Adriano Farina

Yes. Today there are new technologies that can be used to straighten your teeth other than braces. One such example are clear aligners.
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Kerry Howard

It varies depending on the doctor, the type of wire she is in currently, and what stage she is at during treatment. It could be anywhere from 3-12 weeks.

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Thumb sucking is a very common thing that many children do. Usually, we recommend positive encouragement to help the child to stop, rather than reprimanding or punishing them. Most children do it for comfort. Try working with your child and explaining that this habit can have long term effects. Thumb sucking can result in the top jaw becoming very narrow and the top front teeth being pushed too far forward out of position. The sooner your child stops this habit the better. Having the habit being discontinued before the front permanent teeth come in is always the goal. At the age of 7, your child should see an orthodontist to evaluate if there are any problems to fix as a result of the thumb sucking.

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Hello,

Yes, this can definitely be addressed. Many adults have orthodontic treatment done. We have patient’s as old as 80 years old who undergo orthodontic treatment. Also, there are a variety of different options to address your “buck teeth.” The first step is to start with an initial consultation to learn more about what you can do.

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You should be able to use an approved mouthwash you buy at a pharmacy daily without any issues.

Kerry Howard

It’s hard to know exactly why. Sometimes it can be an infection, sometimes it’s just part of the normal healing process and sometimes can be caused by a “dry-socket” (often associated with the clotting in the area of the extracted tooth). We recommend seeing the dentist who extracted the tooth as soon as possible. They know your current situation best and will be able to ensure that they employ the best method of making you comfortable.

Thanks,

Kerry Howard

The best time for a patient to come in for a first orthodontic visit is at age 7. This is the age that is recommended by the American Academy of Orthodontists. Even though there may be only a few adult teeth, many children will present with little problems early on. The goal of seeing an orthodontist is to ensure these little problems don’t grow up to be big problems. Your orthodontist will be able to tell you if something needs to be done now or if the situation should just be monitored (which is often the case). Additionally, your orthodontist may make recommendations to your general dentist to avoid these problems from getting worse. Often times a child will come in for a first visit and then return to see their orthodontist every 6 months to monitor the development of their teeth and jaws. At our office all of these 6 months visits are complimentary. Our goal is to encourage parents to bring in their children at the right moment to avoid these problems from worsening. Far too often, we see children who’s problems have become far more complicated than they should have. We would be happy to elaborate more on the importance of an early orthodontic exam and explain its importance. Please feel free to contact us at 514-426-9400 for more details. Thanks and have a great night!


Kerry Howard

It’s tough to say without examining you. First off you want to make sure you’re using the proper brushing movements and not placing too much pressure on the gums. It’s important to clean the gumline and brush the gums, but repeated back and forth brushing on the gumline may cause some damage. Electric toothbrushes are great and many of the new ones can tell you if you’re using too much pressure when brushing. However, you can achieve optimal cleaning with a regular manual toothbrush.

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We definitely recommend you see your general dentist as soon as possible. They will need to investigate the area. Depending on what they find they may need to do a specific type of cleaning or procedure, write you a prescription for a medication or refer you to a specialist. This would be your best course of action. Hope this helps. If you have any additional questions please feel free to contact us. Thanks and have a great day!

Hello,

The first step is to make sure you make an appointment with your dentist. They need to do a full examination and make sure there isn’t any plaque or debris on your teeth around your gums. They can also review with you different techniques of flossing so that you can clean your teeth without damaging your gums. Additionally, many people who haven’t flossed much in the past will experience temporary bleeding from their gums once they incorporate flossing into their oral hygiene regimen. This is because their gums are irritated and inflamed, it’s not an indication to stop flossing. Only your dentist can examine you and then tell you how to proceed. If you need a referral to a dentist, we would be happy to refer you to one.

Thanks,
Dr. Adriano Farina