Author: Familydentalcare_aDMeeN

Professional dental cleaning is an easy way to maintain your oral health. Besides the cleaning, it enables your dentist to perform a thorough dental exam. At Family Dental Care- Chicago, after a teeth cleaning process, we finish the appointment by guiding our patients on what to do after the procedure.

Why Do You Need Teeth Cleaning

Practicing good oral hygiene habits prevents the development of oral health issues. For example, regular dental cleanings allow the dentist to access spots that patients miss during their regular oral hygiene. These visits also enable the dentist to monitor the health of every part of your mouth. Additionally, it’s an opportunity for your dentist to advise you on good oral habits and discourage bad ones. Here are several reasons why you need regular dental cleaning:

• It prevents gum disease or periodontists, which could lead to tooth loss.

• You also get to have an oral cancer screening which includes a physical examination, x-rays, and various tests if necessary.

• It helps detect dental issues such as broken fillings, cavities, and gum infections in the early stage.

• To brighten your smile. During a dental cleaning, the dentist will polish your teeth and remove beverage and coffee stains.

• Proper oral hygiene and professional dental cleaning prevent lousy breath, also known as halitosis which, according to dental studies, affects about 85% of people.

• Most dental insurance plans cover dental cleanings, and due to this, they save you a lot of money to be spent on dental treatments in the long term.

• It helps you develop a treatment plan for any dental issues diagnosed during the cleaning procedure.

Overall, having regular teeth cleaning in Chicago gives your dentist a chance to compare your previous medical history with the current one. They have an immediate plan to bring you back if you are going off track.

What To Expect During Teeth Cleaning

The teeth cleaning process is straightforward, and here is what to expect from the dentist near you.

During the first step, the dentist will examine your gums, teeth, and oral cavity for any health issues. If any minor dental problems are found, the dentist will take care of them on the spot. Additionally, the dentist will give the nod for the cleaning if you are found fit.

The dentist will then rinse your mouth and scrape off plaque and tartar from your gums and teeth. Next, your teeth are polished using a polishing paste and an electric handpiece. They will then proceed to floss your teeth to remove any tartar and plaque hiding between your teeth.

The dentist will then apply fluoride treatment on your teeth if necessary. The treatment reinforces and strengthens your enamel to prevent decay and cavities.

Finally, the dentist will apply a dental sealant on the molars. Sealants will create a barrier and protect your teeth from harmful bacteria and other substances.

After Care Tips for Teeth Cleaning

Dental cleaning isn’t done with tropical anesthesia, and because of this, you may experience slight discomfort throughout the process. But despite this, you may question if any special aftercare tips are required after the procedure. Here are the dos and don’ts after dental cleaning:

• Avoid eating or drinking in the next 30 minutes after the procedure. This will give the fluoride treatment used to bond with your tooth enamel. Additionally, fizzy or acidic drinks could wash away the fluoride used before serving its purpose. If you are thirsty, sip water.

• Don’t take hot beverages or foods within the first four hours after the process. The reason is that hot food dissolves the fluoride treatment used before having the chance to settle permanently. In addition, the heat could also cause discomfort to patients experiencing sensitive or tender gums.

• Brush your teeth gently and correctly before going to bed. Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to do this. Use sensitive toothpaste if you are experiencing tooth sensitivity and tender gums. Avoid the temptation of skipping your night’s oral hygiene after the cleaning unless the dentist tells you otherwise.

• Be on the lookout for any warning signs after the procedure. Experiencing tooth sensitivity and tender gums is normal. However, patients who have gone for a long without flossing may have minor bleeding. These inconveniences should clear out within a day or two. If they persist for longer, visit your dentist at 60617 for a follow-up.

Do you wish to straighten your teeth without using traditional braces? Ask our dentist in 60409 whether you are a candidate for Invisalign. Invisalign are clear aligners used to straighten teeth over time gradually. They are removable and require willpower and self-discipline to wear them consistently for them to work. While it’s estimated that Invisalign takes 12 to 18 months, the treatment could vary from one patient to another.

How Long Do I Have to Wear Them Per Day

if you have already invested your money and time in getting Invisalign treatment, then you need to follow the dentist’s instructions and wear them 22 hours daily. Eating, brushing, and flossing your teeth while having aligners on is impossible, and you can’t have them on every minute of the day. However, it is recommended that you limit the time you won’t have the aligners in your mouth to not more than two hours. Ignoring this will increase the period of your Invisalign treatment.

