One of the greatest advantages of dental braces is that they can be used to redefine your smile no matter what age you are. Not only do they enhance the aesthetics of your teeth, but they also work to improve your overall oral health by treating misaligned and crooked teeth. However, the process of perfecting your smile may not end with braces. Once the braces come off, there are a few other dental procedures you may have to undergo to ensure that your teeth are appropriately enhanced. Here are some of the dental procedures you could consider once your metal braces have been removed.
Dental procedures to keep your teeth straight
During the course of time that you have been wearing your dental braces, these devices are what have been working to move your teeth into the right position and make them straight. Once the dental braces are out, it is recommended to give your teeth some time to become stabilized as they get used to their new positioning without the support of the braces. To do so, you should consider getting a dental retainer post braces removal. Retainers are custom made for dental patients. They comprise a plastic base with metal wires that function to keep your teeth in their new positioning. A retainer is removable so you do not have to worry about having it on at all times like braces. However, it is best to follow your dentist's instructions on how long to keep it on to ensure your teeth remain straight.
Dental procedures to whiten your teeth
One complaint some patients have after removing their braces is discolouration in the areas that the metal brackets of the braces were adhered onto their teeth. This is common because it is impossible to clean these areas while having the braces on. As such, you may want to consider teeth whitening once the dental braces have been removed. For mild teeth whitening, the dentist may use peroxide gel to eliminate surface stains. However, if the staining is significant, then you may want to consider laser teeth whitening to brighten your smile post braces.
Dental procedures to contour your teeth
Dental braces primarily work for tooth straightening. However, once they come off, it is not uncommon to require additional procedures to tweak the appearance of your teeth. If the braces have caused slight overlapping of your teeth, if one of your teeth is pointy or if you would like to correct the length of your teeth, you could consider dental reshaping and contouring. These procedures remedy minor imperfections and your dentist can even opt to combine multiple procedures at once to enhance your smile.
Share14 April 2016
As you age, it can become harder to take care of your teeth. Motor challenges can make it hard to floss, while memory issues may make it easy to overlook brushing. Whether you are a senior looking for solutions to some of the common dental problems or a senior with specific questions about cavities or oral surgery, you have come to the right place. In this blog, I am going to touch on a range of topics related to seniors and oral health. This is the type of resource I wish my mum would have had access to in her senior years, and I hope you enjoy having access to it during yours. I appreciate you reading my posts.
