After getting braces, your mouth is full of lots of extra stuff like brackets, wires, and rubber bands. Especially at first, figuring out how to clean around all of this extra material can be a real challenge. Moreover, the extra gear can cause food materials to get caught in the mouth in places where they’re difficult to reach, and it can also partially block the natural processes that clean your gums and the roof of your mouth. Although Calgary orthodontists will tell you that dental care is a high priority at all times, people with braces must take even more care.

The main dental problem that results from having braces is the extra plaque that develop in the areas that are difficult to reach with a toothbrush. These plaque-filled areas become breeding grounds for bacteria, which can lead to cavities, gum disease, and painful swelling.

If you have braces and want to keep your teeth as clean as possible, Calgary orthodontists are great resources for all the information you need. Until your next appointment, you might want to take these basic tips into account.

Brushing frequency: Because lodged food particles are one of the most common causes of braces-related tooth problems, it’s important to brush as soon as possible after a meal. This way, you’ll get rid of those particles when they are still loose and when the mouth’s natural digestive processes are still in action.

In fact, people with braces should try to brush even more than normal. It’s a good idea to bring a toothbrush and some travel toothpaste with you anywhere you go, and to brush after lunch breaks or any other meals that you have outside of the home. Calgary orthodontists can give you advice regarding the best types of brushes and toothpastes to use for braces.

Getting all the surfaces: For teeth without braces, there are three main surfaces—the inside of teeth, the outside, and the chewing surfaces of the molars. However, with braces, the number of surfaces multiplies, which makes your work much harder. Every time you brush, be sure to get around all the little parts, and clean all the surfaces of both the teeth and the braces.

Double up on flossing: Having braces warrants twice as much time and effort put into flossing. Flossing can be much more challenging with braces, but Calgary orthodontists can show you some good tricks, and keep in mind that it gets easier with practice. It might be difficult for a while, but you’ll get the hang of it, and then it will be just as easy as brushing.

Rinse well: To help make sure you flush out any lingering food particles, rinse thoroughly with warm water after brushing and flossing. Do a few cycles to make sure you get everything.

Use mouthwash: Mouthwash is useful for clearing out bacteria and plaque from all those tiny nooks and crevices that neither brushing nor flossing can reach. When you have braces, be sure to use mouthwash at least twice a day, and swish it around in your mouth for at least a minute each time. Most Calgary orthodontists have specific types of mouthwash that they recommend.

Thanks to advancing orthodontic technology, your Calgary orthodontist is now capable of performing a wide range of treatments that are designed to correct adult malocclusions, rather than to simply treat them. As a result, more and more adults are getting treated for orthodontic conditions that, a generation ago, people just had to live with. However, because the field of adult orthodontics is still new in a lot of respects, it’s common for people to have questions. Your dentist and your Calgary orthodontist are the best sources to answer these questions, but here’s some basic information to use as a starting point.

Why seek orthodontic treatment?

Of course, malocclusions aren’t categorically bad for one’s looks, but appearance is nevertheless the number one reason why adults choose orthodontic treatment. When an individual has crooked teeth, a misaligned bite, or an unusual facial structure, there’s a good chance that a Calgary orthodontist can do something to remedy the issue.

Meanwhile, there are plenty of health-related reasons for adults to seek orthodontic treatment. Having an aligned jaw makes chewing easier, which can be beneficial for digestion. Fixing orthodontic problems may also prevent tooth and gum disease, and it can treat or prevent jaw pain.

What are the main concerns with regard to adult orthodontic treatment?

There’s a reason why orthodontic treatments are most commonly performed on children. It’s because young people’s jaws are still growing and developing, and orthodontists can harness that natural force of growth to gently guide the patient’s jaw into a normal alignment. With adults, because our jaws have formed a permanent shape, adjustment must be made through brute force—albeit brute force that is applied over several months or years.

In rare cases, adult orthodontic treatment is just not possible. For example, when teeth have been worn down or broken, or when the jaw is set in a position due to issues relating to skull or upper spine structure, orthodontic treatment will inevitably fall short of the mark. And in other cases, patients may be eligible for care with a Calgary orthodontist, but only after receiving extensive treatment and repairs from a dentist.

What types of problems can be corrected?

Your Calgary orthodontist can use a mixture of treatment methods to correct malocclusions. The most common methods include braces, bridges, extractions, partial dentures, replacement crowns, retainers, tooth spacers, and jaw-spreading implements. For more severe cases, the orthodontist may have to collaborate with professionals from other subsections of dentistry, including periodontists and prosthodontists

There are many problems that orthodontists can correct in adults, including tooth crowding, spaces between teeth, overbite, underbite, jaw protrusion, and ordinary misalignment.

