by PacificWest Dental | Apr 22, 2020 | Uncategorized
Today, we would like to talk about good oral health routines when the orthodontist is not available. Before we get to that, we want to just remind our readers that we are available by phone, video conferencing, and in person for emergencies.
However, because of COVID-19, we are currently not seeing everyone in the office for regular appointments. With that in mind, we wanted to go over some good oral health routines for right now until the current pandemic is over.
Follow your regular orthodontic routines
Even though you’re not coming into the office as frequently as you would normally, you still need to follow your instructions. If you’re supposed to wear rubber bands, then wear them. If you’re supposed to wear an appliance at night, then wear it.
Don’t neglect what you should be doing just because you may not see us for a few more weeks.
Brush your teeth
This is a critical part of all oral hygiene routines, not just for those wearing braces. Brush your teeth after meals and before bed. You don’t want to develop a decay problem right now.
Floss your teeth
Flossing is more challenging when you have braces, but it’s important. There are special tools available to help you floss when you have braces. If you’re not sure how they work, then talk to us.
Avoid sugar
Sugar isn’t good for us, and it’s really bad for your teeth. Especially avoid sugary foods that stick to your teeth like candy. And if you eat those things, then please brush your teeth afterwards.
Don’t put random things in your mouth
We mean don’t put things in your mouth that don’t belong in your mouth. For example, don’t chew on pencils or pens or toothpicks. Don’t use your teeth like tools to open packages. These are easy ways to break parts of your braces.
Remember, the better you follow your orthodontist’s instructions, the faster you will be done with your braces and you’ll get them off.
When patients wear braces, the teeth move at a predictable rate. When you follow instructions, everything goes more smoothly and faster. Don’t worry! Your braces will be off before you know it.
The PacificWest Dental Group is a progressive dental specialty practice offering comprehensive care in the areas of orthodontics, prosthodontics, periodontics, and oral surgery. We have two convenient locations in Surrey and Vancouver, BC.
If you have any questions about this article or would like to talk to us or schedule an appointment, you can email us at pacificwestorthodontics@gmail.com.
by PacificWest Dental | Mar 22, 2020 | Uncategorized
A malocclusion, or bite issue, is a common misalignment problem that can take many forms including overbites, underbites, crossbites and open bites. What these bites issues all have in common is that they can cause serious health and oral issues down the road if not met with orthodontic treatment. Here are 4 signs that you might have a bite issue.
Biting Inner Cheek or Tongue
Do you find you are often accidentally biting your tongue or inner cheeks? Are there constant sores raw spots as a result? This is a common sign that something is amiss with your bite. A properly aligned mouth should not be constantly biting its tongue and cheek.
Speech Problems
Do you speak with a lisp or have other speech problems? Speech problems are often a result of a malocclusion.
Mouth Breathing
Another sign of bite issues is constant breathing through the mouth rather than the nose. Normal respiration should mostly take place through the nose, but various bite issues can affect this, making the mouth more active in breathing.
Chewing and Biting Discomfort
Finally, another sign of a bite issue is discomfort when eating food. If you find it difficult to chew certain foods, or you struggle to bite things, it may be a sign of an issue. A properly aligned bite should not cause discomfort when chewing and biting.
Not all bite issues are made the same. While you may experience some signs, you might not experience any. The best way to know if you have a bite issue, or any other dental issue, is to visit your Vancouver orthodontics clinic, such as Pacific West Dental.
by PacificWest Dental | Feb 26, 2020 | Uncategorized
Poking fun at someone who is wearing braces is nothing new, and most of us at some point in our lives have heard people use terms such as metal mouth or brace face. While this attitude is unfortunate, the reality is that more children, teenagers and adults are choosing to get braces or other orthodontic treatment, and this is a positive thing. So, if someone does decide to make fun of your braces, here are 4 great responses.
Shrug it off
The best thing to do is just to shrug it off and walk away. This means not stooping to the aggressors level and being the “bigger person”. This is a great strategy if the unwanted comments are a one-off, but might fail if they continue…
Make a Comeback
The less “mature” response is to make a comeback to the aggressor. Depending on your level of frustration, this could be something minor like “at least my teeth will be straight”, to something more brash like “at least I can fix what’s wrong with my face”. Making a comeback like this does take some guts to do, however.
Ask the Person to Stop
The more grown-up response might be to ask the person to stop. He or she might not realize how the comments are making you feel, and might think they are making a “funny joke”. Usually people will stop a behavior if they are asked to.
