The Value of Prevention Dentistry and Orthodontics

You probably know that you should take your infant to see a general dentist as soon as his or her first tooth erupts. But, did you know you should also schedule a prevention dentistry appointment with an orthodontist for early treatment before the time your child reaches seven years old?

Having early orthodontic treatment can correct many problems you may not necessarily associate with teeth alignment. Maintaining good oral health – including the overall alignment of your teeth – can prevent many problems that can follow your child into adulthood.

The Consequences of Not Seeing An Orthodontist for Prevention Dentistry

There are many causes and reasons why an airway can be obstructed. This can cause snoring as well as breathing problems both in childhood and as an adult. As a result of an obstructed airway many malocclusions can develop in the future. An orthodontist can evaluate, identify and help correct some of these problems early so your child does not develop worse orthodontic problems later in life. In many cases, correcting those causes will also decrease or eliminate clenching, snoring and other breathing issues that occur during sleep.

Overcrowded teeth could be another consequence of not seeing an orthodontist early on. An overcrowded mouth makes it difficult to floss properly, which can lead to restorative treatment for cavities, gum disease, fillings, crowns, and even root canals.

Teeth that aren’t aligned properly don’t bite together correctly. When teeth don’t have the right “bite,” the teeth can wear badly, causing long-term damage to the enamel. Since enamel protects the outer layer of your teeth, it’s imperative to keep it intact, as it does not grow back once the damage is done.

Avoid Costly Procedures and Painful Treatments In the Future

Your child may still have some baby teeth, and yes, you may not think your child needs a lot of orthodontic treatment. However, getting started at a young age will keep many issues from occurring, which can be costly and painful to address later in life.

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends children be evaluated by an orthodontist by the age of seven. Some parents even hold off on considering orthodontic treatment until puberty, which can affect their dental development.

Even if the child still has baby teeth, he or she should have some permanent teeth in place. That’s why at Valderrama Orthodontics, we recommend starting early orthodontic treatment as soon as we identify those problems that can be corrected by early intervention.

Getting your child in early can help prevent his oral health from negatively affecting other parts of his body. Additionally, many parents will seek treatments like speech therapy to help improve a child’s speech. When in actuality, the problem that is causing the speech impediment may be due to a simple anatomical oral problem, like a short lingual frenum or enlarged tonsils or an obstructed airway.

Address Issues Needing Immediate Correction and Discover Which Ones Can Wait

An orthodontist can assess your child’s developing teeth and jaws. The records gathered in this first consultation visit will help determine your child’s dental and orthodontic treatment for the future. If you have a particular concern about your child’s developing mouth, you can certainly see us sooner than the recommended age of seven.

Preventative orthodontic treatment includes many of the same aspects of teen and adult orthodontic treatment plans. Treatment may call for fixed or removable appliances that move the teeth, change the position of the jaw, or hold your child’s teeth in place. Some baby teeth may also be removed to help permanent teeth come in straighter and easier.

Following the orthodontic evaluation, one of three things will occur.

Your child will need treatment immediately by our orthodontist Dr. Natalia Valderrama or by another provider that she will refer you to.
Your child will need treatment at some point in the future and Dr. Valderrama will follow up the development of your child with future periodic visits.
Your child will likely not need orthodontic treatment.

If treatment is recommended, we have a variety of tools and services that can help treat overbites, underbites, crowding, missing teeth, and congenital problems with the jaw or teeth.

Treatment Options

Preventative dentistry and orthodontics are aimed to help you educate and inform your children about the importance of oral health, and how it impacts your entire body.

Along with clear aligners like Invisalign, Suresmile, and ClearCorrect, Valderrama Orthodontics also offers Incognito lingual braces, which sit on the back of the teeth and are essentially invisible when you smile.

Have questions about the importance of preventative orthodontic treatment and dentistry? Dr. Valderrama offers complimentary consultations, record reviews, and customized treatment plans, regardless of your insurance. Dr. Valderrama’s goal is to help prevent problems before they begin to exist. Take care of your little one’s oral health at an early age!