After getting your Invisalign in Calumet City, IL, you must have them on for not less than 22 hours per day. The aligners are designed to apply constant pressure on your teeth and slowly move them into the desired place. Keeping your aligners off for more extended periods, your teeth will not move as anticipated. Also, prolonged treatment could lead to additional costs and time spent during appointments. Ensure that you stick to the plan and have patience; within no time, you will have a straight smile.

Why Does Invisalign Treatment Length Vary

Each patient has different alignment needs and smile goals. Other factors can affect how long one will get to wear Invisalign. They include:

• The distance your teeth are required to move to the desired position.

• How complex are your alignment issues?

• The pace of the teeth’s movement differs from one person to another because of bone structure and composition.

• How compliant are you with the treatment plan or journey?

Here are other factors explained in detail:

Evening Out Crowded Teeth

The treatment could take as little as six to twelve months if you have mild crowding. In cases with severe crowding, Invisalign isn’t considered the best option. Your orthodontist may recommend another option or combine another treatment option with Invisalign.

Closing Gapped Teeth

Invisalign is used to close gaps and other unwanted teeth spaces. However, there are limits. For example, if you have large openings up to 6mm, you may have an extended treatment period of up to 2 years, while less will have less time. Additionally, for gaps over 6mm, Invisalign treatment will not be an effective treatment option.

Age

Age inst a factor that can affect how long the Invisalign treatment will last. The treatment is effective for both teens and adults. The time one will need to wear Invisalign to straighten their teeth sorely depends on the complexity of the orthodontic issue.

Are Invisalign Quicker Than Braces

Generally, both Invisalign and traditional braces will take the same amount of time on similar orthodontic issues, but there are cases in which metal braces are considered faster. However, patients will lean more toward choosing Invisalign for braces due to lifestyle factors.

Invisalign is considered more convenient than braces because they are discrete and removable. You will not have to give up on certain foods or be self-conscious about the treatment.

Overall, the Invisalign aligner is durable but could break if not well taken care of. Visit us at Family Dental Care – Calumet City for more information on Invisalign clear aligners.

Retainers After Invisalign?

We understand your reluctance about wearing another oral appliance after your Invisalign treatment. However, as directed by the dentist near you, you need to wear a retainer, or your teeth will gradually shift back to their original positions. While the change may not be noticeable initially, you will notice it over time. For example, your retainer is filling until comfortable after failing to wear off for a few days. Additionally, it’s expected that your teeth may start to shift slightly after the treatment. This is because of the wear and tear on your teeth as you bite, chew, and swallow. Retainers are designed to prevent any noticeable changes and maintain your smile.

Any issues involving your teeth, gums, and jaws that require immediate attention classify as a dental emergency. Dental health is crucial for your overall health, and when you experience oral health issues, essential activities like speaking, eating, drinking, and smiling become challenging.

Whenever you confront a dental emergency, you must establish contact with dentist 60453
to receive attention without delay. If you find it challenging to determine what dental emergencies are, please continue reading to learn about the most common dental problems dentists treat when patients visit them complaining about pain in their mouth.

Nine Common Dental Emergencies

1. Tooth Pain: Your body indicates something is wrong when a particular area becomes painful. The severity of the pain determines whether you have a dental emergency that needs prompt treatment. For example, if you experience severe discomfort when biting or chewing, you must visit your dentist as soon as possible.
2. Swelling: swelling in your mouth indicates infections directing you to the emergency dentist near you
   requesting treatment for the unusual swelling in the mouth. You can use a cold compress to alleviate the swelling until you reach the dental practice.
3. Knocked-Out Tooth: knocked out teeth need replacement in your mouth within 30 minutes if you intend to preserve your natural tooth. It indicates you need treatment from an emergency dentist within the specified timeline making it essential for you to pick up the tooth on the floor, hold it by the crown, and rinse it gently if dirty without scrubbing the roots. You can place the tooth in its socket if possible. However, if you can’t, you can put it in a tiny milk container to keep it moist until you reach the dentist’s office. If you get to the emergency dentist within half an hour, they can splint the tooth to the neighboring teeth to allow its roots to reattach in a couple of months.
4. Dental Abscesses: pimples on your gums represent a dental abscess appearing red, white, yellow, or clear. If you have a dental abscess on your gums, refrain from popping it because the infection spreads throughout your body. Instead, visit the dentist nearby immediately to receive treatment with antibiotics and painkillers.
5. Mouth Sores: painful and persistent mouth sores are dental emergencies. Canker sores need immediate treatment from dentists to ensure they help alleviate your discomfort.
6. Infections: any infection in your mouth is a reason to visit the dentist because the condition in the mouth spreads to other parts of your body.
7. Bleeding: if you bleed from the mouth when brushing and flossing or spontaneously, it indicates a severe gum infection that needs treatment sooner instead of later.
8. Tooth Sensitivity: many people experience some sensitivity in their teeth. However, if you notice an increased sensitivity when having hot or cold foods, it indicates a severe underlying condition that might require surgery to eliminate the infection inside your tooth.
9. Broken Tooth: a slightly chipped or broken tooth causing no pain and doesn’t need emergency treatment. The reverse is true if you experience bleeding and pain from the damaged tooth. Therefore if you have a bleeding and painful broken tooth, you must see the emergency dentist to have the tooth sealed immediately to prevent infections in your mouth.

