Tuesday, April 27, 2021

Life After Braces

 Congratulations! You’ve reached the finish line with the smile you’ve always dreamed of. Though this monumental moment is a time for celebration, the end of your orthodontic treatment still requires some work. Though your new and improved smile can finally be revealed, braces are just the first step in your orthodontic journey. This article will discuss the necessary steps to be taken once your braces are removed, along with how you can ensure that your new smile stays healthy and beautiful.

Brushing & Flossing

Keeping your mouth and gums healthy and thriving while undergoing orthodontic treatment can be challenging, as food and plaque can get trapped around the attached appliances. Braces can make teeth and gums more difficult to clean, and tartar can build up in those hard-to-reach areas. Additionally, routine dental care can often become overlooked while focusing on orthodontic treatment. If you were dedicated to maintaining a high level of oral care throughout your orthodontic journey, you may not experience any noticeable changes. But once your braces have been removed, it eliminates any challenging obstacles around the wires and brackets. It’s safe to assume that most patients don’t particularly enjoy flossing but you can enjoy the fact that it’s now easier than before. In order to keep your newly straightened teeth healthy, it’s important to remain diligent about brushing twice daily and keeping up with regular flossing.

Discolouration & Staining

We’ve all experienced some displeasure when it comes to the appearance of teeth. It may be discouraging to notice cosmetic imperfections on your new smile but it’s important to remember that these imperfections aren’t permanent. Since brackets cover the majority of teeth, effectively cleaning the entire tooth can be challenging. As a result, the appearance of teeth may be yellow or stained. However, this is completely normal and can be taken care of! To remove unwanted discolouration, you must maintain a dedicated oral care routine. On top of brushing and flossing regularly, speak to your orthodontist or dentist about teeth whitening methods, or ask for advice and suggestions for effective at-home whitening care. But remember, your teeth will feel different and very sensitive. The newly exposed enamel requires a period of adjustment to become less sensitive, so it’s recommended to wait until any discomfort dissipates before booking a whitening treatment.

Eating & Sensitivity

Remember how eating your favourite foods felt foreign and uncomfortable when you first started your orthodontic treatment? Well, it’s unfortunately still going to feel uncomfortable once the appliances have been removed. Over time, you’ve likely become accustomed to chewing certain foods carefully and eliminating some foods altogether. As a result, teeth will be very sensitive, especially to different temperatures. It’s recommended to hold off on binging any of your favourite hard or sticky foods immediately after removal, but within a couple of weeks, you can happily transition back to eating everything you used to enjoy. Go ahead, bite into an apple! Corn on the cob? No problem! 

Post-Treatment Retainer 

Once braces are removed, dental maintenance is more important than ever. Orthodontic treatment is the best option to achieve a straight smile and correct bite but once the appliances are removed, teeth will likely miss the way they used to be. When the pressure has been alleviated from the teeth and they’re no longer forced to maintain their new position, there’s a strong likelihood that they will start to shift.

Braces do the majority of the work but post-treatment retainers help your new smile last a lifetime. Retainers are the most essential element in maintaining the positive impact braces have made on a smile. While it can be daunting to adjust to a new appliance after you’ve finally completed your orthodontic treatment, it’s necessary to incorporate an appliance to maintain the new smile that you’ve waited patiently for. Throughout treatment, and depending on the complexity of your case, teeth will have shifted in line with a carefully developed plan created by your orthodontist. The role of the retainer is to keep teeth in place while the bone tissue rebuilds around them.

A fixed or removable retainer will mold to the shape of your new bite and must be worn as directed by your orthodontist to keep the new bite fixed, especially while the jawbone and attaching ligaments adjust. Fixed retainers are custom-fitted wires that are bonded to the inside of your teeth, typically on the lower teeth, to keep them in place. It’s important to follow the advice and direction of your orthodontist and not neglect your retainer or else teeth will shift again and eliminate all of your hard work and progress.

Follow-up Appointments

After braces are removed, it’s essential to schedule a dental check-up and hygiene appointment. This will help to ensure that no oral issues have developed over the course of your treatment. Additionally, this allows your dentist to remove any unwanted tartar build-up that may have accumulated over time. And of course, be sure to schedule regular visits with your dentist every six months to keep your new smile in top-notch condition.

At-Home Oral Hygiene Care 

There’s no reason to stop being vigilant and taking care great of your teeth and gums once braces have been removed. It should be motivation to be more dedicated than ever before! Depending on the complexity of your case, you may have been waiting months or even years for this exciting new time in your life. Hang on to the great habits you’ve cultivated throughout your orthodontic journey. Stick to a daily oral care routine that consists of brushing and flossing, and schedule appointments regularly to visit your dentist and hygienist.

The final step is simple: smile with confidence! You’ve earned it.

How Do I Keep Retainer Clean?

For many patients, correcting misaligned teeth and bite issues can be a long orthodontic treatment plan. Once desired results are achieved and appliances are finally removed, it may come as a surprise that a retainer is a next step in your orthodontic journey. But, your retainer is just as important as your braces.

