Dr. Noah's Dentistry Blog

Questions About Dentistry Answered

The Aftermath of Thumb Sucking

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Can you help me? I have a teenager who is still sucking her thumb and now her teeth are protruding quite a bit. She’s starting high school soon and I want her to feel beautiful. But, they’re not just an overbite. They’re also kind of curved. What will fix this AND is there anything which can help her with this habit?

Tracy

Dear Tracy,

Smiling young woman with braces

I agree it is important for a young woman to feel confident and attractive. In fact, confidence is attractive. Because of the issues facing your daughter’s teeth, I’d suggest you see an orthodontist. She will need braces. These will fix both the problems of inclination and position simultaneously.

As for aiding her in giving up the thumb sucking, the first thing to do is not use punishments or shaming. You want her to grow up confident, not worried there’s something wrong with her. However, the thumbsucking has to stop or her teeth will continue to go out of alignment.

The easiest way is to use a product called Thum. It’s an unpleasant tasting liquid you can paint on her thumb. It should help her break the habit.

It’s important she’s careful about brushing her teeth during braces. Let her know ahead of time it’s harder. She’ll have to really work to get in there. It would help her to have a water pick too, which helps with getting food trapped around the bits of metal.

Too often we see white spots on teeth after braces. This is decalcification, which is the precursor to decay.

After Orthodontics

When her braces are done, she’ll be given a retainer to wear. It’s important she wears that or her teeth won’t stay in the proper position. You won’t be starting over, but you will have to do some repairs after shifting without that retainer.

With healthy teeth, there usually isn’t much a teenager needs to do cosmetically. However, some prefer to have their teeth whitened after they finally get their braces off, giving them a fresh look along with the straighter teeth.

This blog is brought to you by Tulsa Dentist Dr. Ryan Noah.

Gum Recession During Braces

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I had a problem with gum recession during my braces. This created a black triangle at my gums. Is there a solution for this?

Dave

Dear Dave,

images of teeth with black triangles

Unfortunately, quite a few patients develop this problem with traditional braces. Many patients find it harder to keep up with their oral hygiene as well. Yes, gum recession can lead to black triangles. I’m sorry you’re dealing with this. The first thing I’d do is find out the cause of the gum recession, making sure it’s not a result of gum disease. If gum disease is the cause, that will need to be dealt with first.

There are orthodontic treatments that make it easier to brush and floss properly. For instance, with Invisalign, you simply remove your aligners then brush and floss as you normally would.

Treating Black Triangle After Orthodontics

Sometimes orthodontics can correctly repair a black triangle, but if this happened during your treatment that’s not going to happen. Instead, you’ll need a cosmetic solution.

I’ll be honest with you, not many dentists can do this repair. It’s treated with dental bonding, but because of the placement of the spaces, it requires some real expertise in cosmetics to make this look natural.

Unless your dentist is among the top cosmetic dentists in the country, I’d have him recommend someone for you.

This blog is brought to you by Glenpool Dentist Dr. Ryan Noah

Do Braces Cause Spots on Teeth?

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My mom wants me to get braces. I want to get Invisalign. She says I’d have to give her a good reason to pay the extra for Invisalign. My friend Sydney got braces and when they came off her teeth were spotted white were the braces were and have stayed that way. Is that caused by the braces?

Kaleigh

Dear Kaleigh,

Someone smiling with braces

While those spots wouldn’t have appeared like that without her braces, the braces weren’t the actual cause of the spots. The spots are caused by food being trapped in the braces and not adequately cleaned. After a time the bacteria will start eating away at the enamel on your teeth. When the braces are removed, those spots look whiter or sometimes brown. Often, there is decay underneath the spots which seriously needs to be dealt with.

Benefits for Using Invisalign Orthodontics

Here is what you can tell your mother. Invisalign is superior to braces in the following ways:

  • Invisalign makes it much easier to clean your teeth. You simply remove the aligners, brush, and floss, then put the aligners back in. There is a lot less risk of the problem listed above, which will cost your mother additional money in digging out the decay, then finding a skilled cosmetic dentist to do the cosmetic bonding on top of the spots.
  • She can cook whatever she wants because there are no limitations on what you can eat. Nothing gets stuck in the aligners because you remove them to eat.
  • They’re much more comfortable than braces because there are no metal wires and brackets.
  • They tend to work faster than braces.
  • Students have more confidence wearing them because they truly are like having invisible braces.

