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Get Straight Teeth With Traditional Or Alternative Braces | Fayetteville, GA

Young woman smiling with perfect dental health

Traditional braces have long been the optimal treatment for gaining the beautifully straight smile we crave. Yet, they have long contributed to a lack of confidence in adolescents and adults alike as they move through the process of straightening their teeth which can take months or even years. Thankfully, for a majority of patients, traditional braces are no longer the only option. Technological advances have allotted for a variety of other methods if your particular misalignment allows for it, as confirmed by your dentist or orthodontist.

Invisalign is probably the most recognized alternative, as it was one of the first on the market. Invisalign is a series of customized clear plastic aligners, each molded to accommodate the straightening of your teeth over time. Each set of aligners advances your progress while remaining discreet for all-day wear. It reduces the amount of care required for traditional braces, doesn’t have brackets or wires, there’s no dental glue to scrape off in the end, and has fewer check-ups with the dentist. Now that this technology has become more widespread, there are other companies providing clear aligners, so Invisalign is no longer your only option, meaning you can shop around to find an aligner covered by insurance or more aligned with your budget.

If you aren’t a candidate for an alternative means of straightening your teeth, however, you can ask your dentist about clear or white brackets for traditional braces. Believe it or not, swapping the traditional silver tone for a more neutral or natural color makes a big difference in how pronounced your braces appear. While you may not be able to avoid braces, you can boost your confidence with this alternative.

Of course, there are pros and cons to every method, but it’s important to understand your options as you consider making the investment to straighten your teeth. Be sure to consult with your dentist about how pronounced your misalignment is, and if you are a candidate for clear aligners before you make your final decision. It’s easier to do your research ahead of time than try to backtrack later.

To schedule an appointment or learn more about the beautiful smiles Dr. Sukari McMiller has created visit us online today at www.dreamworksdentalcare.com.

Dr. Sukari McMiller proudly serves patients from Fayetteville and all surrounding areas.

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Oral Care Accessories for Daily Care | Fayetteville, GA

woman smiling with perfect dental health

Today, oral care has advanced beyond the tried-and-true toothbrush, paste, and floss routine. There are a number of gadgets on the market specifically designed to fill whatever gaps you feel are present as you strive to enhance your smile. These means essentially fall into two categories; hygienic and aesthetic. Of course, a well-rounded oral care routine is the first step towards attaining the smile you want, but if your oral care routine is set, and you still aren’t seeing the results you want, aesthetic additions may do the trick.

Here are a few ways you can upgrade your existing tools or add to your care collection:

Hygienic

Electric Toothbrushes: Do you even complete your two-minute scrub and think “my teeth don’t feel very clean”? It may be because the traditional toothbrush just isn’t cutting it anymore. Electric toothbrushes have gained popularity because they are designed to provide brush strokes that work to give you a better clean in the same amount of time. It can go a long way to providing the basic care your teeth need.

Flossers: There are so many ways to floss available for your choosing. Traditional waxed or unwaxed threads are no longer the only options. Water flossers and plush threads are great alternatives (if not better alternatives) to the floss we commonly associate with.

Tongue Scraper: While there is no definitive rule that these need to be employed in your care routine, the benefit of incorporating one is the added removal of potentially harmful bacteria. Tongue scraping removes the same bacteria that feed on the sugars left between the teeth after a meal from the surface of the tongue, improving overall hygiene.

Aesthetic

At-Home Aligners: At-home aligners are an easy, effective means of straightening out your teeth for an enhanced aesthetic. While they aren’t meant for everyone, and you should speak with your dentist prior to incorporating at-home aligners into your oral care practices, they can gently move your teeth into their proper position and enhance your smile.

Whitening Trays: These work similarly to the teeth aligners mentioned above. Instead of working to straighten your teeth, however, you simply mold the trey to your teeth, brush on the included whitening solution to the inside of the tray and allow it to rest on your teeth for the prescribed amount of time. Kits are easily accessible and when done properly can make your smile up to a few shades whiter.

UV Light: This is another means of enhancing the color and brightness of your teeth. Typically, when you employ a UV light, you first brush on the whitening solution and allow the light to rest on that set of teeth for a number of minutes. The solution and light combination works to enhance your smile and can potentially do so up to a few shades whiter.

To schedule an appointment or learn more about the beautiful smiles Dr. Sukari McMiller has created visit us online today at www.dreamworksdentalcare.com.

Dr. Sukari McMiller proudly serves patients from Fayetteville and all surrounding areas.