St. Louis Sedation, Sleep & Special Needs Dentistry :: The Dental Anesthesia Center

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Are You A Good Candidate For Invisalign Clear Braces?

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All Invisalign treatment begins with a proper dental examination. It is through this examination that we can find out if you are a good Invisalign candidate.

Invisalign clear braces have become a very popular way to straighten teeth. Many patients choose Invisalign over traditional braces because of their comfortable and discreet qualities. However, because many people aren’t as familiar with this treatment, they don’t know if they’re good candidates.

At The Dental Anesthesia Center, we are one of St. Louis’ Premier Invisalign Clear Braces providers. We will help you determine whether or not Invisalign is right for you.

What is Invisalign?

Invisalign is a type of orthodontic treatment that uses transparent aligners made of clear plastic to straighten your teeth. They are removable, comfortable, and virtually invisible.

The aligners are designed to wear two weeks at a time before switching out to a different pair. This method helps move your teeth gradually into the desired position. Aligners are made to be worn for at least 22 hours per day, and patients only remove them when they are eating or cleaning their teeth.

Are You a Candidate?

The best way to find out is to come in for a consultation so that our dentists can examine your mouth. All Invisalign treatment begins with a proper dental examination. It is through this examination that we can find out if you are a good Invisalign candidate. However, Invisalign can typically be used for patients who:

  • Have a mild to moderate alignment issues
  • Are worried about the hassle and appearance of metal braces
  • Are 15 years or older
  • Have a good oral hygiene routine already established
  • Have only slight bite issues
  • Have all of their permanent teeth
  • Are looking to have a shorter treatment time than braces
  • Are willing to wear the aligners for at least 20 hours a day

Invisalign is generally suggested for adults because they typically are more responsible and are committed to their treatment. Teens can still receive Invisalign if they are prepared to keep up with it to get the desired results. If you have any questions regarding Invisalign, it’s important to schedule a consultation with your dentist.

Call to Schedule Your Consultation

If you’re looking to get your Invisalign Clear Braces in St. Louis, make sure to give us a call at (314) 862-7844 so that we can talk about possible Invisalign treatment. We look forward to meeting you!

Call Us Today

The Only Board Certified Dental Anesthesiologists in the State of Missouri, including the St. Louis Metro Area.

Call (314) 862-7844

Does Your Child Have Braces? Help Them Keep Their Teeth Clean

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Braces are an investment in your child’s future smile, so keeping their teeth clean and in good shape is essential.

Brushing teeth with braces isn’t too different than brushing without braces. But maintaining clean teeth with braces is just a bit more time consuming and involves the help of some other tools.

As a parent, you may find it a little frustrating if you have to continually remind your child to brush their teeth and to do it correctly. However, braces are an investment in your child’s future smile, and like any other important investment, it’s wise to help them keep their teeth and braces clean.

When to Brush with Braces

There are a couple of essential times your child should be brushing their teeth if they have braces. First, they should brush their teeth in the morning, after they wake up, and at night, before going to bed.

Second, they should brush their teeth after every meal. However, the problem with brushing after every meal is that it can be impractical. If your child is at school, they may not be able to find a good place to brush, or they may not have a toothbrush with them all the time.

One suggestion that can help is for them to rinse their mouth out with water right after eating so they can rinse away any particles, sugars, and starches that could lead to plaque buildup. This is often a more practical solution if brushing isn’t possible.

How to Brush Teeth with Braces

Having the right kind of toothbrush goes a long way in helping a child brush their teeth effectively. An orthodontist will typically recommend a soft-bristled toothbrush or power toothbrush. They must brush their teeth thoroughly and be sure not to rush through a cleaning. Some good points to keep in mind include:

  • Brush each side of every tooth
  • Brush around all parts of the brackets
  • Brush along the tongue, gumline, and roof of the mouth

The amount of time spent brushing is essential too. To get all of the above areas thoroughly cleaned, a child should brush for a full two minutes. Playing a song in the background can be helpful. Also, some toothbrushes have a built-in timer and will signal when two minutes is up.

Flossing with Braces

Flossing can be challenging with braces, but it’s important to floss at least twice a day because particles of food and plaque can easily get stuck in between the teeth. An oral irrigator, or a water flosser, is a useful tool that works just as well as traditional floss. Another way to floss is by using a reusable floss-threader along with regular dental floss.

Have a Tooth-Friendly Diet

No matter how much your child brushes and flosses their teeth, eating the right foods, and staying away from the wrong ones, goes a long way in keeping their teeth healthy while they have braces. Sugary food and drinks can increase the likelihood of your child developing cavities. Acidic food and drinks can damage tooth enamel. Foods high in starch can stick to the teeth for long periods and cause tooth decay.