What You Need to be Aware of

There are three things you need to be aware of going into this so you’re prepared. First, not everyone is a candidate for Invisalign. It’s always possible your mom could agree to get you Invisalign but when you go to see a dentist or orthodontist, it turns out your case is too advanced for Invisalign and you have to do traditional braces.

Second, it will cost your mother additional money if you misplace your aligners, which has been a problem with teenagers using the procedure.

Third, you must wear the aligners the prescribed time or it won’t work. This is a great treatment, but it’s a treatment which requires patient compliance requiring maturity. Be honest with yourself about your abilities to take this seriously.

Best of luck convincing your mother!
This blog is brought to you by Tulsa dentist Dr. Ryan Noah.

DIY Braces

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I’ve got a group of girls in my elementary school class who are doing DIY braces with rubber bands. I know this has to be dangerous, but when I told them that they said that “I didn’t know because I’m not a dentist and this was on YouTube with lots of people who’ve done it.” As you’re a dentist. Can you let these girls know what they’re getting themselves into?

Miss Ketchum

Dear Miss Ketchum,

Someone smiling with braces

You sound like a compassionate teacher. I’m glad you’re looking out for these girls. I’m sure their parents will be too. The first thing I’d do, though, is let their parents know what they’re doing at school. It’s very likely they’re hiding this from their folks and this will give them a heads up so they’ll know to keep an eye out for it.

Now, onto what you should show the gals. I’m sure you’ve told them this many times, but you cannot believe everything you see on the internet. I’ve seen the video they’re talking about. There are actually several of them and, for a while, they were very trendy. In this case, listening to whoever uploaded these to YouTube could actually cost them their teeth.

When you get braces from a dentist, it’s a carefully planned treatment. First, the teeth are gently edged into a new position. Then some time is given for the bone to reform around the roots of their teeth. With the rubber bands, their teeth are being tipped inward. While it will bring their teeth closer together, it doesn’t do it properly. However, the way it does do it does not allow the bone to reform properly around them. The danger of that is your teeth don’t have any support. They will become loose. If you continue on with the bands, they will eventually fall out.

There have even been a few cases where some young people slept in their bands and they ended up with the rubber bands worming their way under their gums. The only way keep them from developing a severe infection was to have surgery to dig them out.

Alternatives to DIY Orthodontics

They don’t have to shift their teeth themselves. There are lots of fun options in orthodontics.

  • Traditional Braces

Getting traditional braces can give you an opportunity to express your personality. You can get them different colors or even a mixture of colors. You can even switch your colors at some appointments, so you get the opportunity to mix it up a bit.

  • Invisible Braces

Maybe you’re the type who doesn’t want anyone to know you need braces. In that case, Invisalign is your better option. Instead of the flash of colored braces, you can have invisible ones. Seriously. No one can tell you’re wearing them even at a conversational distance.

These have an added benefit of allowing you to whiten your teeth at the same time you’re straightening them. So, if you gals happen to be big coffee drinkers (shame on you!) then you can get rid of those unsightly coffee stains.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Ryan Noah.

Dentist Told Me to Go to Orthodontist Not Cosmetic Dentist

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I have a gap between my teeth I want to fix with cosmetic dentistry. I’d asked my dentist for a referral but he says that’s a waste of money and I should see an orthodontist. I’m too old for a mouth full of metal. Besides, it’s my money, if it’s more expensive but works I’ll be happy. I don’t want to be a metal mouth at 42.

Lara M.

Dear Lara,

A woman placing her Invisaliagn aligners

Orthodontics no longer mean metal braces

The only time cosmetic dentistry is a waste of money is if you go to a bad cosmetic dentist. It sounds to me like your family dentist is feeling a little salty about you asking to see a cosmetic dentist, probably because he hasn’t developed his skill set to include cosmetic work.

Cosmetic dentistry isn’t a recognized specialty with the American Dental Association (ADA). Instead, it’s general dentists who’ve invested time in learning the cosmetic procedures. Obviously, some dentists will be better than others, so you have to be careful.

Are Orthodontics the Only Solution for a Tooth Gap?

There are several solutions for a tooth gap, but let’s look at the orthodontic ones first. Obviously, you already know about the traditional metal braces. But, there have been significant advances in orthodontics since you were a child. We now have braces that you can’t even see.