Retainers are an essential tool in maintaining your new, straight, and beautiful smile. But what about maintaining your retainer? Let’s discuss a few dos and don’ts.

First, for obvious reasons, never wear your retainer while brushing your teeth. Though you may think this more convenient and time-efficient, your teeth will not receive an effective or proper cleaning. It will also make brushing all sides of your retainer impossible. This rule also applies to eating! Though it may be inconvenient to remove your retainer before each meal or snack, it’s important to do so to avoid any damage. If not removed, food and plaque will become trapped against your teeth and will also leave your retainer in an undesirable and bacteria-filled state.

For removable retainers, it is important to clean with lukewarm water after each time you eat. To achieve a deeper clean, feel free to use mild dish soap. You can also speak to your orthodontist about recommended retainer-specific cleaners or tablets. Surprisingly, you should avoid using toothpaste to clean your retainer, as its abrasive qualities could scratch the surface. Toothpaste could also create pockets for bacteria to form and hide. Alongside toothpaste, it’s recommended to avoid using alcohol-based solutions that could damage or even corrode your retainer. You can occasionally soak your retainer in mouthwash for a fresh feel and taste but be sure to mix an equal amount of water since alcohol is included in the formula. If your orthodontist has inserted a fixed retainer, the cleaning process is simple: brush after each meal and floss under the wire and in between the attached teeth. 

When temporarily removing your retainer to eat, drink, or when brushing or flossing, it’s important to always store it in its accompanying case for safekeeping. Could you imagine taking out your retainer, folding it in a napkin on the counter, and someone accidentally tossing it in the trash? Create a routine that you can stick to each time your retainer is not in your mouth. This will avoid any potential mishaps. Most importantly, it’ll also protect your retainer from being exposed to unwanted bacteria and germs.

Over time, your retainer may become loose and not fit your teeth as tightly as it once did. It’s also possible for calcium to accumulate which will impact how your retainer fits, even despite your diligent cleaning routine. If a retainer needs replacing due to damage or fit, make an appointment with your orthodontist as soon as possible to get a new one. Don’t wait until your next check-up as teeth are likely to shift without the assistance of a retainer.

It is your responsibility to stay dedicated to your retainer as it ensures the continued success of orthodontic treatment. To be blunt, it’s not an option – it’s a necessity. An orthodontist can only advise on the important role retainers play in maintaining the hard work achieved by braces, so it’s up to the patient to take proper care and follow all recommendations and instructions by the orthodontist.

With proper retainer care and wear, your new smile will remain healthy and beautiful. But remember, ensuring your teeth remain straight is just the beginning of good oral health. Be sure to stay on top of your at-home oral care routine, visit your dentist regularly for check-ups and hygiene appointments, and show off that beautiful smile you’ve worked so hard to achieve.

Tuesday, April 13, 2021

All About Headgears | Types & Tips

Orthodontic headgears, also known as facebow headgears according to Oral-B Canada, are devices other than braces your dentist or orthodontist may recommend you wear, commonly recommended for younger patients with growing and developing jaws and teeth, but also sometimes for adults.


Braces by themselves may not be enough to align your teeth properly, correct bite issues, or fix issues with your jaw’s growth.


If that is true for you, your dentist or orthodontist may include in your treatment plan orthodontic headgears, to aid in correcting misaligned bites, to make space for teeth that are crowded, or to correct other oral issues.

Types of Headgears

Most headgears are made up of both a metal part that fits inside the mouth connected to bands on the brackets of braces, as well as a part that fits around your face and is connected by a strap.


One type of headgear is the cervical pull headgear. The cervical pull headgear device has a wire shaped like a “U” that fastens to the brace bands on your back teeth, along with a strap or band that you wear behind the neck. 


A related type of headgear is the high-pull headgear. This type of headgear has a wire that connects to your teeth, along with a strap or band you wear behind the neck and over your head.


Both cervical pull and high-pull headgears are kinds of headgears that are used to correct a horizontal overbite in children. They function by restraining the upper jaw’s growth.


They are also often used for grown adults to keep the right bite alignment and fix tooth spacing issues that may remain following pulled teeth.


Cervical headgear places stress on more areas and to a greater degree than high-pull headgear, according to a publication from the University of Manitoba and the Canadian Dental Association.


A third type of headgear commonly used is the reverse-pull type, often called the “facemask” kind. Whereas cervical pull and high-pull headgears are designed to correct overbites, reverse-pull headgears are used to correct underbites. 


Reverse-pull headgears function by lightly pulling the top part of the jaw forward, allowing it to “catch up” with the lower jaw. Reverse-pull headgears are made up of one pad that rests on your forehead and another that rests on your chin. The pads connect via a vertical frame.


Reverse-pull headgears are sometimes worn slightly longer than the other types we mentioned, up to 14-16 hours at a time.

Headgear Care and Maintenance | Basic Tips and What to Expect

Headgear has been found in studies to be particularly effective for certain types of dental and orthodontic issues. 


The number one piece of advice to absorb about wearing your headgear is to listen carefully to the instructions given to you by your dentist or orthodontist--and follow them.