Handling Your Dental Needs

Handling your dental needs is not challenging because it merely needs caring teeth and mouth by brushing twice daily, flossing once, refraining from having sugary and starchy beverages and foods, and getting six monthly dental cleanings from your dentist to prevent unexpected dental emergencies. In addition, you must ensure that you follow your dentist’s instructions to care for your oral health, including using mouthguards if you are in contact sports that might result in a broken, knocked-out tooth.

Are You Dealing with a Dental Emergency?

Any pain in the mouth doesn’t represent a dental emergency. For example, a toothache can result from food particles trapped in your teeth, and broken or loose restorations can wait until you can see your regular dentist for treatment. However, you need to understand dental emergencies before rushing to the emergency dentist nearby requesting therapy for the condition. Gather sufficient information about dental emergencies. You will find it beneficial to care for your mouth by asking for a customized treatment plan from your dentist, which they provide to prevent dental emergencies from occurring.

Family Dental Care — Oak Lawn provides emergency dental care to patients arriving at their practice without appointments or making them wait in a queue. When dealing with a genuine dental emergency, you find it beneficial to contact them for the treatment you need, confident that you will overcome your dental situation.

Besides the occasional discomfort when having dental sealants applied, most patients, including children, don’t feel exasperated with the procedure. This is because the molars are the only teeth that receive dental sealants because of the deep grooves and pits on them that allow entrapment of food particles and bacteria to create infections in them.

If you intend to get dental sealants, it is essential to know what they are and what you can expect when receiving them.

Why Are Dental Sealants Applied?

As mentioned earlier, your molars have deep grooves and pits comfortable for food particles and bacteria to remain trapped on them and deposit acids to erode tooth enamel and create cavities. Dental sealants help create a smoother surface on the molars, making it easier for you to clean them by brushing and flossing. However, your molars are challenging to clean because of their location and frequently become victims of cavities by your mouth bacteria.

Dental sealants are applied as a preventive measure against cavities forming on your teeth after eroding your tooth enamel.

Who Can Use Dental Sealants?

Anyone with molars are candidates for dental sealants. However, they are often recommended for children to develop their molars at six and 12 when they don’t have appropriate motor skills to indulge in proper cleaning of their teeth. In addition, the sealants help prevent cavities on children’s teeth by providing them with a smoother surface on the back teeth.

Adults with unrestored teeth can also consider dental sealants if they intend to prevent holes from developing. The sealant treatment is affordable for children and receives support from dental insurance companies to further reduce costs. However, adults must inquire with the dentist in Munster, IN, about the costs of getting sealants on their teeth.

How Are Dental Sealants Applied?

The application process for dental sealants is relatively straightforward and completed in approximately 30 minutes. However, the process starts with a consultation to help you discuss your needs and expectations with the dentist.

When getting dental sealants on your children’s teeth or your teeth, the molars are initially cleaned and dried before applying them with an etching solution to help the sealing material adhere to the tooth. Next, the molars are cleaned again and dried with absorbent material to ensure your saliva doesn’t contaminate them. Finally, the tooth-colored dental sealant is painted on the teeth to protect them from bacteria. The sealing material is hardened with ultraviolet light, and the tooth is polished to ensure it doesn’t affect your bite. The entire procedure is completed within 30 minutes.

How Long Do Dental Sealants Last?

Dental sealants have a lifespan of approximately ten years but might need replacement if worn or damaged. During regular appointments with your dentist, they will assess the dental sealant application and reapply them if worn or chipped.

