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Archives for December 2011

No crowns unless I get braces?

December 21, 2011 by goodtooth

Have you ever heard of a dentist refusing to place crowns without having braces done? Here’s what is going on. I went into my dentist today to to talk to him about replacing my old crowns that are on my front teeth. It has been about 15 years or so since they were originally put on and he told me that I need to have full orthodontic braces first. Pretty much I was told that I won’t be able to get new crowns if I don’t do the braces first. The problem is that I cannot afford to have braces and all I really want is to have the crowns replaced. I would consider his other recommendations at a later time, just not right now. I really don’t think my front teeth are that crooked, so I don’t know what to do. Can you provide any insight?

– Tom from Missouri

Tom,

It is not a good sign when a dentist gives you an ultimatum or places restrictions on what treatment they will provide. It sounds like he is only willing to do the perfect scenario and doesn’t seem to understand your budget concerns. Although a treatment may not always be ideal, doing something is most likely better than nothing if you can afford it.

It is possible to have the crowns fixed without having to do the braces. You could wait until you can afford the orthodontics or you could bypass it altogether if you choose.

Take a look around to see if you can find a dentist that is a bit more understanding about your budgetary constraints and will work with you.

For your front teeth it would be best to have all-porcelain crowns done. This is because if you have porcelain fused to metal crowns, then you run the risk of them ending up looking fake. Also, you may have a dark line that is visible along your gum line. But make sure that the dentist you choose is experienced and seems comfortable doing porcelain crowns. You don’t want to push a dentist out of their comfort zone because you may not end up with the results you want.

I hope this information is helpful to you.

This post is sponsored by Tulsa dentist Region Dental.

Related link: Invisalign

Filed Under: Orthodontics Tagged With: braces, Invisalign, orthodontics, orthodontist, porcelain crowns, traditional braces

Crooked teeth from thumb sucking

December 3, 2011 by goodtooth

I sucked my thumb until I was 13 years old and my teeth are misaligned. My top teeth are curved upward but it’s not the typical overbite that you would expect. Do you know what I can do to have my teeth corrected? I’m ready to stop hiding my smile.

– Janie in Virginia

Janie,

Misalignment of your teeth is not too surprising having sucked your thumb for such a long period of time. An orthodontist will be able to help you straighten your teeth. Based on how you described the shape of your teeth, it sounds like they are not only out of position but they have an inaccurate inclination. Braces will correct both of your problems.

If you are the parent of a thumb sucker, the best advice is to not make too big of a deal out of the behavior. If you put too much pressure on your child and make too big of an issue of things, it may create a complex in your child and reinforce it. I really wouldn’t worry too much about it until your child is school age. There is no long-term, permanent damage that is done before the age of seven. This is because that is when a child typically loses their baby teeth. If you play it cool, when your child begins going to school they may experience peer pressure from their classmates and friends to stop the behavior.

The reason Janice’s teeth suffered from thumb sucking is due to the fact that she sucked her thumb until she was 13 years old. This means her permanent teeth had fully come in. If your child is over the age of seven and not showing signs of quitting, then you may need to step in. Be sure to use positive reinforcement versus causing shame or embarrassment. Again, you don’t want to create an emotional complex in your child or your plan could backfire. You will have the most success if the child wants to quit. Although, there are aids that you can find at the drug store to help break the habit. The products are bitter to the taste and can be painted on the thumb causing an unpleasant reminder of the habit. Again, be encouraging in your approach.

This post is sponsored by Tulsa dentist Region Dental.

Related links: Invisalign

Filed Under: Orthodontics Tagged With: braces, crooked teeth, Invisalign, misaligned teeth, orthodontics, orthodontist, straighten teeth, thumb sucking

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