Why do you need retainers after teeth straightening?

Why do you need retainers after teeth straightening?

by | Feb 15, 2021 | Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Treatment, Oral Conditions and Issues, Oral Health Children

Most people are unaware of the effects mouth breathing has on orthodontic treatment until after they get their teeth straightened or realigned. Whether they have received braces or Invisalign aligner treatment, a relapse usually occurs to some degree, even after a 100% successful realignment. In the event of a relapse – where the straightened teeth start to gradually shift back towards their original positions – retainers may need to be worn temporarily to allow supportive gum tissue more time to strengthen and stabilise realigned teeth. However, there is another potential risk factor that may be constantly forcing realigned teeth to shift back – how you breathe and your tongue posture.

The tongue – nature’s perfect retainer for straight teeth

Long before the availability of braces or aligner treatments to straighten teeth, nature provided the perfect “retainer” to ensure that your teeth develop and erupt evenly – your tongue. In opposition to the inward forces exerted by the cheek muscles (buccinators), your tongue provides an opposing lateral force that pushes the teeth out. When both forces are equally balanced at approximately 500 gm and your dental arches are well developed, your primary teeth should erupt evenly in all their proper positions during childhood.

How mouth breathing causes straightened teeth to shift back

If you are a mouth-breather – as opposed to a nasal-breather – your bottom jaw sits lower which results in low tongue posture. This leaves your upper jaw (maxilla) without the support and outward force required to counteract the cheek muscles’ inward forces. Without this counterbalancing effect, the inward force exertion causes the arches to narrow during development thus creating a narrow arch, less space for erupting teeth and misaligned or crowded teeth as a result. Now, when you jump forward in time to the teen or adult that has received orthodontic treatment, it is important to understand the very same oral forces that have caused teeth misalignment issues during development are probably still in play after treatment. 

Why do you need retainers after teeth straightening?

Orthotropic treatment can help minimise the need for retainers

While orthodontic treatment such as braces and aligners focuses on straightening teeth, orthotropic treatment focuses on rectifying breathing and postural habits that cause teeth to misalign in the first place. When children and teens receive orthotropic treatment, adopting new mouth and tongue postural habits can improve their oral development. This can result in better teeth alignment all the way into adulthood. However, just because you’re an adult receiving orthodontic treatment, it doesn’t mean you’ve missed out on all the benefits of orthotropics. By simply ensuring that you breathe through your nose, keep your mouth closed and position your tongue correctly on the palate of the mouth, you can help minimise the forces acting against your newly positioned and straightened teeth. This allows supportive ligaments to strengthen and stabilise teeth in their sockets sooner rather than later – and less time spent wearing retainers!

Straight teeth can improve your oral health

Straight teeth can improve your oral health

by | Sep 1, 2018 | Cosmetic Dentistry, Oral Conditions and Issues

People want straighter teeth for a number of reasons, including improving one’s cosmetic appearance and smile-confidence. But did you know that straighter teeth can improve your oral health?

The health benefits of straight teeth

Recent research shows that people who have straighter teeth and a properly aligned bite have better oral health, and a lower risk of periodontal disease (or gum disease) than those with crooked or crowded teeth. One major benefit of having straighter teeth is easier cleaning, which can reduce the risk of tooth decay, gum disease, loss of teeth and jaw issues. A properly aligned bite prevents uneven and excess wear to tooth enamel. You’re also going to be able to chew your food more effectively for better digestion, nutritional intake and better overall health.

Orthodontics – dental treatment to straighten teeth

The area of dentistry that specialises in correcting crooked or crowded teeth and overbites is called orthodontics or orthodontic treatment. And a dentist that provides orthodontic treatment is called an orthodontist. At Leeming Dental, Dr. Sonny Lee and Dr. Sashika Fernando are our resident orthodontists!

Orthodontic treatments – how to get straight teeth

Modern Orthodontics offers many kinds of braces for children, teens & adults, including:

  • Traditional braces/Metal braces – Getting metal braces is the traditional way to straighten teeth. They are quick and efficient, and utilise metal brackets and wire to reposition your teeth.
  • Ceramic braces /White braces – Ceramic braces utilise brackets and wires that are made of tooth-coloured or clear ceramics.
  • Invisible aligners – Invisalign consists of an 18 to 30 step treatment plan that utilises clear mouthguard-like aligners that are replaced fortnightly.
  • Lingual braces – Lingual braces are similar to metal braces, except they are attached to & pull in from the inside surfaces of the teeth.