Talk to an Adult
If all else has failed, and it’s a certain individual who continues to make fun, now may be the time to talk to a trusted adult. This could be a parent, teacher or other trusted person. Let them know what is happening, and how you feel. They should be able to stop the situation from reoccurring.
Having braces is common, and is a great thing that will reward you with a great smile. Don’t let someone ruin the experience for you. If you are in need of a Orthodontist office in Vancouver, give Pacific West Dental a call today.
by PacificWest Dental | Jan 28, 2020 | Uncategorized
There are a lot of options when
choosing an orthodontist in Vancouver, and anytime you are seeking out a
professional it can be a difficult decision. So how can this decision be made
easier or more manageable? By knowing what to look for! So here is what to look
for in a Vancouver orthodontist.
First and foremost, you want to
make sure any orthodontist is board certified and a specialist in his or her
field – in this case orthodontics.
In British Columbia, there is a
strict set of standards that all professional orthodontist must adhere to.
Following these standards, patients are sure to get the highest level of care
and professionalism – which is extremely important when you are putting your
trust in your health in someone else’s hands.
Of course, there are other
considerations as well when choosing an orthodontist. You want to find a person
you are comfortable with, and that you feel you can trust. This might mean
someone who speaks fluent English, or perhaps fluent Mandarin.
You also want to find a
practice with hours that can work on your schedule. There may be many visits
during the full course of orthodontic treatment, so make sure you can actually
find times that work with you. Also, make sure to double check that your dental
benefits will work at a certain clinic. Bonus points if they can bill directly.
If you do not have dental benefits, you may also wish to find a practice that
offers payment plans.
So as you begin your search,
make sure you keep all of these things in mind. If this seems like a lot, we
can make your search easier by suggesting you give Pacifc West Dental a call
today.
by PacificWest Dental | Dec 23, 2019 | Uncategorized
When choosing a treatment method for an
orthodontic issue, you want to go with not only an effective treatment, but
also get the results you want as quickly as possible. Orthodontic treatment
does not have any instant options, but some treatments are faster than others.
What
Are the Surrey Orthodontic Braces Options?
For fixing teeth alignment issues, there
are generally a few options that patients can choose between. First, there are
the traditional metal bracket braces. This treatment method uses metal brackets
which are glued to the front side of teeth, with a wire run between them which
puts tension on the teeth in the direction they should be moved.
Lingua braces are another option for
patients to consider. What sets lingual braces apart from metal braces is that
the brackets are placed on the inside of the teeth, making them more
“invisible” compared to metal braces. Both of these treatment options work at
about the same pace, and have advantages as well as disadvantages.
A more recent option which continues to
grow in popularity is going with Invisalign braces. These invisible aligners
provide quick results, often working faster than conventional braces. They also
carry other advantages, such as being removable, and being invisible when worn.
All of these popular options are effective
treatment methods. While invisalign has the potential to work the fastest, the
actual treatment time can vary greatly patient to patient, depending on how
each mouth and tooth reacts to treatment. If you are looking for braces in
Surry, make an appointment with Pacific West Dental today.
by PacificWest Dental | Nov 27, 2019 | Uncategorized
If you are in need of orthodontic work, your orthodontist in
Vancouver may have recommended lingual braces. Patients are often not familiar
with what lingual braces are. In fact, lingual braces are very similar to
traditional wire braces, but are attached to the inside of teeth, neared the
tongue, as opposed to the outside of the teeth. There are a few advantages to
choosing lingual braces.
Invisible Appearance
Perhaps the main advantage of lingual braces is that they
are not as visible as braces attached to the outside of your teeth. This is not
only perfect for working professionals or adults who are undergoing treatment,
but also kids and teenagers who do not wish to take on the appearance of
regular braces. Lingual braces also ensure that if any discolouration or white
spots result from braces, that these are on the inside of the teeth and not
outside.
Always Working
Clear aligners such as Invisalign are becoming immensely
popular due to their effectiveness and invisible appearance. However, removable
aligners are not for everyone, as some people may struggle to consistently wear
them, either due to inconvenience, or forgetting to pop them back in after a
snack or meal. Lingual braces are permanently attached to teeth during
treatment, so the temptation to remove them is not a factor. This means
treatment will not be slowed or ineffective due to poor habits.
Lingual braces are an excellent option to consider when
getting orthodontic treatment. Your orthodontist will be able to discuss these
and other options with you. If you are looking for treatment, or for lingual
braces in Vancouver, Pacific West Dental is here to help.
