Do I Really Have to Wear My Rubber Bands?

In a word, Yes. Our doctors would not have made rubber bands part of your orthodontic treatment if they didn’t determine them to be necessary.

            The typical purpose of rubber bands is to correct an overbite or underbite. Once treatment is over, your teeth will fit together nicely. Your smile will look lovely, and eating will be a lot easier. Rubber bands can also be used along the brackets of one jaw to help move teeth in a way that braces might not be able to do alone.

            Tips for wearing rubber bands:

• Wear them consistently – You will need to take out your rubber bands now and then, during brushing for example. But be sure to wear them consistently. If you take them out and don’t put them back in, even if just for a little while, your jaw or teeth can start moving back to original positions, which can significantly extend treatment time. In effect, you might be starting all over.
• Use the right rubber bands – Rubber bands come in different diameters and elastic strengths. Make sure you use the ones given to you by us, or your jaw won’t move into place properly. If for some reason you want to order some rubber bands off the Internet, don’t do it. Instead, call us. We’ll give you the ones you need.
• Don’t improvise – Patients have been known to double up on rubber bands thinking that it will make their teeth move faster. In reality, it doesn’t work that way. Patients might also wear a set of rubber bands longer than instructed instead of replacing them daily or as directed. But rubber bands can lose their elasticity quickly, and wearing one set too long will negatively affect treatment.

How you wear your rubber bands will depend on our instructions. Some patients who wear rubber bands need to wear them all the time. Others only need to wear them while sleeping. Some will need to wear them throughout their entire treatment time, but others will only need to wear them for a portion of it.

Causes of Crooked Teeth

As children grow into adults, their bodies naturally become strong and healthy. Sure, everyone gets sick now and then and some kids come down with diseases or medical conditions, but across the population in general, our hearts, lungs, and other organs develop as they should. If that’s the case, why do so many people have crooked teeth? Studies have estimated that 70% of the population has at least a mild malocclusion, meaning some sort of crooked teeth or misaligned bite. That figure seems exceptionally high. Why isn’t a perfect bite and smile the norm rather than the exception?

            The truth is no one can pinpoint exactly what causes crooked teeth.

            Some scientists posit evolutionary reasons. They point out that humans used to live in hunter-gatherer societies, where they hunted animals for food and gathered berries and roots to eat. But they were always moving to follow game, and they never farmed food. About 12,000 years ago, people began to switch to agricultural societies and raised domesticated animals. Humanity flourished under this new model, and naturally our diets changed. Some anthropologists believe that this change in diet, where we no longer eat hard, raw foods, led to changes in our facial structure. Because we didn’t have to use our jaws as much, they shortened either through natural selection or because children growing up with a different diet developed differently. The teeth however remained the same and couldn’t fit well in the smaller jaw. This overcrowding is what leads to crooked teeth.

            Other researchers agree that crooked teeth weren’t as common in the past, but it’s our modern diet to blame. They claim that processed foods and the modern, industrialized diet aren’t nutritious enough to support a good jaw structure for a straight bite.

            While these types of studies have scientific evidence behind them, their conclusions are not definitive, and they don’t explain why at least some people have naturally straight teeth while others need orthodontic treatment.

            Genetics also play a role. Just as some people are born with long limbs or curly red hair, others have jaws that are too narrow for their teeth or bites that are misaligned.

            There are other factors that can cause crooked teeth. They can result when babies suck their thumbs or use pacifiers too long. Habits like mouth breathing can influence how teeth grow in as well. Crowded, misaligned teeth can also happen when someone loses their baby teeth too soon because an accident knocked them out or because adult teeth started pushing in early.

            The long and the short of it, there is no one single reason we can point to as the ultimate cause of crooked teeth. Depending on the individual, various factors can contribute to the problem. At least we have a solution: modern orthodontics!

Are You Brushing Your Teeth Long Enough?

How much time do you spend brushing your teeth? Most people don’t pay attention to the length of time they brush their teeth. Usually, people brush their teeth in a hurry to get to school, to work or to bed and don’t spend half as much time as they should cleaning their teeth.

