S. Kent Lauson

In general, healthy teeth do not have a problem being moved with orthodontic treatment with either braces or clear aligners. However if a patient undergoing orthodontic treatment has trauma (receiving a blow) damage can occur just like a person not under going orthodontic treatment. Go ahead with your orthodontic treatment with a qualified dentist. The benefits far outlay any risks.

Great question. Braces can present a challenge with cleaning the teeth to maintain them in health while treatment is occurring. Swollen gums and the creation of white spots on teeth can occur as plaque forms to produce acid. The answer: I recommend always using an electric toothbrush for two minutes at least twice a day. Manual toothbrushes alone just don’t get the job done, but should be used after meals. Additionally, the Water Flosser can be very beneficial where regular flossing is not practical and should be used at least once a day. This protocal is also recommended for those without braces and can maintain a healthy set of teeth along with that beautiful smile. The use of clear aligners in treatment has helped to maintain ideal cleaning of teeth.

The simple answer to the question: “I have a crossbite and want to fix it. Is jaw surgery necessary for a crossbite?” is no! Cross bites are the result of deficient bone structure in the maxilla. An anterior cross bite can be corrected by orthopedic correction of the pre-maxilla and posterior cross bites by simple expansion of the maxilla. This can be done at any age, in spite of the much believed false information that surgery is necessary. For more information on this, please refer to my published books Straight Talk about Crooked Teeth and The NEO Way, available on Amazon.

Kindly,

S. Kent Lauson, DDS, MS, Orthodontist.