Century Newsletter

  What is an underbite?         An underbite is a malocclusion where the lower teeth extend outward farther than the upper front teeth. This can create a bulldog-like appearance in the mouth and face. Some cases can be severe causing the lower teeth to extend far forward. Other cases are milder and almost unnoticeable.   What causes an underbite? ·          Thumb sucking. ·          Tongue thrust when swallowing. ·          Using a pacifier in children above age 3. ·          Genetics. ·          Injury. ·          Tumors. Why does an underbite need to be fixed?             Patients with milder cases may not have any o...

  What are HSA and FSA accounts? ·          Health Savings Account (HSA) and Flexible Spending Account (FSA) are usually offered to you by your employer. These accounts allow you to set money aside for qualifying health care expenses. Can you use an HSA or FSA for treatment? ·          Yes, you can use your HSA or FSA for eligible orthodontic treatments for the portion not covered by your insurance company. Can I do monthly payments? ·          Yes! You can have the amount remaining portion split into monthly payments. Can I do autopay? ·          Of course! We can set up to have autopay taken out of your HSA or FSA. -LS n     Do you have Flex money you need to spend? Please make sure to let us know before the year ends and we will adjust your monthly payment.      Call today ...

Teeth can move at any age or anytime if you let them!!!  Unfortunately, the reality is that even after orthodontic treatment is complete, your teeth are still likely to move. Unless however, you are to wear a retention appliances for 6-12 hours nightly for as long as you'd like to keep them where they are. Why does this happen? There are a few ways to think about it:    ·          Changes in the mouth reset the balance   – Suppose you lose a tooth or have one extracted. Your other teeth are going to notice they have room to move and may drift over into the gap. Not all changes to your mouth are as dramatic as a lost tooth, but growth and age-related changes to your mouth will also change how your teeth relate to one another.  ·          Ligaments are not fixed   – The periodontal ligament is the name of the connector that attaches each tooth to a jawbone. Ligaments are ela...

  Cleaning   traditional retainers   is very easy.   When you are brushing your teeth, take your tooth brush and brush your retainer.   For a more “deep” clean you may use a denture cleaner or Retainer Brite.   This allows bubbles to clean particles away from your retainer.   Follow the instructions on the box.   If you have metal wires on your retainer, don’t leave your retainer in the cleaner for extended times because this can weaken the wires. Cleaning  Essix retainers  or  Invisalign  type retainers can be very easy also.   Clean your aligner prior to each insertion.   First use a liquid soap to make a lather in your hand and place the aligner in hand.   Then scrub aligner with hands.   For a more accurate clean you may use a cue tip.   We ask you to use a mild liquid soap. This liquid soap may be anti-bacterial if you wish.   Some patients prefer liquid soaps that are scented.   Do NOT u...

  What is an open bite? Usually when someone is referred to having an open bite it means that when they bite down their back teeth touch but not the front.  Open bites are a type of malocclusion (Bad-Bite), which means the teeth are don't meet properly when the jaws are closed.   What causes an open bite? Thumb sucking ; thumb sucking while your adult teeth grow in can cause your teeth grow forward and outward. Pacifier sucking ; just like thumb sucking, if the patient continues to suck on pacifiers as their adult teeth grow in can cause the front teeth to protrude outwards. Tongue thrust : when you swallow you push your tongue forward between your teeth. Skeletal problem : when your jaws grow apart instead of parallel.   Why does an open bite need to be fixed? Aesthetics : Patients may be unhappy with the appearance of their teeth when they smile. Speech: Patients that have an open bite may speak with a lisp and have a hard time with pronunc...