Try setting a timer or an alarm, and practice brushing your teeth for a minimum of two minutes. You’ll be surprised how long it feels, and chances are, you haven’t been coming close to brushing for two full minutes. Brushing for the appropriate length of time is particularly important for people with braces because bacteria builds around the brackets, so teeth must be cleaned correctly.

Brushing your teeth is one of the simplest ways to ensure healthy, strong teeth and fight cavities and decay. Implementing the two minute timer technique is one positive step toward protecting the smile you love!

Beware of Sports Drinks and Energy Drinks… You Don’t Want to Give Your Teeth an Acid Bath!

Researchers found teenagers and young adults are facing the negative effects of sports and energy drinks more than any other age group, according to the American Dental Association. These drinks erode tooth enamel, which makes teeth become more sensitive and more prone to cavities and decay.

The study, published in the May/June 2012 issue of General Dentistry, comes from the peer-reviewed clinical journal of the Academy of General Dentistry.

“Young adults consume these drinks assuming that they will improve their sports performance and energy levels and that they are ‘better’ for them than soda,” said Dr. Poonam Jain, lead author. “Most of these patients are shocked to learn that these drinks are essentially bathing their teeth with acid.”

Braces by Burris recommends our patients steer clear of energy drinks and sports drinks. Sports performance can be boosted through other practices. Exercise regularly, get sufficient sleep and drink plenty of water to keep your body active and healthy without jeopardizing your dental health!

Did You Know? Drinking Bottled Water May Cause Tooth Decay

Americans are drinking about 8.4 billion gallons of bottled water each year. What many people don’t realize is bottled water manufacturers are not required to include fluoride in their water and often don’t disclose just how much fluoride is in a bottle of water, if any at all. In fact, most bottled water manufacturers don’t add fluoride to water at all.

 

Fluoride is a salt made from fluorine, soil and rock minerals, and most states add fluoride to tap water. Fluoride strengthens teeth and prevents cavities and tooth decay, particularly in children.

 

While there is no scientific proof that bottled water causes tooth decay, there is overwhelming proof that fluoride prevents tooth decay. Braces by Burris recommends our patients to drink more tap water, a natural, healthy source of water, to avoid tooth decay, gain strong teeth and keep their beautiful smiles!

What’s the difference between Baby Teeth and Permanent Teeth?

What is the difference between “baby” teeth and permanent teeth? At between six and ten months of age, most infants begin to get their “baby” teeth.

 

The Central Incisors (front middle teeth) usually come in first, and then teeth begin appearing on either side and work their way back to the second molars. By the time a child has reached three years old, most of the “baby” teeth should be present.

 

The process begins to repeat itself when the child is about seven years old. The Central Incisors fall out first and are replaced by permanent teeth. This is the perfect age and stage in a child’s life to make their first trip into an orthodontists  office. This does not mean children will be put in braces at this age, but it is a great time for a consultation.

 

“Baby” teeth are important because they hold the place for permanent teeth and help guide them into correct position. “Baby” teeth play an important role in the development of speech and chewing.

 

Source: www.healthyteeth.org

Meet Our Doctor- Dr. Ben Burris!

My practice philosophy is to have a fun and friendly environment where families can come and receive the most technologically advanced treatment from our caring and talented team. I love to watch the transformation of a shy, insecure person who will not even smile to a confident, outgoing individual who feels good about themselves and the image they project when they share their smile with the world. I enjoy spending quality time with my wife, Bridget and our son and daughter, traveling to new places, fishing and hunting.

