Do you have crooked teeth? Are you looking for a straighter and more balanced smile?
Dr. Karim Naguib offers orthodontic solutions to children, teens, and adults in Palmdale and Lancaster, CA. The dentists of Premier Dental Care aim to provide comfortable care in a warm and friendly environment.
Learn more about why crooked teeth may need treatment as well as the orthodontic treatment options offered in our Palmdale and Lancaster offices.
Why Straighten Crooked Teeth?
Common dental concerns that can be caused by crooked teeth may include:
- Gum disease
- Chipped teeth
- Damaged teeth
- Bite problems
- Tooth decay
- Cavities
Crooked teeth are often harder to brush and clean. This leads to more plaque and tartar buildup, increasing the likelihood of gum disease or tooth decay. Crooked teeth also don’t line up correctly when you bite down.
The pressure of your bite isn’t distributed evenly and your teeth might crack or chip because they’re taking on more pressure than they should. TMJ disorders can also develop, causing pain and function issues with your jaw joint.
If you have noticed any of these conditions arise and you have crooked teeth, you may need orthodontic treatment.
Call our dentists in Lancaster at (661) 948-6700 or our dentists in Palmdale at (661) 273-6565. We will help you find an orthodontic solution that works for you.
Orthodontic Treatment Options
Dr. Naguib offers these orthodontic treatment options to patients in Palmdale and Lancaster:
Metal Braces
This traditional orthodontic treatment gradually straightens teeth with metal wires and brackets. The brackets are glued to tooth enamel and metal wires are threaded through the brackets to mold and shape teeth over time.
Metal braces are still considered the best choice for severe cases of crooked teeth and other orthodontic concerns. And you never need to worry that your issues won’t be taken care of. They’re the most powerful method of moving and shifting your teeth and are able to take on even the toughest cases. They’re able to produce the absolute best result for your teeth.
Invisalign
An alternative to traditional metal braces, Invisalign treatment utilizes clear aligners that shift teeth every few weeks. The aligners can be removed for eating and brushing teeth and tend to be more comfortable than metal braces because they don’t irritate gums. Invisalign has a shorter treatment time than traditional options and can provide straighter teeth to patients in six to eighteen months.
Invisalign is ideal for mild to moderate orthodontic concerns. It isn’t able to handle more complicated cases. However, many people enjoy Invisalign because it’s comfortable and subtle.
Patients do have to be disciplined with Invisalign and make sure they’re wearing the aligners for the correct amount of time to get the results they desire. You’re able to take them out to eat, so you have no food restrictions, but they do need to be worn for about 20-22 hours each day.
Retainers
Once treatment with metal braces or Invisalign is complete, Dr. Naguib will provide you with a retainer. Retainers are used to keep your teeth in place and maintain their straight appearance. They can be worn at night to prevent teeth from shifting out of place.
Retainers are a crucial part of orthodontic treatment. If you want to make sure the results of your braces or aligners stay that way, retainers need to be worn regularly. Retainers ensure that the teeth stay aligned and they stabilize your bite.
It takes some time for your soft tissue and bone to adjust to the new position your teeth are in. Your retainer helps this adjustment and makes it more likely that you won’t suffer from orthodontic relapse.
Nightguards
Nightguards are oral appliances worn at night. This solution is used to treat bruxism, or teeth clenching and grinding. Patients often subconsciously grind their teeth at night or in stressful situations. Nightguards prevent further wear and tear to teeth.
While grinding your teeth may not seem like a big deal, it can wreak havoc on your oral health. Teeth can wear down faster or even break because of the pressure they’re under. TMJ disorders can develop, impacting the function of your jaw joint and causing pain throughout the jaw, face, and neck.
Using a nightguard can help to prevent these side effects from happening, eliminating the impact the grinding and clenching have on your mouth.
Mouthguards
The mouthguards we offer are designed to protect the teeth during contact sports. All of our mouthguards are custom-made so that they fit perfectly on your teeth. Impressions are taken and the mouthguard is made from the mold of your teeth. Sports accidents are one of the leading causes of dental trauma, and this can help you avoid broken or knocked-out teeth.
Over-the-counter sports mouthguards don’t offer the same benefits as those that are custom-made. They’re intended to be one size fits all, but that means you have to clench your teeth to keep the guard in your mouth. This means you aren’t able to communicate easily with your teammates or take a quick water break without taking it out.
Clenching your teeth also causes stress throughout your jaw, face, and neck, causing more problems and pain.
Orthodontics FAQs
What are the three stages of braces?
Braces treatment typically is performed in three stages. The first stage is the planning stage. The second stage is the active stage, and the third stage is the retention stage.
How do orthodontists remove braces brackets?
Brace brackets are glued to your teeth using cement. In order to remove them, dentists use a special tool to loosen the brackets and remove the cement. Brackets and wires typically pop off together in one piece.
How long should orthodontic retainers be worn?
Orthodontic retainers should be worn all day every day for the time period their dentists recommend. In most cases, it will be recommended that patients wear their retainers at night as well.
How long can you go between braces adjustments?
Most patients have scheduled appointments to adjust their braces every couple of months. We will recommend when to schedule your next wire and bracket adjustment between appointments, as it may vary as you progress through different stages of treatment. Before getting braces patients should know that they will have to schedule visits to have them adjusted about every 6-8 weeks.
Why do braces need to be tightened?
Braces need to be tightened as patients progress through treatment. As your teeth shift further into alignment, wires and brackets need to be adjusted to further progress your treatment.
Why do my teeth hurt after my braces are tightened?
As your teeth shift from treatment, you may feel slight pain. After braces are tightened they are readjusted to continue moving your teeth into the proper position, so you may feel slight pressure and pain. An OTC pain reliever may be used to relieve any pain.
Request an Appointment Today
Receive a more balanced smile today. Call our Lancaster, CA dentist office at (661) 948-6700 or schedule a dental visit to our Lancaster dentist office online. Call our Palmdale, CA dentist office at (661) 273-6565 or schedule a visit to our Palmdale dentist office online.