by an orthodontist and removed during eating or brushing. This allows your child to maintain the health of his or her teeth while enjoying the benefits of a retainer.

Fixed Retainer

Remembering to wear a retainer can be challenging for many children. Parents who don't want to risk having their child's teeth shift after braces are removed might opt to invest in a fixed retainer.

These types of retainers feature a wire that is attached to the back of your child's upper and lower teeth using a dental cement. The retainer stays in place at all times, ensuring that your child's forgetfulness will not compromise the straightness of his or her teeth. You need to be sure that your child brushes thoroughly behind the wires if you opt to invest in a fixed retainer in the future.

Invisible Retainer

Social stigma can deter some children from wearing their retainer throughout the day. Teens are especially concerned with their outward appearance, so getting a teenager to wear a retainer with wires can be challenging. Invisible retainers are essentially transparent molds that fit over the teeth.

An invisible retainer cannot easily be detected, but they are more susceptible to damage and must be replaced regularly to maintain the straight smile your child's braces have provided. For more information, contact a company like Brian Smith Orthodontics.