Things about Teeth that can Stress You Out !

April 28, 2012 alexnguyen

This patient had TMJ problem. She went to see a "TMJ Specialist" who does orthodontics. This is how her teeth look at the completion of the orthodontic treatment. Everything looks nice and straight from the front, and the smile is beautiful. However, when you take a closer look at the back teeth - She's missing teeth contacts in the molar areas on both sides of the mouth. With this much spacings in between the teeth, the patient would have to exert extra forces as she tries to chew her food. That in turn takes a toll on the chewing muscles, excessively stresses her joints, and defeats the original reason of her visit to a "TMJ Specialist".

Front Teeth after Orthodontic Treatment:

Back Teeth after Orthodontic Treatment:

Before choosing a "dental specialist". It is important to understand what your problem is, how the problem can be fixed, and what to anticipate at the end of the treatment. The last things about teeth that you would want to deal with may be things that can stress you out !

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Alex Nguyen, DDS is a Saratoga Dentist who practices General Dentistry, Cosmetic, and Implant Dentistry. For over 20 years the practice has been serving the residents of Santa Clara County and San Francisco Bay Area.

Why Should Adults Consider Orthodontic Treatments?

August 28, 2011 alexnguyen

It is not uncommon that I recommend my patients to consider orthodontic treatments to straighten their teeth. Sometimes my adult patients' initial reaction would sound something like: "I am too old for that, and I never thought about the cosmetics of my smile..." Having straight teeth is not ALL about cosmetics.

The misalignment of teeth can cause a variety of problems ranging from TMJ issues, to bone loss, to excess fractures and wear facets on the teeth. This type of break down in the dentition can take many years to manifest. Unfortunately, sometimes when the patient starts to notice the problems, the solutions may require a complex combination of orthodontics and restorative treatments.

Properly aligned teeth actually follow very scientific principles created by nature to establish the most stable functional foundation. When teeth are properly aligned, certain functional movements of the jaw allow for optimum chewing, relaxed muscle state, and ideal joint health. The cosmetics of the smile is automatically achieved secondarily when the functional foundation is established. Finding the right orthodontist is key to successful treatment.

Hence, when you choose to have orthodontic treatment done, you are stabilizing the most important aspect of the dentition: To allow you to sustain life by being able to chew effectively throughout the course of your life span. As the human life span continues to lengthen, it is extremely important to make sure that you will continue to have a stable dentition for your chewing needs.

In the photos below you will find a smile with "crooked teeth". Whereas the patient was never concerned with the cosmetics of her smile before, she has lately been concerned with the fractures lines and wear facets indicated by the red arrows. Her question to me at the last check-up was: "What would my teeth look like...say ten years down the line..."

My answer to her was: "They would look more broken down, and you will also notice problems with the back teeth as well."

So as you can see... My recommendation for this patient to choose orthodontic treatment was based on achieving proper function, and not ALL about cosmetics.

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How to Choose an Orthodontist ?

September 24, 2010 alexnguyen

Often time, people get braces because they want straight teeth. However, straightening the teeth is only one aspect of an ideal orthodontic treatment plan. The best orthodontic treatment will also:

1. Balance the alignment of your teeth with the proper position of your jaw/joint.

2. Harmonize the esthetic of your smile with the esthetic of your face.

If an orthodontic treatment is done without considerations for the above two significant factors, the patient can come out of braces with:

1. Problems of teeth wear and joint pain over time.

2. Higher chances of teeth drifting back into malalignment.

3. A smile that may not fit the face.

4. A face that is not developed to its full potential.

Parents who choose to give their children orthodontic treatments should consider proper research to understand all treatment options. Children's orthodontic treatments revolve around complex growth phases. The orthodontist/dentist need to carefully monitor the development of not just the teeth but also of the jaw, joint, and face. The decision to start and end orthodontic treatments is based on science and clinical needs.

Here are some DO's to remember:

1. Consider more than 1 consultation with different orthodontists.

2. Ask the orthodontist to explain the treatment process of their sample cases. Ask Why, How, and What was done?

3. Look at the smile from the overall esthetic of the face.

Here are some DONOT's :

1. Choose an orthodontist based on price alone.

2. Automatically accept a treatment plan which suggests extractions of permanent teeth to create room. Instead, ask for multiple options.

3. Wait until all permanent teeth have erupted.

If you have had braces and are experiencing joint noise/pain. This is not normal, and further diagnostic testing and treatments should be considered in order to prevent long term damage.

Good luck in your quest for a beautiful and healthy smile !

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Our Philosophy of Practice When It Comes to Cosmetic Dentistry

August 31, 2010 alexnguyen

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrC7GuJKO44&feature=player_embedded] ........................................................................................