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Choosing an Orthodontic Treatment That is Right for Your Child

The days of only having one option for orthodontic treatment are a thing of the past. Currently, there are half a dozen different options available. Valderrama Orthodontics understands how having so many different treatment options to choose from can make preparing for braces stressful.

To help relieve some of your stress, we have created a comprehensive guide that explains the various types of orthodontic treatment options. While this guide won’t help you make a final decision, it will help you better understand what options you have available to you.

An Overview of the Different Types of Orthodontic Treatment Appliances Available

On a very basic level, all early orthodontic treatment options are designed to improve your child’s smile, prevent future problems, and intervene before their smile gets worse. They will all shift or move their teeth to a new position. The difference between them is the type of braces or aligners (appliances) your orthodontist uses to make the treatment work. This includes how they work, the type of maintenance that is involved, and what problems they can correct.

The different types of orthodontic treatment appliances that are available to your child include:

Traditional braces – these are the ones that include the metal wires, colorful brackets bonded to the teeth, and sometimes rubber bands.
Ceramic braces – these are similar to traditional braces, but instead of using brackets and wires that are visible, they use clear-translucent brackets to make it less noticeable.
Clear aligner trays (like Invisalign) – using a series of customized clear aligner trays that can be quickly and easily removed, your teeth are shifted and moved to their new position.

The Type of Problems that are Corrected with Each Orthodontic Appliance Option

The biggest factor that will determine what type of orthodontic appliance is right for your child is what types of problems need to be corrected. The following are some examples of what types of problems each orthodontic treatment appliance corrects:

Invisalign – can help shift teeth back to their proper position, close gaps and help with overcrowding. However, cannot help with issues that involve alignment of the jaw, as the aligner trays do not correct the placement of the jaw.
Metal or clear braces – can help with all types of orthodontic problems including anything that involves jaw or bite issues. These braces are often recommended for severe orthodontic problems where the teeth need to be moved large distances or when the teeth need to be rotated.

Responsibility and Commitment Play a Huge Role in Which Orthodontic Treatment Appliance to Choose

Undergoing orthodontic treatment is a huge commitment for both you and your child. You have to attend all ongoing orthodontic appointments every six to eight weeks. Additionally, your child must make a commitment to regularly floss and brush their teeth, gums, and other orthodontic devices.

Some things to consider include:

Busy lifestyle – If your child takes part in a lot of activities and cannot commit to regular office appointments, you may want to look into Invisalign, which has fewer office appointments and brushing and flossing are easier.
Unable to follow through with instructions – if your child tends to be forgetful, it may be better to go with a more fixed orthodontic treatment, such as traditional braces or ceramic braces. These treatment options cannot be removed which reduces the likelihood that your child will lose their orthodontic device or forget to change the Invisalign trays out.

Regardless of which orthodontic treatment is chosen, you will still need to stress to your child the importance of keeping appointments. If appointments are not kept, orthodontic treatment can be delayed. That means you have to wear braces or aligner trays longer than expected.

Work with an Orthodontist to Find the Best Treatment for Your Child

Even if they have their heart set on a specific type of treatment plan, it may not be right for them. By working closely with Dr. Natalia Valderrama orthodontist, you will be able to learn more about the different options and find out which one will be able to get your child the results.

A trusted Orthodontist, like Dr. Valderrama, will also help make sure that whatever orthodontic treatment appliance is chosen won’t interfere with your child’s favorite activities, hobbies, or day-to-day life.

Contact the office of Valderrama Orthodontics today to schedule an orthodontic treatment consultation. Our orthodontic consultations include an oral exam, digital x-rays, and a one-on-one private consultation to find the best plan for your child.

How Puberty Affects Your Dental Development

At the onset of puberty, your body will be going through a lot of physical and emotional changes. What you may not realize is that in addition to these changes, you are also experiencing changes to your oral and dental health.

Learn more about some of the changes you will experience during the onset of puberty.

Healthy Gums May Start to Bleed or Become Extremely Sensitive

Before puberty, your gums may have been a nice, healthy pink color and they will rarely bleed. That all changes once puberty starts.

Once puberty begins, you may start to experience symptoms of gum disease. When you brush or floss, you may start to notice your gums bleed and you may experience some pain, sensitivity, and discomfort. You may also notice that your nice, healthy pink gums now have a bright red, swollen appearance.

