When people think about braces, it’s common to think about head gear, retainers, and middle school; but, as many adult patients discover, adult orthodontics can be a critical tool for improving the health of your mouth. It’s easy to appreciate the cosmetic benefits of braces when crooked or crowded teeth are straightened, but what’s equally as important are the underlying functional benefits of braces. Simply stated, teeth that fit together
As important as it is to check for cavities and gum disease, it is equally necessary to conduct a thorough evaluation of a patient’s bite, or occlusion. The way the teeth come together affect how the teeth function, feel, and wear. When we evaluate a patient’s occlusion, we check for crowding, spaces, and cross-bites. We evaluate how the teeth touch, and which teeth contact when rubbed together. We note when
One of the most valuable features of our New Patient Exam is the time we spend with our patients reviewing their Patient Questionnaire, which we hand out to patients when they come in for their first examination. Before we even look into their mouths, we are very interested to learn about a patient’s dental history, their home care habits, motivation for coming in, long-term goals, and personal barriers to care.
A few weeks ago, we had a patient come into our office with a concern for some irritations inside his mouth, and he was eager to receive a prescription for an antibiotic. Inside his mouth were several small sores on his gums, which are common sign of a virus infection. Given a few days, they typically heal on their own, but require some follow-up. As the patient had been in