Maintain your straighter teeth with RETAINERS

After your orthodontic treatment, it takes time for your teeth to learn their new positions, and to seat properly. Trouble is, they may start to drift back to their original positions, and get crooked or crowded again. That’s where retainers come in. Removable or fixed retainers help keep your teeth in their new positions after orthodontic treatment. Retainers are the best way to protect your investment in your teeth, and are typically worn 1 or 2 nights a week but everyone is different. You just need to follow your Leeming Dental orthodontist’s recommendation to ensure that your teeth stay straight and healthy for life!

Straight teeth can improve your oral health
The effects of diabetes on oral health

The effects of diabetes on oral health

by | Oct 13, 2016 | Oral Conditions and Issues, Oral Links to General Health, Risk Factors, Signs and Symptoms

The effects of diabetes on oral health

There are many well-known complications associated with diabetes and untreated high blood sugar levels. They include kidney disease (nephropathy), nerve damage (neuropathy), heart disease, eye damage (retinopathy) and peripheral arterial disease (PAD). But one overlooked health condition in the top ten list of possible complications of diabetes is oral health. If left untreated, diabetes can gradually affect your oral health in many ways.

When you have the condition, you are at higher risk for certain oral health conditions. High blood sugar and the side effects of some diabetes medication can cause dry mouth. Dry mouth is the result of a decrease in the saliva production in your mouth. Without the cleansing and protective effects of saliva, bacteria thrive, and gum tissue can become irritated and inflamed. A dry mouth condition can lead to its own set of oral health complications such as tooth decay, cavities, gingivitis, gum disease, dental bleeding, salivary gland infections, oral thrush and mouth sores.

Uncontrolled diabetes can affect white blood cells also. White blood cells are the main defence against oral infections. (Diabetics with a haemoglobin A1C levels above 8% indicate poor control) In turn, as oral inflammation and infection develops, the body’s blood sugar levels may increase. Consequently, diabetics with severe gum disease (periodontitis) may find it even harder to keep their blood sugar levels under control.

There are several warning signs of oral health problems that may be diabetes related:

  • Redness, swelling or tenderness in the gums
  • Pain or soreness in the mouth
  • Teeth that are loose or have shifted
  • Constant bad breath or bad taste in your mouth
  • Loss of taste
  • A dry, sticky sensation in your mouth
  • Unusual colour of your tongue
The effects of diabetes on oral health

While your dentist can not diagnose diabetes, they are often one of the first health care professionals to recognise a group of oral health symptoms – that are not within the scope of typical dental health issues.

It is important to take the right steps to keep your mouth healthy if you have diabetes:

  1. Control and manage your blood glucose levels
  2. Brush and floss twice daily
  3. Use a tongue scrapper and an antibacterial mouthwash
  4. Visit your dentist for regular check-ups and cleans
  5. Keep your dentist informed about your diabetes and your medication
  6. Consult your dentist or doctor about any unusual symptoms and health concerns

With better management of your diabetes, careful attention to your diet, and good oral health and hygiene, you can work toward achieving better overall health and well-being.

Restore Missing Teeth

Restore Missing Teeth

by | May 9, 2015 | Cosmetic Dentistry, Dental Treatment, Oral Conditions and Issues

Lower denture with braces on a white background. Horizontal position.In some cases, a tooth cannot be saved and will need to be extracted. Our dentists at Leeming Dental can recommend several options for replacing missing teeth. Of course, we prefer to repair and save everybody’s teeth. And who wants to lose any of their teeth? However, if it is necessary to remove a teeth, the rule of thumb for replacement are the following 3 options:

 

  1. Dentures (plate)
  2. Bridges
  3. Implants
Restore Missing Teeth

We are happy to discuss the option that best suits your situation, lifestyle and budget. Immediate temporary replacements are almost always possible. They are a short term fix. But they allow you to walk around without a visible gap in your teeth.