The Danger of DIY Orthodontics

As an Invisalign provider certified by the American Orthodontic Society, Dr. Archana Lankupalli of ProSmiles Dental is concerned about reports of people attempting amateur orthodontic treatments on themselves. Doctors have released several public service announcements within the past year that these practices are often highly risky and unlikely to yield good results.

The current DIY orthodontic fad began with the publication of an online article by someone who used a 3D-printer to fashion his own invisible aligners. Invisalign patients know that aligners are dispensed three at a time at six-week intervals. The author described this as a deliberate effort to prolong treatment to extort more payments from patients.

In fact, orthodontic work takes time because teeth and jaws are living bones and moving teeth through jaws requires that the bone have time to dissolve and heal. Speeding up tooth migration does not give the jaws enough time to solidify, which may result in teeth coming loose, falling out, traveling back to their previous position, or becoming otherwise misaligned. Other DIY orthodontic ideas, such as binding teeth together, pose a risk of cutting off teeth’s blood supply or that the binding material will get lost in the patient’s gum tissue. We urge anyone who is frustrated with their bite or the appearance of their teeth to inquire with us about professional treatment and our office’s payment options. Attempting cheap, amateur solutions will only make things much worse.

Dr. Archana Lankupalli operates ProSmiles Dental at 9400 Clifford Street, Suite 110, Fort Worth, Texas, 76108. To schedule an appointment, call 817-369-8000 or visit WhiteSettlementDentistTX.com and fill out a contact sheet.

 

How to Clean Dentures

At ProSmiles Dental, we value our relationships with our patients and want to ensure they have as easy a time as possible adjusting to changes in their oral hygiene needs. Getting dentures is one such major transition, and to get the most use out of them, patients need to understand how to clean their new teeth.

Natural teeth are coated in the hardest substance in the human body and produce their own protective film. But artificial teeth do not, and they may be scratched by ordinary toothpaste. Patients should brush their dentures with toothpaste designated specifically for that purpose and brush the whole denture, not just the bits which mimic teeth. Like all oral hygiene, this should be done with a soft-bristled brush.

Even if dentures are supported by implants, they should be removed every night. While outside the mouth, they need to be kept moist by being soaked in cleaning solution or water. It is important that the soaking solution not be too hot, as this may warp the denture’s thin plastic. Removing dentures will give patients an opportunity to brush the inside of their mouths, which should be done in the morning to stimulate blood flow before putting the denture back in.

Dr. Archana Lankupalli operates ProSmiles Dental at 9400 Clifford Street, Suite 110, Fort Worth, Texas, 76108. To schedule an appointment, call 817-369-8000 or visit WhiteSettlementDentistTX.com and fill out a contact sheet.

 

Electric Toothbrushes

At ProSmiles Dental, we’re proud to provide our Fort Worth patients with the advice they need to maintain their oral hygiene. Most people understand the importance of brushing their teeth, but for various reasons, people often do it improperly. Some people would benefit from using an electric toothbrush, but it depends on what they’re doing wrong.

Proper use of a manual toothbrush requires two full minutes of brushing during each session. Most people don’t do this, and some can’t. An electric toothbrush is much faster; most can make thousands of strokes per minute, while people can only make hundreds, at most. This also makes it much easier to brush too hard or for too long, but most electric toothbrushes now come with features to alert patients if they are overdoing it.

Newer models of electric toothbrushes are being manufactured with a variety of apps to assist patients with their technique and motivation. If a person is fully capable of using a manual toothbrush correctly, an electric toothbrush may only be an expensive toy. But for a person with a limited attention span or motion control issues, electric toothbrushes can make a huge improvement in oral hygiene.

Dr. Archana Lankupalli operates ProSmiles Dental at 9400 Clifford Street, Suite 110, Fort Worth, Texas, 76108. To schedule an appointment, call 817-369-8000 or visit WhiteSettlementDentistTX.com and fill out a contact sheet.