This is a great accomplishment! You have successfully completed orthodontic treatment in Pasadena, TX and have now achieved the straight, healthy smile you have always wanted. Congratulations on your hard work and sacrifice. Now, there is one more step to ensure your new smile lasts — wearing a retainer. But what happens if you fail to wear your retainer as your orthodontist instructed?

Wearing Retainers Near You

Retainers hold newly straightened teeth in proper position after orthodontic treatment is completed. Not wearing your retainer after your braces are removed my cause your teeth to revert back to their prior positions. Reversion may result in another round of orthodontic care to repair the problem once again.

To avoid having to wear braces again, wear your retainers as prescribed. It will help you maintain your beautiful smile and eliminate the need for further treatment.

Right after your braces are taken off, you must wear your retainers all the time. This means every day, around the clock, unless your orthodontist provides alternate instructions. This schedule will last for about four to six months. The appliance will even be worn during sleep.

Removing Retainers in Deer Park, TX

• Orthodontic retainers should be removed to eat or to brush and floss your teeth.
• Take out the appliance when drinking very cold or very hot beverages.
• Remove retainers while swimming or playing contact sports.
• Always store retainers properly in a clean and secure case. Do not wrap the appliance in a napkin. It could easily be mistaken for trash and get thrown out. Also, be sure to keep the retainer out of reach of any animals in the home.
• Clean your retainers with anti-bacterial soap or brush them thoroughly with toothpaste and water.

Call us immediately if your retainer is broken or lost. If the appliance needs to be adjusted, contact our office. Never attempt to adjust a retainer on your own. With any other questions or concerns regarding your retainers, do not hesitate to call your orthodontist in Pasadena, TX. Book your next appointment online today with our dentist near you!

For many Americans out there, the way our teeth look can have a direct effect on how confident we feel. If your smile includes broken, cracked, decayed, or weak tooth, your dentist may be able to fix the problem with dental crowns. In the following article we will discuss a few ways that dental crowns can repair your smile and self-confidence.

Know Your Crowns

Dental crowns are both a permanent fix and can also be a temporary fix if needed. The following list includes reasons as to why getting a crown can be beneficial to you:

• You have a cavity that is too large for a standard dental filling
• You need a dental bridge to replace a lost tooth or teeth
• You’re getting a dental implant – the crown fits over the implant post.
• You have a badly cracked or broken tooth
• You have had a root canal, and the restored tooth needs reinforcement and protection
• You have permanently stained or discolored teeth
• You are not happy with the shape of your teeth

A crown typically can cover a natural to tooth both fully and partially. Depending on the level of repair necessary crowns can also be placed over dental implant posts. Crowns are most usually made of porcelain, ceramic, gold and metal alloys, acrylics, and composite resins. Depending on where the crown itself will be placed, the functionality required, and your circumstances, this will determine which material your dentist will recommend for your crown.

Getting A Dental Crown

Dentist first prepare the tooth by removing any decay and reinforcing the remaining tooth with a filling material. The tooth is then shaped so that it can accept the crown, followed by your dentist taking an impression or mold of your bite. The mold instructions are then sent to a lab to make the permanent crown that will be placed in your mouth. Once the permanent crown is ready, your dentist then places the new crown over your tooth. Don’t worry if some adjustments may need to be made, after you and your dentist are satisfied, the crown will be cemented and bonded into place.

If dental crowns are something you would like to consult a dental professional about, the team here at Town Square Dental in Pasadena, TX, would love the opportunity to meet you and get to to treat you. Apart from cosmetic dentistry, we can be the well-round dental resources you need in your life to stay healthy and happy. Feel free to give our office a call or send us an email, today!