If you experience soreness when chewing, know that this is common and actually is a sign that the device is working properly.


It's perfectly natural to experience some minor pain when you wear a headgear. Luckily, if you wear it faithfully, the discomfort usually will go away relatively soon. If not, try pain relievers such as acetaminophen and ibuprofen.


If you have issues that don’t go away on their own or are not fixed by over-the-counter pain analgesics, or a part of your headgear gets loose or detached, consult your dentist or orthodontist right away.

Monday, April 5, 2021

Dr. Cheba’s Upbringing in Calgary

It has been said that there are two gifts to give children: roots and wings. That being said, most people are a mirror image of their upbringing. When you experience a fulfilling childhood and a strong sense of place, the sense of home will never leave.


This is particularly true for Dr. Cheba as he was raised in a household where discipline and consistency were the fundamentals of a solid foundation. Without a solid foundation, it can prove challenging to create a life full of value. Stability is vital to achieving a solid ground to build on.


Born and raised in Calgary, Dr. Cheba grew up in a house with his mother, father, grandmother, and three sisters. His parents strongly focused on the fundamentals of being a family. They instilled values of togetherness, kindness, and always putting love first. He considers his family his best friends, proving just how beneficial these values were in shaping his life. 


Dr. Cheba credits his father for his maturity, as his relentless pursuit for excellence shaped who is he today. His mother taught him love and kindness, which are two of the most important values to learn as a child. In his younger years, Dr. Cheba enjoyed traveling, socializing with friends, and taking in all that Calgary had to offer.


It’s no wonder that Calgary is one of the strongest and best communities in Canada. With beautiful mountains and endless nature to admire, Dr. Cheba remains passionate about the great outdoors. In his free time, he enjoys golfing, skiing, and camping, and some of his favourite spots in the city to visit include Nosehill Park, the downtown restaurant scene, and Princess Island Park. 


Alongside appreciating and embracing the outdoors, the community is of utmost importance to Dr. Cheba. It allows him to connect with others to help improve lives. He strongly believes that community means living in peace amongst friends and neighbours and that kindness is the universal currency. 


Dr. Cheba is very involved within his community and supports a wide range of organizations including The Ronald McDonald House, Aspire Special Needs Resource Centre, the Central Alberta Child Advocacy Centre, and women’s outreach programs. He strives to always help those in need and is determined to give back as much as possible. 


His fulfilling childhood and the values instilled by his family have transitioned to Dr. Cheba’s own family today. While in orthodontic training in Winnipeg, he met the person he chose to spend the rest of his life with. They have two beautiful sons, aged 4 and 6, raising them in Calgary and ensuring the same fundamentals from his childhood are implemented every single day. 


Dr. Cheba’s advice for his younger self? Work hard, stay disciplined to a routine, be consistent, and always put kindness first. Remember, home is not the place where you happen to be born. It’s the place where you become yourself. 


Airway-Focused Orthodontics

Did you know that orthodontics is not strictly about straight teeth? While a child’s teeth may appear aligned and straight, there could be underlying issues that need to be addressed to prevent more serious problems from developing.


An orthodontist can identify abnormalities earlier in a child’s life when teeth and jaws are easier to manipulate. Early orthodontic treatment is the ideal way to locate and address any issues within a child’s developing mouth.


From an orthodontic perspective, airway-focused orthodontics addresses issues that arise when maintaining the airway’s physiological function. Dr. Cheba refers to airway-focused orthodontics as a slow and gentle approach. This approach is introduced early on as preventative treatment when the child is growing and developing versus later developmental years when it may be too late or complexity of treatment increases. 


So, what exactly is airway-focused orthodontics? Orthodontists can look beyond teeth to the nose, throat, tongue, face, and neck. All aspects of our bodies work together and orthodontic issues can sometimes cause or accelerate health problems in the rest of our bodies. This is especially true in terms of breathing issues. Dr. Cheba believes he must help with more than just oral health as he is committed to his patient’s overall health. 


Ultimately, the airway-focused approach is important because it helps improve early hard and soft tissue development while avoiding major issues in the future. It allows increased space for the tongue to come forward while improving speech and avoids complications like disordered breathing and recurrent infections.


Symptoms associated with airway issues include mouth breathing, frequent urination, dark circles or bags under the eyes, loss of concentration, recurrent tonsillar infections, severe overbites, low tongue posture, and lips staying apart while the mouth is resting. 


With new technology, tools are available that allow orthodontists to incorporate airway analysis on a day-to-day basis including 3D imaging and analysis capabilities. Dr. Cheba notes that it’s important to rely on experience and to tap into the network of other trained dental professionals in your area to collaborate on available treatment options.


If the airway is clear and properly aligned, it is much easier for the patient to breathe. It reduces the chance of sleep apnea and assists with a healthier sleep pattern. Encouraging nasal breathing promotes natural jaw structure and dental development, which helps to avoid long-term sleep and breathing problems like snoring. 


As previously mentioned, early intervention can help patients avoid more serious conditions later in life as a preventative solution. Airway-focused orthodontics is one of Dr. Cheba’s offered treatments that can change your overall health and well-being. 


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