After getting dental sealants, you can rest assured that the material will protect teeth against 80 percent of cavities for two years. The protection remains ongoing against 50 percent cavities for another four. The dental sealants stay on the teeth for approximately a decade, ensuring you don’t develop cavities as long as you maintain excellent dental hygiene by brushing your teeth twice daily, flossing them once, and getting six monthly dental cleaning from your dentist. The dental sealant procedure is an excellent preventive measure against your mouth bacteria that forever work to cause enamel erosion and damage your teeth permanently.

Please Schedule an Appointment with Us

If you have concerns about cavities on your teeth or that of your children, we suggest you schedule an appointment with us to discuss a preventive measure that, besides requiring a short appointment, will not cause any discomfort or stress.

The dental sealant application process is painless and doesn’t require numbering drugs for pain relief. You or your kid may feel minor discomfort after the procedure by sitting with your mouth open on the dentist’s chair for 30 minutes or more. However, getting sealants on your teeth helps prevent dental visits to seal holes that might develop if you leave your molars unprotected. In addition, the sealants cost fewer dollars than fillings or other restorations that become necessary if you have a permanently damaged tooth in your mouth.

As mentioned earlier, the dental sealant process is not an excuse to neglect dental hygiene. The optimal way to prevent holes developing on your teeth is to maintain excellent dental hygiene besides having an additional barrier on them for protection provided by Family Dental Care — Munster to keep your molars healthy for as long as possible.

A familiar question around sleep apnea is, “can skinny people develop the condition of apnea?” Sleep apnea often affects the overweight. However, weight issues are not the only reason for sleep-related disorders. Healthy and skinny people can also suffer from this sleep-related problem making it essential to look for the symptoms before weighing the conclusions.

Why the Skinny Develop Sleep Apnea?

When sleeping, the airway collapses, and the muscles at the back of the throat relax, disrupting your breathing and depriving the brain of the oxygen it needs causing it to arouse you briefly to take a deep breath. However, there are various other reasons for the restriction of airflow. They are:

• A genetically smaller airway, larger adenoids, tonsils, and a retruded jaw are anatomical traits of people with obstructive sleep apnea.
• Sleep apnea is an extensive problem among ethnic groups like Afro-Americans, Hispanics, and Pacific islanders.
• Athletes having large and muscular necks are also at risk of obstructive sleep apnea.
• Hypothyroidism, allergies, a deviated septum, and growth hormone abnormalities are some medical issues that increase the risk of OSA.
• A slim frame with a narrow airway also increases the risk of OSA.
• Lifestyle habits like smoking, consuming alcohol, and gastric reflux causing edema in the larynx can lead to obstructive keep apnea.

What Is the Relation between Body Weight and Sleep Apnea?

Excess body weight is undoubtedly a risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea. However, it does not mean the skinny will not develop this condition. Thin people might develop OSA without the element of body weight playing a role.

Undoubtedly managing body weight is a healthy choice that can help prevent sleep apnea if other conditions are not contributing to the problem. However, if you are slender and are affected by loud snoring and fatigue during the daytime besides irritability, you can consider discussing your symptoms and seeking sleep apnea treatment for skinny with a medical professional.

Can the Skinny Develop Sleep Apnea?

Sleep apnea affects anyone, including children. Therefore even the healthiest and skinny people can experience sleep apnea. In addition, thin people are less likely to seek a diagnosis for the condition from the dentist in Evergreen Park, IL, thinking sleep apnea merely affects the overweight.

How to Diagnose Sleep Apnea?

If you are affected by sleep apnea, you can visit the Green Park dentist to explain your symptoms and have a diagnosis by a sleep medicine specialist spending an overnight stay with tubes connected to your body to undergo a sleep test. Alternatively, you can also have a home sleep apnea test at affordable prices than visiting a sleep clinic.

If the sleep medicine specialist confirms you have moderate to severe sleep apnea, you are recommended to use the CPAP device to wear at night to open your airway to provide sufficient oxygen to your brain when sleeping. Unfortunately, the CPAP instrument is uncomfortable and not tolerated by many people using it.

In such cases, dentists provide an oral appliance customized explicitly for your mouth to move your jaw forward to prevent your throat muscles from collapsing. While the device remains effective and relieves sleep apnea, you must keep up with regular visits to your dentist to assess your condition and determine whether the oral appliance fits appropriately.

Tips for Skinny People with Sleep Apnea

Some changes mentioned below can reduce the effects of sleep apnea to promote sound sleep.

