What are the Types of Braces Available?

From metal braces to ceramic ones and to Invisalign, which of these are most suitable for a person? It truly depends, and requires that we delve into each option’s advantages and disadvantages before making an informed choice.

1. Metal Braces

The earliest form of braces that we are likely all familiar with, metal braces were once the go-to solution for people who wanted to treat overcrowding and correct tooth alignment.

Advantages

• Most effective at treating overcrowding in the mouth
• Allows more control for teeth movement
• Cheaper option compared to ceramic braces and Invisalign

Disadvantages

• Obvious, metallic appearance that gets in the way of aesthetics
• Wires and brackets may cut and hurt users who wear them
• Metal braces cannot be easily removed

2. Ceramic Braces

Similar in function to metal braces, ceramic braces were created for a smoother feel, and often take on tooth colouration so as to provide a better aesthetic look.

Advantages

• Aesthetically pleasing, mimicking the colour of teeth for people who may be self-conscious about wearing braces
• These do not stain easily
• Ceramic braces provide a smoother feeling as opposed to metal braces
• These braces are created with durable material, and can last someone a long time

Disadvantages

• Ceramic braces cannot absorb forces as well as metal braces, and may fracture
• Wearing them requires one to pay more visits to the dentist for maintenance, making it time-consuming 
• Ceramic braces are larger in size and are far more difficult to clean

3. Invisalign

Invisalign treatment involves the use of clear, plastic aligners created by conducting 3D scans of a patient’s mouth. These aligners exist to move one’s teeth in small increments until they are fully aligned.

Advantages

• Comfortable, with a smooth feeling, and will not irritate or hurt a person’s mouth
• Its clear, transparent appearance provides a more aesthetically pleasing look, suited for those who are self-conscious
• Invisalign aligners can be removed at any time, unlike metal and ceramic braces
• Minimal maintenance is required – a person simply has to brush it often to keep it clean and usable

Disadvantages

• Highly expensive, and not covered by dental insurance. Prices can go up to $8,000, depending on who one approaches
• A person has to use his or her Invisalign for about 22 hours a day, and can only remove them prior to eating or brushing their teeth
• Additional Invisalign attachments may get in the way of the aesthetically pleasing look it provides
• After a meal, it is recommended to brush your teeth before placing the aligners back, making it a necessity to constantly brush your teeth when using Invisalign

Now that we have gone through the various advantages and disadvantages of using metal braces, ceramic braces, and Invisalign, it is now up to you, the individual, to decide which option works best for you.

For example, someone with more resources can perhaps make use of Invisalign with ease, while the more economic option would be metal braces. For a compromise on appearance, ceramic braces are a good middle option.

Ultimately, the decision is yours to make on how you wish to provide dental care for yourself. It is only required that you do not go in blind and make a reckless option.

from Omni Dental Center https://www.omnidental.com.sg/articles/types-of-braces/
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How Do We Prepare for an Oral Surgery?

If you find yourself in need of oral surgery, whether it is to realign your jaw or repair facial (or related) structures for the sake of oral function, it is best to go in prepared. And part of thorough preparation is knowing what you can or cannot do, what to wear, and what other arrangements you may need to make in anticipation of the post-op phase.

Whether it is with your oral surgeon or family members who will be with you through this stage, here are six main things to take note of when you are preparing for the oral surgery coming up.

• Ask all the questions you need to

After ascertaining that an oral surgery is needed, it is time to get all your doubts out of the way to prevent anxiety or unnecessary stress. The best person to approach during this time would be the oral surgeon presiding over the operation.

Ask any questions or raise up your doubts with them prior to the surgery, so you can assuage your fears and be mentally prepared for the surgery that is coming up.

• Get transport ready for after the operation

If your oral surgery involves the use of anaesthesia, you will require post-op care from either family members or friends. This includes arranging for transport to take you home after the oral surgery, since you wll be unable to get back home on your own.

Make prior arrangements way in advance and find someone who can make the time to be there for you after the surgery.

• Find out if you need to fast

As with all other major ops and surgeries or procedures, patients often have to fast at least 8 to 12 hours prior to the surgery. It is no different for an oral surgery, so check in with your oral surgeon if you need to fast prior to your operation.

• Prepare an appropriate, convenient outfit

Wearing short-sleeved shirts will help if the surgery involves an IV drip. Avoid wearing jewelry and makeup, and if you have long hair, tie it up prior to the surgery to avoid inconveniencing your surgeon mid-op.