Can orthodontists fix painful jaws?

When people don’t get proper orthodontic treatment as children, this commonly leads to painful jaws in adulthood. If you have this problem, your Calgary orthodontist will be your go-to person for all the fixes you need. And there are many options. For example, some jaw pain is simply the result of grinding and clenching during sleep, for which your Calgary orthodontist will be able to fashion a nightguard. For more serious jaw pain, surgery may be required.

Before taking children to dentists or orthodontists, Calgary parents should consider enforcing stringent dental-care policies in the home. It’s no secret that children are often resistant to things like brushing properly and flossing. But because good dental health is essential to one’s lifelong well-being, this is one area where parents can actually serve their kids by applying a little bit of tough love. As important as it is to take your kids in for regular check-ups with dentists and orthodontists, Calgary parents should be aware that the everyday habits performed at home are by far the most important aspect of dental health.

Here are some ideas for encouraging your children to get into good dental-care habits.

1. Encourage good toothbrushing habits. Toothbrushing is not as simple as it seems; there are good ways and bad ways to do it, and kids who aren’t instructed in the best methods are liable to develop lazy habits. Here’s what to emphasize:

• Brushing your teeth should take at least two minutes, and it should be done 2 to 3 times per day. Using a timer helps.
• Hold the brush at a 45-degree angle in relation to the horizontal plane of the teeth.
• Don’t brush too hard, or you risk causing tooth sensitivity or receding gums.
• Brush all surfaces—outside and inside, as well as the chewing surfaces of the back teeth.
• Whenever you brush, do a quick once-over of the tongue and the roof of your mouth. It feels funny, but it helps get rid of bacteria.

2. Floss daily. Some parents operate under the mistaken assumption that children are too young to begin flossing. However, as all dentists and orthodontist (Calgary or elsewhere) will tell you, it’s never too early to get into this habit, even for kids who still have their baby teeth. Just like brushing, flossing is easy to learn. The best way to floss is to insert the floss between your teeth and drag it up and down the edge of each tooth. People who are new to flossing often find the process rather cumbersome, but once you get into the habit, it becomes as easy as brushing.

3. Good nutrition. As every parent knows, sugar is the bane of children’s dental health. For parents, it’s a good idea to limit children’s sugar intake, and to entirely cut out things like sodas and similarly unhealthy drinks. It’s also a good idea to limit starches and sugars to mealtimes, as the natural oral digestive processes that occur during meals help to flush out the sugars. Also, it’s good to brush soon after sugar or starch consumption. Meanwhile, eating a balanced diet full of good vitamins and nutrients greatly contributes to tooth and gum health, and it helps children’s jaws grow properly.

4. Get check-ups early and often. Dental visits should start soon after children begin to develop their teeth, and check-ups should continue every 6 months or so. Even when there are no obvious dental issues, it’s important to remember that prevention is a huge part of dental care. If you don’t know any local dentists or orthodontists, Calgary has many practitioners who can be found by doing a web search for “Orthodontists Calgary” or going to the Orthodontists Calgary section of the Canadian Association of Orthodontics website.

Orthodontics is by nature a preventive field. While orthodontists are always getting better at treating malocclusions that have already developed, the bulk of their profession involves identifying and treating problems that have not yet developed. That’s why children have historically been the main recipients of orthodontic care. Because children’s teeth and jaws are always growing, it’s possible to harness that natural growth process to create teeth that are better aligned than they otherwise would be.

If you want to talk through these issues with an orthodontist, Calgary has many doctors who would be happy to consult with you about treatment options. Ask your dentist for a referral, or check the Orthodontist Calgary section of the Canadian Association of Orthodontics website.

Here are some of the tools orthodontists use to prevent serious problems from developing.

Braces: Braces use metal connectors attached to the teeth to gradually create a straighter alignment. Braces are the most prominent orthodontic treatment, but they’re far from the only one. They’re often regarded as one of the most serious forms of orthodontic care, and they’re sometimes used as a last resort when other methods don’t work out.

Space maintainers: When one of a child’s baby teeth falls out, it leaves a space that may not be filled for some time. In some cases, crowding elsewhere in the jaw may cause that space to be filled by teeth that don’t belong there. If you see this happening in your child, see your orthodontist Calgary about implanting a simple device to keep the other teeth from moving into that space.

Thumb sucking appliances: Thumb and finger sucking are among the top causes for orthodontic problems in young children. These habits can lead to misaligned bites as well as abnormal spacing between the top and bottom teeth. If you can’t seek to get your child to stop sucking his or her thumb or fingers, your orthodontist Calgary may be able to install a temporary in-mouth appliance that will help break this habit.