These gum problems happen as a result of the hormonal changes you are experiencing. The increase of very specific types of hormones to the body results in the growth of bacteria that causes gum disease.

Permanent Teeth Have Usually Fully Developed

The start of puberty often coincides with when your permanent teeth fully grow in. If your permanent teeth are properly aligned and don’t appear overcrowded, you may not experience a problem. However, if the teeth grew in crooked or misaligned, it can cause a number of problems.

Some problems that can develop as a result include:

Issues with confidence and self-esteem – you may feel self-conscious if your teeth do not appear “normal” and they look like they are shifted, misaligned, or crooked.
Issues with speaking – misaligned teeth or improper jaw alignment can cause you to experience difficulty pronouncing words or speaking.
Problems with eating or chewing – this can cause you to experience problems if you need to eat around friends or other people as you may be self-conscious about the problems you have biting.
Oral health problems – cavities, bad breath, or missing teeth can all happen as a result of food becoming stuck between misaligned teeth. Even if you get all the food unstuck from between your teeth, overlapped or crooked teeth can make it difficult for you to properly clean your teeth. This can result in dental problems forming, even if you brush and floss regularly.

How to Prevent Dental Problems from Occurring During Puberty

Most of the dental problems you start to experience during puberty can be corrected. Some of the ways you can prevent these dental problems from occurring include:

Brushing your teeth at least three times a day
Flossing daily
Learning proper tooth brushing and flossing techniques
Using the right toothbrush – a soft bristled toothbrush
Scheduling regular dental checkups every three to six months
Following through with any recommended dental treatments
Getting a professional dental cleaning three to six months
Mentioning any current dental problems to your dentist
Scheduling a consultation with an orthodontist to see if there are any development problems that could be corrected with orthodontic treatment
Using a toothpaste that is designed for tooth sensitivity can help with any issues caused by hormonal changes

Some in-office treatment options that may be recommended to help with any dental issues caused by puberty include:

Fluoride treatments
Fillings of any cavities that formed
Professional dental cleanings
Deep cleanings
Orthodontic treatment to correct bite and tooth alignment or placement

Schedule a Consultation with Valderrama Orthodontics

Scheduling a consultation with an orthodontist right around the time your child starts puberty is a great idea. This consultation will allow you to see how their teeth and jaw are growing and developing, and help you gain a better understanding of any treatment that may be needed.

Scheduling a consultation during this time can also help make treatment easier as many orthodontic problems are easier to correct in their early stages.

Call the office of Valderrama Orthodontics to schedule an appointment for an orthodontic consultation. Our orthodontist will assess how your teeth and jaw are growing and provide you with treatment recommendations.

5 Ways to Get Comfortable with Your New Braces

There is no way around it, it’s going to be a bit uncomfortable and somewhat painful when you first get your braces. While the entire experience will eventually get better, the first few days or even weeks are going to be filled with discomfort, soreness, tenderness, and pain. Luckily, there are some things you can do to make things more comfortable for you while wearing braces.

Tip #1 – Keep Yourself Hydrated

Keep yourself hydrated, it’s that simple. Staying hydrated will make wearing braces more comfortable. The coolness of the water can reduce any inflammation from the brackets or wires. Water will work as a temporary pain reliever, numbing agent, and anti-inflammatory.

Water will also prevent your mouth from becoming extremely dry. Braces can cause small cuts on the cheeks and gums if the mouth is too dry. Drinking water throughout the day will keep your mouth from getting sore or damaged.

Tip #2 – Rinse Your Mouth With Warm Salt Water

Combining a half teaspoon of salt with warm water can help you naturally relieve any pain and discomfort you experience in the first few days of wearing your braces. The warm water and salt rinse work to reduce inflammation. This makes things more comfortable for you by relieving some of your pain.

Tip #3 – Don’t Eat Crunchy or Hard Foods

Pecans, almonds, and hard candy should be avoided when you have braces. Your entire mouth is going to be sore and painful the first few days after getting braces. It’s recommended that you stick to only eating soft foods that require little to no chewing.