• Anticipate the post-op diet, and prepare for it

You may only be allowed to eat certain types of food after your oral surgery, so plan for it in advance. Soft food and non-spicy food are optimal, so prepare a meal plan with those in mind.

• Arrive early – so you can relax

Lastly, arrive early so you can settle in and handle any required paperwork before it is time for the surgery. This will give you time to calm your nerves if you are jittery about operations.

Now that all these six things have been adequately addressed, it is time to put the advice to work and turn it into action. And remember: there is nothing that you cannot ask your oral surgeon.

The more you know, the better prepared you will be – and the easier it will be to calm those nerves in the hours leading up to the surgery. It is far better to stay safe than to go in blind, so do what you must and best of luck!

from Omni Dental Center https://www.omnidental.com.sg/articles/prepare-for-oral-surgery/
via https://www.omnidental.com.sg

What is the Difference between a Dentist and an Oral Surgeon?

Dentistry is a vast field, much like the medical field. There is more to it than just general dentistry, tooth extraction, replacements, and even the occasional teeth whitening.

The responsibilities of a dentist are more or less common knowledge, primarily because the everyday person comes into contact with one every once in several months for regular dental checkups. But within the dentistry field are different specialisations, and it is significant that we are able to differentiate one from the other instead of lumping it all together.

One such specialisation is that of an oral surgeon’s – something that may sound complicated in the first instance. But oral surgeons carry out plenty of procedures and surgeries that we ought to know about, so as to better understand dentistry as a whole, and the kinds of problems to look out for when it comes to our own overall oral health. But before that, we need to understand exactly what oral surgeons do and specialise in.

In this article, we will address the key differences between dentists and oral surgeons and list out each specialisation’s area of expertise.

What do dentists do?

A person will see a dentist primarily for oral hygiene purposes or tooth extraction. This is the first touchpoint for anyone looking to keep track of their oral health, and will often seek out a dentist regularly to ensure everything is in tip-top condition. And while dentists do carry out surgeries, it is important to note that these surgeries are not as major as the kind oral surgeons execute.

Dentists carry out the following procedures on a day-to-day basis:

1. Diagnose oral diseases
2. Helping patients to manage their oral health
3. Perform minor surgeries on the oral cavity
4. Tooth extraction
5. Monitoring patient tooth and jaw growth

What do oral surgeons do?

As the title already suggests, oral surgeons carry out surgeries related to oral or facial injuries, and even illnesses or disease. This includes operating on a patient’s jaws, teeth, lips, and other surrounding facial structures. Oral surgeons are also the professionals who diagnose patients for the following issues: misaligned jaws, obstructive sleep apnea, or even mouth cancer.

As such, oral surgeons are a more specialised branch in dentistry and carry great importance when it comes to a person’s oral and facial functionality and overall health. They do not monitor tooth growth, but rather address more serious concerns when it comes to oral health and disease.

Here are some procedures that oral surgeons carry out:

1. Removing tumours
2. Removing impacted teeth
3. Adjusting jaw position for function and comfort
4. Reconstructing jaws and face after illness

As you can see, dentists and oral surgeons may reside in the same field, but have vastly different functions. A dentist will not be able to help realign your jaw to adjust for structure, but an oral surgeon will be more than qualified. In that vein, an oral surgeon does not offer services for minor issues related to oral health and hygiene, as general dentists are able to do just that.

from Omni Dental Center https://www.omnidental.com.sg/articles/difference-between-dentist-and-oral-surgeon/
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What is the Difference between Cosmetic Dentistry and Restorative Dentistry?

When it comes to oral care and dentistry, there are various fields that different dentists specialise in. Two such fields are cosmetic and restorative dentistry, with vast differences that set each specialty apart.

Cosmetic Dentistry: What is it?

For the case of cosmetic dentistry, its name should be indicative of what it involves: improving the appearance or aesthetics of teeth, gums, and overall smiles. More often than not, cosmetic dentistry does not include dental work that fixes or improves upon oral functions, and is largely superficial.

To get a better idea of what cosmetic dentistry involves, here are some typical procedures that cosmetic dentists carry out for their patients:

1. Whitening

   Also known as ‘tooth bleaching’, this is the most common dental procedure that patients undergo in order to improve the appearance of their smiles and discoloured teeth.

2. Reshaping

   It involves removing enamel to improve tooth appearance, whether it is caused by small chips or just too long or crooked.

3. Bonding

   Enamel-like dental composite is used to alter the appearance of a tooth, being sculpted into shape before being polished.

4. Bridging

   This refers to the replacement of missing teeth.