Retainers: For mild misalignments of the jaw, retainers are used to apply gentle pressure to the teeth when the individual is sleeping. They’re also used following a braces treatment to help make sure the teeth stay where they should be.

Dental headgear: Like braces, dental headgear uses the child’s natural growth to help force the jaw into a different alignment. The headgear attaches to the face and jaw and has an attached implement that goes into the mouth. These elements work together to force the jaw to stay in position. These days, few orthodontists use the type of headgear that is made to be worn out and about, as it can be intrusive to a child’s learning at school. Most are designed to be worn only when the child is sleeping.

Cross-bite appliances: When the back upper teeth fit inside of the lower ones, this is known as a crossbite. This misalignment can be repaired by using an appliance designed to expand the upper arch of the jaw, which will spread the upper teeth and create a more normal alignment.

When working with Calgary orthodontists to correct your or your child’s tooth problems, you’ll probably hear the word “malocclusion” fairly often. In fact, pretty much every issue that Calgary orthodontists deal with fits into the category of malocclusions. It’s a broad term that has many applications, with some malocclusions being serious and others being insignificant enough not to warrant treatment. Most Calgary orthodontists will be fully willing to discuss the nature of this term with you, but if you want to be well prepared before heading to your appointment, he’s a simple primer.

What is a malocclusion?

The word comes from the Latin roots mal, meaning “bad,” and occludere, meaning “to close.” Thus, a malocclusion is essentially a “bad closure.” In practical terms, malocclusions are what happens when one’s jaw is so misaligned that it doesn’t close properly. This can result in any number of specific orthodontic issues, including overbite, underbite, crossbite, or crowding. Some such issues are not serious enough to be treated by Calgary orthodontists—and in fact, nearly everyone has some level of malocclusion. However, other malocclusions can be quite serious, leading to tooth and gum decay, as well as difficulty chewing food.

How do malocclusions develop?

Many factors may contribute to the development of a malocclusion. Genetics tend to play a large role, especially when one is predisposed to having a narrow or wide jaw. Habits and environmental factors can also be significant. For example, children who suck their thumbs or fingers, have bad chewing habits, or regularly sleep in jaw-contorting positions are sometimes at higher risk for developing malocclusions. Malocclusions can develop at any stage of life, but they most commonly occur in young children whose jaws are still developing.

How do Calgary orthodontists diagnose malocclusions?

Many types of malocclusions can be diagnosed on sight. In fact, non-orthodontic dentists can usually make fairly accurate assessments of the type and severity of a malocclusion. In this case, he or she will refer the patient to an orthodontist for a more accurate diagnosis. Then, Calgary orthodontists use a range of tactics, including X-rays and plaster impressions, to assess exactly what the issue is.

How do Calgary orthodontists treat malocclusions?

There are three main categories of orthodontic treatment:

1. Surgery: In some cases, the orthodontist may need to perform a one-time operation to fix a malocclusion.
2. Removable mouth appliances: Also known as retainers, these appliances are made of plastic and wires, and they use soft pressure to help correct a bite over time.
3. Fixed mouth appliances: Braces, used to push the jaw into a normal alignment over a period of months or years, are the most common type of fixed mouth appliance.

How can malocclusions be prevented?

Orthodontics is by nature a preventative field. In some cases, if a child is brought in for a consultation at a very early age, Calgary orthodontists can catch a malocclusion before it even develops. It’s also a good idea for parents to enforce good orthodontic practices in the home. Children should be made to follow all the best dental hygiene practices, and they should be discouraged from sucking their thumbs or fingers.

If you suspect that you or your child is in need of an orthodontist, Calgary has many licensed orthodontic professionals who are trained to diagnose and treat issues relating to jaw or teeth misalignment. Especially in children, but also increasingly in adults, braces are one of the most common ways to treat these issues. Your family dentist should be able to give you some preliminary thoughts on the type of treatment you or your child needs, and if he or she can’t refer you to an orthodontist, Calgary has other resources for locating the right practitioner for you.

How important are braces?

Braces are elective, meaning that not getting them isn’t life threatening, but they are often highly recommended by orthodontists to prevent more serious alignment problems from developing later in life. Braces help people feel better about their appearance in the long run, and they can also help prevent tooth decay and gum disease.

Who can perform this procedure?

Orthodontists are dentists who have received special training for orthodontic care. One way to find practitioners in the area is to do a Google search for “Orthodontist Calgary,” but an even better way to locate an orthodontist in the area is by going to the website of the Canadian Association of Orthodontics and clicking “Find an Orthodontist.” After that, you can either enter your postal code or navigate to the Orthodontist Calgary section for a full list of licensed practitioners in town.