Eating soft foods, such as mashed potatoes, smoothies, and yogurt, will reduce the pain and discomfort you experience. It’s due to the fact that you’re not moving your mouth and jaw around a lot or as much. Limiting mouth and jaw movement will give you time to adjust to wearing braces. It also allows your teeth, gums, and mouth to naturally heal and adjust to the braces so that you experience less pain and discomfort.

Tip #4 – Try Eating Cold Foods

Just like water, the coolness of certain foods like frozen yogurt, ice cream, or popsicles can help reduce any gum swelling you experience when your braces are first put on. Try to incorporate these foods into your daily diet for the first few days as it will help reduce inflammation and even relieve some of your pain.

Tip #5 – Learn How to Use the Items in Your Orthodontic Kit

Every person who wears braces will have a small orthodontic kit that contains helpful tools and items. Learning how to properly use the items can help you reduce any pain or discomfort you experience. This will not only sooth the pain in the first few days of wearing braces, but also throughout the entire course of your orthodontic treatment.

Using your Orthodontic Kit

Some of the items that can be found in an orthodontic kit that will help any discomfort include:

Orthodontic wax – can be used to add a layer of padding to any sharp points or edges that can be found on your wires or brackets. Orthodontic wax is also helpful if your brackets or wires break throughout the course of your treatment. The wax can be put on the broken bracket or wire so the sharp parts don’t stick or poke your gums or cheeks.
Lip gloss or lip balm – protects your lips from getting cracked or scratched by your braces
Dental floss – floss helps remove any food that may be stuck in your braces. Stuck food can often cause pain and discomfort, especially when you get new braces.

Valderrama Orthodontist wants to make sure that every patient has a positive experience with wearing braces. That is why we take the time to make sure that each of our patients learns valuable tips and tricks that will reduce any pain and discomfort.

Have any additional questions about how to reduce pain and discomfort associated with wearing braces? Feel free to contact our office and ask any questions you may have. Our staff will try to help you find comfort in your new braces.

What to Do if You Lose Your Retainer

In a perfect world, you would always keep your orthodontic retainer nearby and never lose it. Unfortunately, things don’t always work that way and there is a good chance that at some point you will lose your retainer. Learn why your retainer is so important and what you need to do if you should lose it.

Why is Your Retainer an Important Part of Your Orthodontic Care?

After months and months of dealing with uncomfortable wires and stiff brackets, you have finally entered the last stage of your orthodontic treatment – wearing a retainer. This part of your orthodontic treatment may not seem like it does much, but it is one of the most important parts of your orthodontic care.

It is extremely important because it helps you keep your teeth straight and perfect. The braces with wires and brackets that you wore helped to shift and move your teeth into their new proper position. Unfortunately, your teeth will not stay in their new position and will naturally want to shift back to their “old” position. The retainer you wear helps to prevent your teeth from shifting back into their old position.

How Long Do You Have to Wear Your Retainer?

If you had orthodontic treatment, you will always have to wear a retainer. As long as you want your teeth to stay the same way as they looked when the braces were removed. But the length of time that you will have to wear your retainer per day will vary from person to person. Some people will need to wear their retainer regularly for 12 to 15 hours per day, others would only need them for 8 to 10 hours per night.

Everyone needs to wear retainers regularly to prevent their teeth from shifting back into their old position.

Don’t Panic if You Lose Your Retainer

It is important that you don’t panic if you lose your retainer. While it is an important part of your orthodontic care, you won’t experience problems if you are unable to wear it for few days or a week.

It usually takes a few weeks of not wearing your retainer for your teeth to shift back to their old position. So, as long as you get a replacement retainer relatively quick you won’t have to wear braces again in order to fix your smile.

Schedule an Appointment with Your Orthodontist to Get a Replacement Retainer

A replacement retainer can be ordered through your orthodontist. Depending upon how long ago you got your retainer, you may be able to just call your orthodontist’s office and order a new retainer. However, if it has been a while since you got your retainer, you may need to come into the office and have measurements taken for a new retainer.