If you look at the image above you see a woman placing clear aligners onto her teeth in the first picture. The second picture beneath that is her with the aligners on. As you see, there’s no way to tell she’s wearing anything on her teeth. This is Invisalign. It uses sets of clear aligners to straighten your teeth which are not visible even at a conversational distance.

But, let’s say you still don’t want orthodontics. That’s okay. The most common solution for a tooth gap is dental bonding. It uses a composite resin to fill in the gap. A good cosmetic dentist will make it blend seamlessly in with your natural tooth structure.

If there are more things about your teeth you’d like to change than just a gap, you might consider porcelain veneers. Porcelain veneers completely remake a smile. They can change the shape, size, and color of your teeth.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Ryan Noah.

Orthodontist Said Fluorosis Means I Can’t Get Braces

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I’m very sad. I grew up in Columbia and became a citizen of the United States about ten years ago. I’ve always wanted to straighten my teeth, but needed to get financially stable first. I am and went to my first orthodontist appointment today. It was very disappointing. He said I couldn’t have braces because I have severe fluorosis. Is there no way I can fix my teeth?

Luis G.

Dear Luis,

Someone smiling with braces

I’m sorry you’ve been given the impression you can’t get your teeth straightened. You can. There are two ways to go about this, but with either option, it sounds like you’ll need a different orthodontist, one who’s more up to date with techniques and procedures.

Orthodontic Options for Patients with Severe Fluorosis

If braces are what your heart is set on, there is a way to get that. Recent studies have shown that if the orthodontist does double etching, the bond will be strong enough for your braces to remain where they should for the duration of your treatment.

Many dentists have done dental bonding procedures on fluorosis patients with great success. If it works with the bonding it should work with braces.

There is actually a better option than braces for someone in your position. Have you looked into Invisalign? It straightens your teeth without any metal wires and brackets. It’s also completely invisible, so no one will know you’re straightening your teeth.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Ryan Noah.

Does an Open Bite REALLY Have to be Fixed?

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My dentist wants me to get braces. He insists my open bite needs to be fixed. There’s nothing really wrong with my teeth except for that. Is it really necessary to fix it? I suspect it’s either just for cosmetic reasons or to make my dentist a load of money. Either way, I’m not interested. So, give me a real reason.

Mike A.

Dear Mike,

Tulsa Orthodontist

An open bite actually would benefit from being fixed, and for more than cosmetic reasons. While it does have a negative impact on the appearance of your smile, it’s actually the negative impact on your jaw joints and teeth that are the real concern.

How Do Open Bites Affect Your Body?

Your upper teeth are meant to go a bit forward of your lower teeth. An open bite prevents that putting pressure in unnatural places.

TMJ PROBLEMS
The first obvious problem is your jaw joints. Your temporomandibular joints get knocked about and ground down. This will lead to TMJ disorder. TMJ can be mild to so serious that your jaw locks up and you’re unable to close it or eat. Even the mild cases generally cause migraines, which can be debilitating in they’re own right.

Tooth Damage
Your molars especially will become ground down or even chipped or cracked. In most cases, you’ll end up needing dental crowns. This is costly and an unnecessary loss of otherwise healthy teeth.

Orthodontic Solutions to an Open Bite

Invisible Orthodontics with Invisalign

The most severe open bites require surgery to repair. But, if your dentist is suggesting orthodontics then you’re not in that situation. That’s good news because it means it can be solved with orthodontics. There are two routes to choose from:

  • Traditional braces. These are the usual metal brackets and wires you likely think of when you hear the braces. These can be placed by any orthodontist and a few dentists. Dr. Noah’s practice is one of those dentists.
  • Invisalign. These days there is another option. Invisalign can be useful in solving this problem without anyone knowing you’re even wearing them. Better still is almost any dentist can place them.

Bottom line, your dentist is looking out for your best interest and isn’t just trying to make a quick buck.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Ryan Noah.

Is It Possible My Tooth Gap Will Close?

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I’m seventeen years old. My teeth are completely straight and healthy except for a small gap between my front teeth. I know that I’ve kind of lucked out in the teeth department but the small gap between the two front teeth really bugs me. My wisdom teeth still haven’t come in. Is there a possibility when they do come in it will push the gap closed? If not, is there something I can do to close it that doesn’t include a mouth full of metal?