It’s important to be aware of the foods that can damage enamel and lead to tooth decay so that your child doesn’t have stains on their teeth when their braces come off.

If your child has braces, discuss these things with them. If they are struggling to do it right, find a solution to at least one of the issues. Many of these things take time to put into regular practice, so don’t give up!

Call Us Today

The Only Board Certified Dental Anesthesiologists in the State of Missouri, including the St. Louis Metro Area.

Call (314) 862-7844

What is the Best Age to Get Braces?

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How do you determine what is the best age for your child to get braces? Asking your child’s dentist is a good place to start.

Pediatric Dentist in St Louis

If you think back to when you were a kid, you likely remember other kids getting braces in junior high or high school. However, over the years practices have changed. Braces have become more popular at younger ages. But, the right treatment age for your child is based upon a variety of factors and on your child’s unique needs.

So how do you determine what is the best age for your child to get braces? Scheduling an evaluation with your child’s dentist is a good place to start.

Dose Your Child Need Braces at All?

The first issue to investigate is whether or not your child needs braces at all. Some of the factors that determine this include health issues. For instance, some children need braces to correct problems like overbites, underbites, and jaw conditions. Another factor is aesthetic reasons, which mostly just comes down to straightening crooked teeth. If your kids have issues in either of those areas, getting braces is likely a good idea.

Why We Can’t Give an Exact Age

Unfortunately, we cannot give you a simple answer to this question. Each child is different, each having his or her own specific factors to consider. However, your child’s dentist is able to help determine at what age they are ready to get braces.

Pediatric Dentist St. Louis

At The Dental Anesthsia Center, we can treat children of all ages with any type of dental need. Children have dental anxiety just like many adults do. Some children who are experiencing anxiety and are unable to cooperate for needed dental treatment can benefit from anesthesia services. In addition, children with physical or mental disabilities who are unable to cooperate for dental treatment can benefit from these services.

Pediatric Dentist St. Louis

Your child’s initial oral examination will include a visual examination, charting, diagnosis and treatment recommendations. We work hard to make your child feel at ease by providing exceptional patient care in a relaxed, convenient atmosphere. Depending on your child’s circumstances, we will discuss if sedation or anesthesia is right for your child. Call us today to schedule your appointment at (314) 862-7844. We look forward to meeting you!

When is the Right Time to Have Your Child Evaluated for Braces?

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Your child’s pediatric dentist can help you determine the right time to have their teeth evaluated for braces.

pediatric dentistry st louis

The best-case scenario is that your child’s teeth are perfect and that they don’t need orthodontic work. But for most kids, that is unfortunately not the case. Braces aren’t just about aesthetic appearances; they can also be necessary to prevent tooth decay and to save your child from the potential for other dental problems in the future. There is a critical time to get braces and when a child should be evaluated. There are many reasons why a child might need orthodontic work, so getting them evaluated is important to head off problems later on.

Why Do Children Need Braces?

There are a vast number of reasons that someone might need braces. The most common are overlapping overcrowding or crooked teeth. Your child might also have a crooked bite, which is also called a malocclusion. This happens when the size of the upper and lower jaws are not the same. Sometimes the condition can be referred to as either an underbite or an overbite, depending on which jaw is larger than the other.

If your child has an accident, has poor oral habits like sucking their thumb, or if they lose their baby teeth when they are too young, it can lead to them needing braces. But in most instances, braces are required due to inherited genetic traits. If you needed braces as a child, it is highly likely that your child will too.

Your pediatric dentist will probably be able to see signs that your child might need to be evaluated during their regularly scheduled visit. It is also wise to go directly to the orthodontist for a full examination to ensure that an underlying problem isn’t missed.

When is the Best Time to have Your Child’s Teeth Evaluated?

There is no “magic” age to bring your child in for an orthodontic consultation. Typically anywhere from the ages of 6 to 10 is when you are going to be able to diagnose and spot potential problems. Since the typical child begins to get their permanent teeth about the age of 7, it’s likely you will start to recognize problems around that time and should make an appointment.

Having an evaluation done early does not necessarily mean that your child will need braces immediately. But it might help you to have a plan of treatment in motion, so that you know what to expect and to time the phases of orthodontic work to best help your child’s comfort level and to shorten the length of time they will need to be in braces.

Although there is no set time to bring your child in for an orthodontic evaluation, if your dentist starts to see signs of an issue, then it is smart to schedule an orthodontic appointment. It doesn’t necessarily mean that they will be ready to get started, but at least you will have a clue of what they may need for the future and how to tackle whatever corrective needs they might require.

Call us today to schedule your appointment at (314) 862-7844. We look forward to meeting you!