Retainers May Feel Tight the First Few Weeks with the New Retainer

The first few weeks of wearing your new retainer you may notice that they feel tighter and a bit uncomfortable. This is completely normal. The retainer feels uncomfortable and a bit tight because your teeth have started to shift. The retainer is gently guiding them back to their proper position.

If you don’t want to deal with any potential discomfort from your new retainer, you will want to replace your lost one as soon as possible. The longer you wait to get a replacement retainer, the more time your teeth will have to shift and you have a higher chance of experiencing slight discomfort.

Tips for Preventing the Loss of Your Retainer

There is no guaranteed way to prevent you from losing your retainer. However, there are some things you can do to lessen your chances of losing your removable retainer. Some things you can do to prevent yourself from losing your retainer include:

Never wrapping it in tissue as it could accidentally get thrown out
Keep it stored in the same place. For example, store it on a table next to your bed or in the bathroom.
Keep it stored in the protective case when you aren’t wearing it.
Try to keep to a schedule when wearing it. This helps you create a routine and lessens your chances of misplacing it.

Recently lost your retainer and in need of a new one? Call Valderrama Orthodontics to schedule an appointment to get a new retainer or to place an order for a new one.

Why We Recommend Starting Early Orthodontic Treatment

Timing is everything when it comes to orthodontic treatment for your child. Some orthodontic problems can wait for several years before being addressed – slightly crooked or gapped teeth can be fixed with tooth straightening or other cosmetic dental procedures at nearly any age. Other orthodontic problems become more difficult to address over time. In some cases, dental professionals recommend early orthodontic treatment.

Early treatment means that the orthodontist provides treatment while the patient still has some baby teeth. Orthodontists also refer to it as an interceptive treatment because it addresses problems in their earliest stages before they can pose a serious problem.

The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) suggests every child has his or her first checkup with an orthodontist by the age of 7 years. By this age, there are permanent teeth for an orthodontist to evaluate the child’s developing teeth and jaws. This early evaluation can provide a wealth of information that can guide the child’s dental and orthodontic care for years. Of course, a child should see an orthodontist earlier than the age of 7 if an orthodontic problem develops sooner.

What to Expect at the Checkup

The initial checkup will likely have one of three outcomes:

No immediate treatment is necessary, and treatment will not likely be needed in the future
The orthodontist will recommend treatment in the future and follow the child periodically, as the child’s face and jaws continue to grow and develop
The orthodontist spots a problem that could benefit from early treatment

Orthodontists have the training and skills needed to spot subtle problems, even in young children. They can also perform a wide variety of procedures to address these problems early when the issues are more likely to respond positively to treatment.

Early Orthodontic Treatment Goals

Early orthodontic treatment has a number of goals. Orthodontists can guide the growth of a child’s jaw, for example, or guide permanent teeth into a more favorable position. This early treatment can improve appearance and improve the way the child’s lips meet. Early orthodontic treatment can correct harmful oral habits, and even lower the risk of trauma associated with protruding front teeth too.

While most orthodontic problems benefit from treatment after all the patient’s permanent teeth have come in, there are some issues that become more serious over time. The goals of early treatment are to detect developing problems, eliminate the root cause of an orthodontic issue, guide the growth of a child’s facial and jaw bones, and to provide enough space for the incoming permanent teeth.

Some patients who receive early orthodontic treatment require a second course of treatment later after all their permanent teeth have come in.

Orthodontic Problems that Benefit from Early Treatment

Early orthodontic treatment effectively addresses several orthodontic problems, such as:

Underbite – when the child’s lower front teeth sit ahead of the upper front teeth
Crossbite – when the patient’s jaw shifts to one side
Very crowded teeth, which can push each other out of place or damage teeth
Excessively spaced teeth that cause gaps between the teeth
Extra or missing teeth
Teeth that meet abnormally, or don’t meet at all
Habits, such as thumb sucking, finger sucking or use of a pacifier, which affect the teeth or jaw growth
Inherited orthodontic problems
Injuries from accidents
Orthodontic problems resulting from dental disease or abnormal swallowing

Early orthodontic treatment is an umbrella term that covers many procedures. Early treatment may include the use of a fixed or removable appliance that moves teeth, changes the position or the jaw or holds teeth in place to bring about desirable changes. Early orthodontic treatment may involve the removal of some baby teeth to help permanent teeth come in easier and straighter.