What are the warning signs that braces might be needed?

Here are some of the most common signs that your child may need braces:

• crowded teeth or teeth that seem to be out of position
• frequent biting of the cheek
• difficulty or pain chewing, biting, or swallowing
• sever over- or under-bite
• an off-center bite
• some teeth are not in proportion with the others
• some teeth grow in behind others
• a weak or too-prominent chin
• tooth loss leads to strange positioning in other teeth
• large spaces between teeth
• noises from the jaw

How early should children see an orthodontist?

The Canadian Association of Orthodontics recommends that all children should have orthodontic consultations before the age of 7. If you suspect there’s a problem with your child’s teeth, you can even seek a consultation as early as age 2 or 3. In general, because so much orthodontic care is about prevention, the earlier an issue is detected, the better it can be treated.

What are the causes of misaligned teeth?

Genetics are a large factor determining how one’s teeth grow. However, other factors such as pacifier sucking, finger sucking, gum disease, poor tooth brushing, and early loss of baby teeth can also play large roles.

How do braces work?

For a detailed description of how braces work, it’s best to go straight to one of the sources in the Orthodontist Calgary directory. But to put it simply: Braces apply gentle, continual pressure over a period of months or years to make sure that teeth move into their proper positions. They do this using brackets, wire threads, and rubber bands that hold the teeth in place and guide them into position to create an ideal bite. Because the process unfolds over time, it’s important to return to the orthodontist regularly for check-ups.

If you’re planning to consult with an orthodontist, whether for yourself or your child, it’s a good idea to come prepared. Calgary orthodontists are very happy to answer any questions you may have, and you’ll find that doing so really puts your mind at ease as the date of the procedure approaches. In case you’re having trouble coming up with the perfect questions to ask, here are some of the most common questions asked of Calgary orthodontists.

1. What education did you receive, and are you certified? Calgary orthodontists are used to fielding this question, so don’t think of it as too disrespectful. After all, it’s your right to feel safe and to trust the person who will be operating on you or your child.

2. Is the quoted fee all inclusive, and is it fixed? Find out if there are any additional fees that could arise, and ask if there are any situations that might cause the rate to go up.

3. What are the alternatives to this surgery? Especially in this day and age, there are typically many different ways to accomplish an orthodontic objective. Even if your orthodontist strongly recommends a certain procedure, it’s a good idea to ask about the advantages and disadvantages of any alternatives.

4. Is now the right time? Whether the procedure is being done on you or your child, it’s a good idea to find out if there might be a better time to have this procedure done.

5. What are the short-term and long-term side effects? All procedures performed by Calgary orthodontists come with side effects. These may vary from person to person, so ask about the range of possibilities you can expect.

6. What types of safety procedures are in place? All dental offices should have rigid safety rules in place, and they should also have procedures in case of an emergency.

7. How well-trained are the assistants? Most Calgary orthodontists will probably need at least one or two assistants in the room during your procedure. Find out whether these employees are certified dental assistants, and ask about what role they will play during the procedure. In general, you have nothing to worry about, but this is good information to know in any case.

8. How long is the treatment going to last? There’s nothing worse than going in for a procedure that you expect to last 15 minutes only to have it go on for hours. Ask your orthodontist for a reasonable guess as to how long you can expect to be in the operating chair.

9. Will there be pain? There is almost no orthodontic procedure that doesn’t call for some type of painkiller during the surgery. Find out what type of anesthetic will be used, and also ask about whether there will be any lingering pain after the surgery.

10. What happens afterward? For many types of procedures, Calgary orthodontists will recommend either that you don’t eat for a certain time afterward, or that you take certain precautions to ensure that the surgery’s effects take hold.

Due to the rapid expansion in dental and orthodontic technology, the number of available orthodontic procedures has exploded in the last few years. Many of the old procedures have become much safer and have gone down in price, while a whole range of new procedures have entered the modern orthodontist’s repertoire. No matter what type of procedure you need, it’s important to find a qualified Calgary orthodontist who is trained and experienced in the type of work you need done. But before doing so, here’s what you should know.

What’s an orthodontist?

Practically everyone needs an orthodontist at some point—either for themselves or for their children—but not everyone is familiar with the exact purview of orthodontics and how the field differs from dentistry. In short, orthodontists are dentists who have received special training—usually a two-year program in addition to the four-year dentistry program—that enables them to diagnose and treat issues involving misaligned teeth and jaws. Every Calgary orthodontist, as well as those from around the country, must be certified by both the Canadian Dental Association and the Canadian Association of Orthodontists.