Sleep Hygiene: sleep quality relies on your daily routine. In addition, harmful sleeping patterns can undermine any treatments you use to relieve sleep apnea. Therefore, you must avoid concentrating on electronic devices, drinking alcohol, and eating heavy meals and caffeine before getting into bed.

Changing Lifestyle: you must avoid using substances and alcohol that relax your throat muscles, besides using tobacco that damages your lungs. Smoking exacerbates and increases airway irritation making the symptoms of sleep apnea severe.

Changing Sleep Positions: if you sleep on your back, you must switch positions and start sleeping on your sides to ensure your throat remains open and reduces the intensity of sleep apnea symptoms. You might even find it beneficial to sleep upright in a chair.

Stress management: stress is a common reason for sleep apnea. You find it challenging to fall asleep when your mind is going haywire. Therefore you can try meditation, yoga, tai chi, and techniques to help overcome stress and give you a good night’s rest.

Family Dental Care — Evergreen Park can help you diagnose and receive treatment for sleep apnea if you are affected by this condition. Kindly arrange your meeting with them to overcome sleep apnea before its consequences affect you.

Dental cleaning procedures aim to prevent tooth decay and gum disease. If you dislike dental cleanings, you probably consider tooth decay and periodontal disease your best friends because you can rest assured they will remain with you for life and leave you with a toothless grin for sure.

You can refrain from going to the dentist as long as you like if you remember the consequences of avoiding a professional dental cleaning performed by a dentist or a qualified hygienist. However, the American Dental Association suggests you visit your dentist frequently or as they recommended to get your teeth cleaned, especially if you are at high risk of periodontal disease when you might need more frequent dental cleanings. Therefore shouldn’t neglect dental cleanings from a dentist and deprive yourselves of the benefits it offers?

Let us look at how often you must get your teeth cleaned by dentists.

When Is a Dental Cleaning Necessary?

The dentist in Crestwood, IL, recommends six-monthly dental visits for cleanings to ensure they look at your teeth and provide information on anomalies in your mouth that need addressing, like cavities or gum disease. Unfortunately, sufficient evidence isn’t available on whether dental visits twice a year provide more benefits to people than those seeking these cleanings less frequently. However, six monthly results are arbitrary and suggested by dentists to benefit your dental health.

You must determine the frequency of your dental cleanings by discussing your specific risk factors for periodontal disease and tooth loss with the dentist. For example, your risks of gum disease might be higher if you smoke tobacco, have a genetic history of periodontal disease, and have diabetes.

Therefore if you care for your teeth and your gums, you must receive dental cleanings every six months from the Crestwood dentist.

What Happens When You Skip Dental Cleanings?

Your teeth don’t start falling off, or you develop periodontal disease the moment you skip your dental cleanings. However, you provide the infections, the first indicator you are willing to have in your mouth. You might develop a barely noticeable cavity in your tooth that gradually advances to aggravated levels to need intensive treatments from the dentist besides causing severe pain and other complications.

Unfortunately, if you develop gingivitis because you don’t get your teeth professionally cleaned, you acquire a longtime friend who remains with you for life and requires you to visit the dentist for professional deep cleanings more frequently than every six months. Deep cleanings cost more money than routine cleanings, making you regret your neglect and realize dental cleanings are indeed an essential requirement that is better not ignored.

When you Skip six monthly dental cleanings, you encourage specks of dental plaque hidden between your teeth to harden into tartar and gradually make you a victim of gingivitis, the earliest stage of periodontitis. Hardened tartar is challenging to clean from your teeth and needs professional help from a dentist for the removal unless you want to become a voluntary victim of gum disease and make it your lifelong partner. Similarly, the bacteria in your mouth will also enjoy themselves by depositing acids on your teeth to cause enamel erosion to result in cavity development. When combined, the two together cause havoc in your mouth and need extensive treatments like fillings, root canals, tooth extractions, and replacements with artificial teeth.

Gum disease can spread to your body through your bloodstream, making you a victim of health conditions like diabetes, heart disease, osteoporosis, and cancer. All this and a lot more merely because you challenged your dentist’s recommendation to get your teeth cleaned every six months, thinking you can do it yourself without help from a dentist. Therefore there is no time better than now to schedule your appointment for dental cleaning with the Crestwood dentist to prevent the described complications.

Schedule Your Next Dental Cleaning Appointment with Us

If you haven’t gotten your teeth cleaned in the last year or seven or eight months, we suggest you schedule the next dental cleaning appointment with us to prevent unnecessary complications from befalling you unexpectedly. The cleaning helps the dentist provide freedom from infections like tooth decay, periodontal disease, and much more in one short meeting lasting an hour. Call us today for your appointment and get your teeth cleaned without further delay.