For more information about starting early orthodontic treatment, consult with your child’s dentist or with Dr. Natalia Valderrama, our orthodontist and dentofacial orthopedist at Valderrama orthodontics in Suntree. She has more than 20 years of dental and medical experience and can answer any questions you might have regarding with child’s growth and development. Her consultations are complimentary! Keep in mind that early orthodontic treatment can give your child something to smile about for the rest of his or her life. Remember – timing is everything when it comes to early orthodontic treatment.

All about Lingual Braces – What You Need to Know about these Invisible Metal Braces

If you or your child has crooked teeth and need braces, you are not alone – more than four million people in the United States have braces. About one-fourth of those wearing braces are adults. There are several types one can get: lingual braces, traditional, or even clear braces.

While braces do a good job of making your teeth look and function nicely, many people are unhappy with the way traditional braces look. Traditional braces typically have a lot of metal brackets, wires and rubber bands that sit on the outside of the teeth, where they can be seen when you smile, talk, laugh and eat.

Fortunately, Dr. Natalia Valderrama, our orthodontist at Valderrama Orthodontics offers lingual braces. These technically advanced braces are virtually invisible. This is very important for anyone who is concerned with how he or she appears, such as business people, teachers, medical professionals, and other individuals. Anyone who works in front of a camera may opt for lingual braces. People who play wind instruments or engage in certain sports, such as contact sports, may prefer lingual braces over traditional braces. While it is not surprising to see teenagers with traditional braces, teenagers can be especially sensitive about their appearance.

About Lingual Braces

Traditional metal braces go on the front of teeth, where they are easily seen. Lingual braces, by comparison, go on the back of the teeth where they cannot be seen.

Not all orthodontists offer lingual braces; only dentists who have taken specific continuing education courses have the know-how to use the equipment required to place lingual braces. Patients should seek out the care of orthodontists with the training and experience to place lingual braces correctly.

Dr. Valderrama not only has that training but she is also the only Orthodontist in Brevard County with actual existing cases and more than 10 years of experience in lingual braces.

Are Lingual Braces Right for You?

Lingual braces are not right for everyone. These braces do not work well for children or for adults with exceptionally small teeth, as short teeth do not provide enough room to glue the braces on the backside of the tooth. People with excessive bite problems, such as severe overbite, underbite and crossbite, may not be able to have lingual braces.

Some people have trouble adjusting to lingual braces because the position of the braces affects the tongue. At first, some patients may have trouble swallowing without thrusting their tongue against their teeth. The force of the tongue pushing against the teeth during swallowing can even lead to more dental issues. Fortunately, you can learn how to swallow without thrusting your tongue by touching your teeth together lightly and then your palate or the roof of your mouth before swallowing.

Other patients may have trouble speaking clearly for the first few weeks after getting lingual braces. To overcome this, try over-enunciating your words.

Caring for Your Lingual Braces

Keeping your teeth clean is important, no matter which type of teeth straightening approaches you use. Removing food particles and bacteria from the surface of teeth and braces is important in preventing tooth decay and gum disease.

Because your lingual braces are hiding behind your teeth, you may forget they are there when you brush. The placement of lingual braces can also make harder to check whether you have brushed away all the food particles. If you have trouble cleaning your lingual braces, try using a toothbrush with a narrow tip, which can make it easier to clean the back surface of your teeth.

To keep your teeth and your lingual braces in top condition, brush after every meal. Be sure to brush each tooth at its gum line, and both above and below the brackets of your sublingual braces. Also, usually while in lingual braces, more frequent appointments for cleanings with your general dentist are required. Typically every 3 months a cleaning is needed to keep lingual braces clean.

For more information about lingual braces, and to find out if lingual braces are right for you, speak with an orthodontist with the training and experience in these special braces. You might be glad to learn that you can get straighter teeth without the embarrassing appearance of metal brackets and wires of traditional braces. Call Dr. Natalia Valderrama at Valderrama Orthodontics in Suntree, Melbourne today. 321.425.5050 or visit us at www.valderramaortho.com to learn more.