5. Veneers

   These are thin layers of porcelain laminates that rest directly over your teeth, in order to close gaps or enhance overall shape.

6. Implants

   These replace missing teeth.

7. Straightening

   For people with crooked teeth, straightening is an option to reshape and adjust the appearance of their smile.

Restorative Dentistry: What is it?

Unlike cosmetic dentistry, restorative dentistry deals in dental work relating to the diagnosis, management, and treatment of diseases of teeth and their supporting structures. In this case, both oral hygiene and function are severely affected, often by diseases that bring about decay that may spread throughout a person’s whole mouth if left unchecked.

Restorative dentistry procedures include the following:

1. Inlays, onlays, and veneers

2. Crowns and bridges

3. Root canal therapy

4. Composite tooth dental fillings

5. Amalgam (silver dental fillings)

Differences between Cosmetic and Restorative: A Summary

It should be clear by now that cosmetic dentistry and restorative dentistry function for different reasons, and do not often overlap. Key differences between these two dentistry fields can be summarised as such:

Cosmetic dentistry is not concerned with rehabilitation or restoration of teeth or its supporting structures as a result of disease as opposed to restorative dentistry. Cosmetic work only improves upon existing appearances of various oral features, such as whitening teeth or reshaping them.

Restorative dentistry works primarily to prevent decay or the spread of disease, and involves intervention and reparation. It is not concerned with oral appearance or aesthetics.

It is important to know the difference between these two fields of dentistry. After all, if one suffers from imminent tooth decay or a disease that threatens the integrity and health of one’s oral support structures, it would be unwise to approach a cosmetic dentist to try and reverse these conditions.

In the same way, restorative dentistry will not help to straighten your teeth or whiten discoloured teeth, and should not be considered if one’s oral aesthetics merely need a bit of adjustments.

from Omni Dental Center https://www.omnidental.com.sg/articles/difference-between-cosmetic-dentistry-and-restorative-dentistry/
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What Do Prosthodontists Do?

We are familiar with our dentist – the good-natured, friendly figure that is here to conduct yet another routine check on our teeth and oral hygiene. But even in the field of dentistry, specialties are vast. One such variation within the dental field is the prosthodontist.

Just as there are various types of doctors in the extensive medical field landscape, so it is the same for the school of dentistry. There are generalists, and there are specialists – such as doctors who only carry out heart surgeries, or doctors who are proficient in the mental health field.

As intimidating as the term might seem, prosthodontists engage in a subset of dental specialty that deals, specifically, with oral function, tooth replacement, and also restoration. Quite literally, “prostho” translates to replacement, while “dontist” refers to dealing with teeth. Thus, they are not to be confused with general dentists as they have very specific functions within the field of dentistry.

How does one tell the difference between someone who is a general dentist, and someone who is actually a prosthodontist? It may not be that difficult, even if both professions deal in similar departments when it comes to oral health and function.

The key differences between prosthodontists and general dentists are:

1. General dentists handle routine dental care and minor procedures like fillings. Prosthodontists are ultimately specialists, and carry out more extensive surgeries depending on patient needs. These include:

• Jaw surgery, to adjust and amend facial problems and fix structure
• Dentures, especially for the elderly and those with poor teeth structure and integrity
• Implants
• Crowning and bridging for teeth restoration
• Cosmetics, meant to handle facial problems

2. General dentists take care of the basics, but prosthodontists are concerned with overall oral health and function.

3. Prosthodontists typically have undergone advanced training (in Singapore, three years more than the general dentist) in teeth replacement and restoration, and are a key part of any dental treatment plan.

They often are the leaders in dental teams, supervising general dentists and specialists as they craft and provide solutions to patients regarding oral care and restoration, due to their superior knowledge and further training.

4. Prosthodontists are often proficient with state-of-the-art technology and treatment methods when it comes to dealing with a missing tooth, or problems concerning all the teeth in your mouth – and even your gums. If a patient faces an issue that severely affects oral function, a prosthodontist is the one who will aid in restoring optimal oral function.

So while prosthodontists and general dentists fall under the same umbrella category of dental care, a prosthodontist is far more extensively trained. Where dentists maintain the health of your teeth, prosthodontists ensure your entire mouth is kept functional and healthy.

However, it does not mean it is a better idea to bypass general dentists and go straight to a prosthodontist for hygiene and general dental issues. Specialists exist for specific reasons, so be sure to remember where the expertise of a prosthodontist lies before approaching one for your dental issues and concerns.

from Omni Dental Center https://www.omnidental.com.sg/articles/prosthodontists/
via https://www.omnidental.com.sg