Dr. Noah's Dentistry Blog

Questions About Dentistry Answered

Treatment is more affordable in Mexico. Is it safe?

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I’ve been told dental treatment is way more affordable in Mexico. Is it safe to go their for treatment?

Henry W. – New Mexico

Henry,

I’m sure with you being so close to the border it is tempting to take a quick trip over and save some money. However, I want to caution you before you make a decision. First, Mexico doesn’t have the same standards in place for dentists that we do in the United States. Here are a few examples:

  • Sterilization and Cleanliness are left up to the dentist as to whether or not they have a system in  place. Some will be diligent and some will be negligent, which could lead to substantial infections.
  • Dentists are not required to have any type of malpractice insurance.  That means if things go arry, you will be at the mercy of the dentist as to what, if any steps are taken to repair the problem.
  • There are no FDA regulations on materials. You could end up with substandard materials in your mouth.

You’ll have to weigh the risks and make a decision. There are ways to make your dental care here in the US more affordable. The first thing I would do is speak with your current dentist and ask him about payment options. Most have low and even no-interest payment plans. Some dentists even have discounts for patients who pay in case.  I would just be forthcoming with your dentist and let him or her know your situation.

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

Gorgeous teeth for prom

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My prom is in two weeks. Is that enough time to get gorgeous white teeth?

Allison M. – Little Rock, AR

Allison,

It certainly is enough time if you do in office whitening. If you do take home whitening they will get whiter, but not as white as they can get. The trick will be getting an appointment before your prom.

I suggest you call around and see what dentist in your area does Zoom Whitening and can get you in before prom.  It will completely whiten your teeth in just one appointment.

Have lots of fun at prom.

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

Can orthofill cause me to lose my teeth?

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I’ve been using orthofill bands and have recently been reading all this stuff online about how it can make you lose your teeth. Is that true?

Becca L. – Germantown, TN

Becca,

There is some legitimate concern that rapid tooth movement, connected with orthofill, causing tooth loss. When your teeth move, they need time for the bone to reform around the roots of your teeth in order to keep them secure. Without that time, you risk your teeth coming loose and falling out.

I recommend you see an orthodontist to help fix your tooth gap, or at least to monitor you during your orthofill usage.  There are many ways to fix your teeth these days. You’re no longer limited to traditional wire and bracket braces. There are even invisable braces.

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

Invisalign helped me drop 12 pounds!

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Here is an interesting communication we got from an Invisalign patient.

I just finished my invisalign treatment and I am thrilled. My teeth look great. No one even knew I was wearing them the entire treatment, unless I told them myself. However, that is not the best part. I lost twelve pounds  during my treatment. Thanks for helping me feel gorgeous from head to toe!

Samantha

Now I can already predict the amount of email questions I am going to get regarding Invisalign and weight loss, so let me address it now.

If you’re considering Invisalign treatments, I want you to know that weight loss is not a part of the treatment program.  I spoke with Samantha and want to let you know what it was that helped her take off the weight because of Invisalign.

During your Invisalign treatment, you wear the aligners all the time, with the exception of when you eat and when you clean your teeth. Samantha had not realized how much she snacked during the day, until it became a matter of always having to remove her aligners and clean her teeth afterward. She began to just eat during her meal times. As a result, she lost twelve pounds.

So, will you lose weight during your treatments? That depends on whether wearing the aligners changes your eating habits. If it cuts down on your caloric intake, then yes. If not, then no.

Either way, you will get a beautifully straight smile, without out any of the unsightliness and uncomfortableness of traditional wire and bracket braces.

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

Can you solve an argument between me and my dentist?

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I’ve been wearing invisalign aligners. My dentist insists I wear them for the full two weeks, but my teeth move into place sooner than that. He tells me there are very important reasons for waiting the two weeks, but won’t go into any more detail. It is very frustrating to me, who likes all the information. I’m bright enough to understand the jargon.  Is there anything you can tell me?

Kay M. – South Dakota

Kay,

Your dentist is right, you do need to wear them for the entire two weeks. I don’t understand why your dentist either couldn’t or wouldn’t give you a reason for the necessity. It is fairly simple.

Your teeth will move into their new alignment after just a couple of days. The rest of the two weeks is spent giving the bone time to reform around the next tooth position. If you don’t do that, then there will be nothing to stabalize your tooth. What will happen if you continue to just put on the next aligners without giving the bone time? You will risk your teeth coming loose and even falling out.

I know it is tempting to want to finish even faster than normal. Ask yourself, though, if it is worth the risk, especially since Invisalign finishes in half the time of traditional braces.  Just be patient, wear your aligners, and before you know it you will be finished with your final set.

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

Kissing with Invisalign

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My friend said that you can’t kiss anyone if you get invisalign. Is that true?

Miranda R. – Little Rock

Miranda,

You are wiser than your friend, because rather than just believe a rumor, you went to an educated source to check it out.  Your friend is mistaken.

You can pretty much function normally with Invisalign. You will take the aligners out to eat, but that is no big deal.

The aligners are so slender that it would be difficult for someone to even notice you were wearing them.

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

Implants before braces?

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I’m getting dental implants, but I am also getting braces.  Which one should I get first?

Samantha- Philadelphia.

Samantha,

It is always best to get your braces done first, because once your implants are placed they cannot be moved. They are permanently  placed into your jawbone and lack the ligament necessary to deal with movement.

The tricky part is making sure your braces movement doesn’t affect your dental implant placement. You’ll want to find an orthodontist who is comfortable doing both orthodontics and dental implants, because they’ll understand the unique procedures.

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

braces for headaches

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I have always been uncomfortable with my smile. My front teeth are kind of bucked and there are big gaps in my teeth. However, recently my teeth seemed to have shifted to the right a little. Since then I’ve been getting headaches.  Do I need braces to fix this?

Yvette- New Jersey

Yvette,

Your teeth being out of alignment can cause you to have headaches. I don’t know if that is why you are having headaches.  I would recommend you also see a doctor.  If you’ve been uncomfortable with your teeth anyway it wouldn’t hurt to have them fixed. You may find that you’ve gotten a smile you love and have gotten rid of your headaches.

I would go see either an orthodontist, or a dentist who does orthodontics. However, I would have your gums looked at first. I’m a little concerned about your teeth shifting. Sometimes that can be from gum disease. If that isn’t treated, you could loose your teeth.

If your dentist determines that your gums are fine, then I would go ahead with the orthodontic treatment. I would also ask your dentist about Invisalign. This can straighten your teeth in half the time as traditional braces.

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