For children, orthodontists typically work to identify and prevent future problems in developing teeth and jaws. The earlier a problem is detected, the sooner it can be corrected—often with braces or other types of alignment procedures that are usually associated with children much more than adults.

Although children have historically been the primary patients for orthodontists, adults are increasingly seeking orthodontic procedures, especially for cosmetic applications such as adult braces, porcelain veneers, or invisalign teeth aligners.

Before choosing a Calgary orthodontist

Before seeking a consultation with a Calgary orthodontist, there are a few things you might want to do, including:

• Ask your general dentist for a recommendation. If your trust your dentist, then there’s a good chance his or her recommendation will be right for you.
• Ask colleagues, friends, and neighbors if they know of any good orthodontists.
• Before going to a consultation, confirm that your Calgary orthodontist has been licensed by the Canadian Association of Orthodontists. A full database is available on the association’s website.

Questions to ask your Calgary orthodontist

During your consultation, your orthodontist will ask questions about the issue you need treatment for, and he or she will probably want to take a close look at your teeth and jaw. During the course of this meeting, don’t be afraid to ask any questions that spring to mind. Here are a few that you might want to consider:

• How many years has he or she been practicing?
• How many patients does he or she treat on a weekly basis?
• Is the orthodontist up-to-date on the latest orthodontic technology, and will these tools be used?
• Who will be assisting with the procedure, and what type of training do they have?
• What types of procedures are available for the tooth/jaw issue in question?
• What is the standard procedure in case of an emergency?
• What types of financing are available if you choose to go through with the procedure?

With a number of Calgary orthodontists to choose from, selecting the right one for your needs can be fairly time consuming.  Fortunately, you don’t need to look through every single choice to find one, and you can even lean on a number of other people’s knowledge to complete the vast majority of the grunt work for you.  The process does not need to be complicated or extremely time-consuming.  In fact, it can even be pleasant.

First, ask your dentist (or your child’s) for a few referrals.  Because dentists coordinate regularly with orthodontists regarding client care, yours will likely have a good understanding of an orthodontist that would be suited to your needs. Sometimes, however, it is in your best interest to look outside of the “referral network” if you’re looking for different options in regards to quality and pricing.

In order to have the most options possible, you will need to make sure you have your dentist’s undivided attention.  Make sure you both sit down for a chat about referrals, specifically.  Start by asking which orthodontists he/she would send/sent their children to.  Follow up with the possibility of a specialist for your particular needs (see Different Types of Calgary Orthodontists on this site for more information). Also ask for a range of different people as opposed to just one provider. This will allow you to consult with your potential orthodontist and ensure that you feel comfortable with your decision.

You may be surprised by the different answers you receive to each of those questions, but by the end you should have a list of three or four different orthodontists in the Calgary area from which to choose.

Now, cross-reference that list with references of any Calgary orthodontist on your referral list.  See if any of your friends or parents of your children’s friends have experience with any orthodontists or recommendations.  Don’t be afraid to probe for details: ask what makes the orthodontist so good!

Take the information that you have and do a quick Internet search to figure out which of your options are closest to your home/school/any place you frequent regularly.  Orthodontic appointments will usually take place over the course of the three years, with check-ups occurring frequently, so location is extremely important.

Next, call every orthodontist on your list and schedule an initial consultation.  Most orthodontists offer this service free of charge.  Also, take advantage of the encounter as much as possible, inquiring lightly about the following things:

1)  The orthodontist’s accreditations

2)  Their education

3)  Office hours

4)  Time spent in practice

5)  How the clinic deals with emergencies, and finally

6)  Number of orthodontists in practice at the clinic

There is also value in considering an initial consultation (for a fee) from the orthodontist you’re seriously considering. This will allow both you and the orthodontist to understand each other without the large financial layout that comes with doing a large amount of work.

This information should give you a great starting point for comparison, as well as an preview of the office’s customer service.  The administrative assistant should be professional, cordial, and patient with your questions.  If you feel pressured to get off the phone or think, “I am wasting this individual’s time,” then know that you can expect more of the same if you choose that orthodontist.

It is entirely possible that you will speak to a practice manager or patient liaison, who will coordinate with you and manage you or your child’s case for the duration of treatment.  Remember that the person to whom you are speaking is someone you will be required to deal with on a regular basis, so finding a decent rapport is important.

Now, you are ready for the next stage of the process of selecting the right Calgary orthodontist for your needs.  Please see my article, entitled, “What Questions to Ask and What to Expect” for more information.