Amanda P.

Dear Amanda,

While it is possible that the eruption of your wisdom teeth could shift your top arch and close the gap, there are also a few things that could keep that from happening.

First, the gap could be too large. That may mean that your teeth shift, but not enough to close the gap completely.

Second, there is a small piece of tissue in between your two front teeth which is known as a frenum. Most people who have a gap between their teeth, the frenum is the cause. In some patients, the frenum is so large they need to have it removed so that the gap can be closed with orthodontics.

impacted wisdom teeth

Third, not everyone’s wisdom teeth come in straight. If they do, great. But, many patients have to have their wisdom teeth removed because they end up impacted. If that’s the case with your wisdom teeth, they won’t be available to push your diastema (tooth gap) closed. The above image shows you what impacted wisdom teeth can look like.

If it happens that you aren’t able to use your wisdom teeth to shift everything, there’s still hope. And, it won’t require a mouth full of metal.

You could use Invisalign. These are invisible aligners that can close the gap for you in a more effective and comfortable way than traditional braces.

If you don’t want to use orthodontics at all, you can go the cosmetic route. The simplest procedure is to have dental bonding done by a good cosmetic dentist. It uses composite material, similar to what you’d find with white fillings to fill in the gap. You want an experienced cosmetic dentist in order to ensure they’ll be able to make it look natural.

I hope this helps.
This blog is brought to you by Dr. Ryan Noah.

Smile Club or Professional Orthodontics

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I’ve been trying to do save up for orthodontics for a long time. I’m getting close, but just read something about Smile Care Club. It’s a lot less expensive than the orthodontics. Is it okay for me to use that and then save the rest of the money for something else?

Lisa A.

Dear Lisa,

The best thing about the Smile Club is the cost savings. I just want you to think about it ahead of time. They have you send x-rays, but there are some things, such as gum disease, which is very hard to discern by x-rays alone. It usually takes a physical exam as well.

Gum disease is serious and can creep up on you silently. If you get this type of orthodontics while having gum disease, it will make the situation significantly worse. That puts you at risk of losing your teeth. In that case, instead of spending a little extra money up front, you’ll end up spending thousands to replace lost teeth.

The other thing to bear in mind is things which can go wrong during the treatment. Sometimes, as teeth are brought together, there needs to be some mild shaving to ensure they come together well. In that case you’d need to see a dentist. You’d want it to be a dentist invested in your case, but you won’t have one of those.

Smile Club keeps up with you by photos and phone. I feel one on one monitoring in person is the safest way to go, especially for the patient. This is designed to be a mail order substitute for Invisalign. You’d be better served getting actual Invisalign and the personal attention you both need and deserve during your treatment.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Ryan Noah.

Is Orthofill a Scam?

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I was looking at the Orthofill website. They seem to have a lot of regular people saying it worked for them. It’s so much more affordable than braces. All I really need to do is close a gap in my front teeth. This seems like a much more reasonable option. However, my dad always says if something seems too good to be true, it probably is. I just want to make sure I’m not getting myself scammed when I just want to close a gap. I’m not opposed to spending money, but I don’t want ugly braces and I kind of wanted something that worked faster than braces.

Mandy P.

Dear Mandy,

I’m glad you wrote. People see their gap closing and think “Problem solved.” What they don’t see is that the gap will eventually open back up. The bands don’t actually work on your teeth the way true orthodontics would. They tip your teeth toward one another. You’d get the same results if you wrapped small rubber bands around your front teeth.

There have been horror stories with these too. Bands have wormed their way underneath people’s gums causing horrific damage to the patient. As the bands are most often worn during sleep, you wouldn’t even know it was happening.

Orthodontics aren’t the only solution for a tooth gap. There are cosmetic solutions, such as dental bonding as well. That will use a composite solution to fill in the gap on your teeth. If there are other things you’d like to change on your teeth, porcelain veneers are a great solution. They can completely remake your smile. You mentioned the only thing you were interested in is the gap, so this probably isn’t your solution. I just wanted you to know it was available.

Also, if you’d like to close the gap, not just cosmetically, but actually. There is a way to do it without bulky metal wires and brackets. Invisalign can do the same things as braces, without anyone knowing you’re wearing anything. Faster too.

This blog is brought to you by Dr. Ryan Noah.