AJ Orthodontics Blog

Bruxism, the involuntary grinding or clenching of teeth, often occurs during sleep and can be influenced by stress, anxiety, and sleep disorders. Misaligned teeth can also contribute to this condition, raising the question of whether orthodontic treatment can be beneficial. Bruxism can lead to dental complications and discomfort. If you’re contemplating Invisalign as a potential solution for bruxism, continue reading to discover its advantages in managing this condition.

Braces work wonders in correcting crooked teeth by gently applying pressure to guide them into proper alignment. This process stimulates the bone cells to reshape and generate new tissue, ultimately resulting in a beautiful smile. However, it’s important to be aware that certain common issues may arise during the teeth-straightening journey. Read on as we explore five of the most typical problems with braces and offer practical solutions to ensure a smooth orthodontic experience.

Between the removable aligners, lack of dietary restrictions, and easy oral hygiene regimens, Invisalign has earned a reputation for being relatively hassle-free. Of course, there are still a few responsibilities that come with this discreet orthodontic treatment, including caring for your aligners properly. Although they are custom-made just for you and crafted from see-through, high-quality plastic, they can become warped and stained if you adopt the wrong habits. To prevent that from happening, read on to learn the dos and don’ts of caring for clear aligners!

If you’ve been dealing with a misaligned smile for a long time, getting braces can completely change the way that you look and feel about yourself. However, if you’ve ever had braces in the past, you may have found that you need them again for one reason or another.

As it turns out, this isn’t a unique phenomenon. There are quite a few reasons why someone may need to get braces twice. Here are a few examples.

If you’re a parent, you may have noticed that it seems like kids are getting braces much younger than they used to. If you have a second or third-grader, they may have even asked you if they could get braces like the kids at school.

Some children could benefit from so-called “phase 1” orthodontic treatment. If you want to know who that could be, and whether your child could be one of them, here’s a guide with some potentially useful information.

As your child starts wearing metal braces, they may feel excited about doing so. After all, the appliance will help their teeth look so much better! That said, this orthodontic journey will require some dietary changes. Your youngster’s braces might break or fail otherwise. Thankfully, your local orthodontist can explain how to proceed. To that end, here’s a summary of lunch-friendly foods to pack for kids who have braces.

Like many people, you may want to try Invisalign. After all, its aligners can straighten teeth discretely and effectively! That said, perhaps you fear it doesn’t work with dental prosthetics. Maybe your crown would get in the way, or the trays would dislodge your veneers. Well, the truth is that Invisalign is compatible with such dental add-ons. To prove it, your local orthodontist is here to explain things. Read on, then, to learn how Invisalign can work with crowns, bridges, and even veneers.

As effective as they are when it comes to straightening smiles, traditional braces aren’t exactly subtle, and you might not be too thrilled about having to wear the metal brackets and wires for an extended period of time. However, did you know the color of the rubber bands that you wear on your brackets can actually influence the appearance of your teeth? In fact, certain colors can even accentuate the color of your teeth and give your smile a nice glow throughout your braces journey! Here’s more about which colors you should consider and which you should steer clear of when it comes to rubber bands.

Invisalign has taken the world of modern dentistry by storm! These incredible aligners are revolutionary when it comes to correcting alignment issues and providing patients with a beautifully-straightened set of teeth. However, the Invisalign process is somewhat nuanced; every so often, patients will need to wear extra sets of trays to “refine” their treatment and achieve their desired results. But what exactly are these refinements and why are they necessary? Keep reading to learn more!

Did you know that swollen, puffy gums often develop during orthodontic treatment? Braces bring about a lot of changes, but many people don’t know about this one! Sometimes the swelling is temporary or related to oral hygiene, but that’s not always the case. Unhealthy gums could slow down your orthodontic treatment and put your health at risk. If you plan on straightening your smile soon, here’s what you need to know according to an orthodontist in Palm Harbor about swollen gums with braces.