Fun Facts about Dentistry

We have assembled a list of fun facts about dentistry and orthodontics which you probably never knew:

• Straight teeth have always been important to people. Rudimentary braces made of catgut and metal have been found in Egyptian mummies.
• The spinner dolphin has more teeth than any other animal, up to 252 teeth. Compare that to people who have only 32 teeth as adults.
• Siwak sticks, also called miswak, are a precursor to the toothbrush. They have been used for thousands of years and are still used today in parts of the Middle East and Africa. Siwak sticks are twigs from the arak tree, which fray into bristles when you chew on them and which you can then use to brush your teeth.
• Dental disease has been with humans since prehistoric times, but the incidence of cavities increased dramatically in Europe in the 1600’s when imported sugar became part of the diet.
• Bears, who have a large appetite for honey, are the only non-domesticated animal that gets cavities.
• Contrary to popular belief, George Washington never had wooden false teeth. He did have dental problems all his life, however, and for a time wore partial dentures made of ivory.
• As of 2011, there are 193,000 professionally active dentists in the United States, according to the American Dental Association.
• As of 2012, there are 5,530 orthodontists in the United States, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Three Ways to Protect Your Braces When Playing Sports

Getting braces doesn’t mean you have to give up your athletic activities, but it does mean you need to be a little more careful about them. A hard hit in a football game can lead to a popped-off bracket, a cut wire, and damage to your teeth or the inside of your mouth. And a really hard hit can dislodge a tooth or two. Even an impact in a less intense sport than football—say baseball, softball or even tennis—can harm your braces and your mouth.

If you play sports, you should look into these three ways to protect your braces and your mouth:

Full-Facial Guard

A full-facial guard is the hard plastic piece that juts out in front of the mouth on football, hockey, and lacrosse helmets. If you wear braces, be sure to wear a helmet when you play rough contact sports (and even if you don’t wear braces, wearing a helmet provides general head safety). While a full-facial guard will protect your mouth from external impact, collisions and tackles can still cut the inside of your mouth or damage braces.

Mouth Guards

Mouth guards are made to absorb and disperse the shocks that come from collisions with other players, balls hitting your face, and falls to the ground. They are worn inside your mouth to fit directly over your upper teeth, and you can find some dual-arch models that are designed to fit over your lower teeth as well. There are many different types of mouth guards available at just about any sporting goods store. They should be used for sports like soccer, basketball, baseball, and volleyball. They are also a good idea for non-contact sports like gymnastics, biking, and skateboarding where a fall can still harm your mouth.

Make sure your mouth guard fits well, is comfortable and allows you to breathe. We don’t recommend the “boil-and-bite” type for our patients that wear braces, because these mouth guards can stick to brackets and pull them off when removed. Ask us during your next visit for specific advice about what mouth guard she recommends for your particular sport or to judge how well a recent purchase fits.

Dental Silicone or Wax

Dental silicone comes in long strips that you cut to size and press into your braces. A good brand is OrthoSil Silicone Dental “Wax” (which is not really made of wax). Dental silicone is a great way to supplement protection when you’re wearing a helmet with a full-facial guard. You can use the strips to protect the inside of your mouth during other athletic activities where an impact can cut your mouth or damage your braces. Depending on your preferences, you might favor actual dental wax or a product called Gishy Goo.

Financial Information

At Braces by Burris we believe everyone should have the opportunity to get an amazing smile! Braces by Burris has affordable monthly payment plans for orthodontic treatment. Once the orthodontist determines how many months you will be in treatment we will get you started on one of our easy monthly payment programs…. One call to the Braces by Burris team will answer all of your finance questions!

We make getting braces easy by offering these payment options:

Online Payments: Braces by Burris offers a secure, online account management service called 4YOURSERVICE.com where our patients have round the clock access to their appointment history, current financial information and so forth. This is a safe and convenient location to make payments.

Automatic Bank Draft: Set up your monthly payment to be automatically drawn on an agreed upon date each month from your checking or savings account. Please provide us with a voided check or deposit slip at your first appointment.

Automatic Credit Card Debit: Monthly payments will automatically be charged to your credit card. Please provide us with your card information at your first appointment.

Monthly Mail: In the event that we do not receive your payment by an agreed upon date each month, we do charge a late fee. Avoid late fees for your account, by doing draft payments.

Braces by Burris accepts and files your insurance. Please provide the Braces by Burris team with your insurance information at your first appointment. Please note that you are responsible to notify us if you have an insurance change, and ultimately responsible for the total account as a whole.