Family Dental Care — Crestwood suggests six monthly dental cleanings for everyone, including children. Therefore if you haven’t had your teeth cleaned over the last year, kindly consult them for an appointment to receive the oral prophylaxis you need to keep your mouth healthy.

Invisalign, an alternative therapy to conventional orthodontics, helps straighten mild to moderate orthodontic imperfections and is sought after by many adults who didn’t receive orthodontic treatment during childhood. Invisalign therapy is viral globally, with over 5 million people successfully benefiting from Invisalign’s treatment. Fortunately, Invisalign doesn’t cause gum recession and is not a cause of concern for people considering this therapy to straighten teeth.

Gum disease, alternatively called periodontal disease, is an infection of the gums surrounding and supporting your teeth and the leading cause of tooth loss in adults in America. It is estimated that nearly 40 percent of American adults aged 30 and over are affected by gum disease. This painless condition doesn’t exhibit symptoms unless you visit dentists for regular dental exams and cleanings at six-monthly intervals.

Although the primary cause of periodontal disease is bacteria in the plaque left on the teeth by inappropriate dental hygiene practices, several other habits like smoking, conditions, and medication can also increase your risks of developing periodontal disease. Gum disease gradually worsens after it sets in, especially if you are a smoker and have crowded teeth and restorations like fillings and dental bridges. If you have advanced gum disease, you will likely confront gum recession that makes your teeth appear longer from the problem.

What Is Gum Recession?

Gums pulling away from your teeth and exposing the sensitive tooth root is known as gum recession. The effects of gum recession encourage bacteria to stick to its surfaces, potentially precipitating another downturn. Gum recession can result in bone and tooth loss when left untreated.

Aggressive brushing or improper dental hygiene practices are the prime reasons for the development of gum disease. However, gum recession is a common condition that progresses slowly without making you aware of its presence. As a result, you may experience tooth discomfort and worry about the appearance of your teeth because they look longer than average. You mustn’t ignore gum recession but consider receiving treatment from the dentist in Chicago, IL, to halt or reverse periodontal disease if possible.

Does Invisalign Worsen Gum Recession?

Periodontal disease is widespread among people in their 30s, as mentioned earlier, and the number rises to over 70 percent in people over 65. Therefore, if you intend to seek Invisalign treatment near you, expect the aligners to cause mild bleeding and gum inflammation when you start the treatment with clear braces. However, the symptoms you experience do not emanate from gum disease and result from the orthodontic treatment.

Invisalign clear aligners are not prone to trapping food particles and debris making you believe they require less upkeep than conventional orthodontic braces. However, the reality is entirely different because the lack of food particles or debris on the aligners doesn’t indicate you can neglect dental hygiene. The Invisalign aligner is a barrier that prevents saliva from contacting your teeth and gums to cause gum disease indirectly.

When you start treatment with Invisalign, you must comply with the requirements of the treatment and maintain dental hygiene as suggested by the Chicago dentist to prevent the development of this devastating condition in your mouth. In addition, if you develop periodontal disease, you will experience delays in your Invisalign treatment significantly if the severity of the condition advances.

Invisalign is an excellent therapy for people with mild to moderate orthodontic imperfections. However, they must be aware of the potential risks associated with orthodontic treatment with Invisalign. While the treatment is considered safe for most, some people do not qualify for the therapy if they have a complicated orthodontic situation or mouth conditions that prevent them from receiving Invisalign treatment. However, Invisalign alone will not cause gum recession because the problem with the gums is related to poor dental hygiene and not wearing the aligners over the teeth.

Invisalign requires every patient to remove the aligners when eating or drinking before replacing them on their teeth to continue their treatment. During the time people receive to eat and drink, they must also clean their teeth and the aligners before replacing them in their mouth. In addition, the lack of saliva contacting their teeth might contribute to gum disease because the braces must remain on the teeth for nearly 22 hours daily. However, Invisalign treatment does not result in the development of gum disease or its consequences that lead to gum recession if left untreated.

Family Dental Care — Chicago provides Invisalign therapy to many patients after conducting a comprehensive exam of their teeth and mouth, looking for infections like gum disease and other problems. If you are concerned whether Invisalign will cause gum disease discuss your concerns with the practitioners before you consider receiving treatment with Invisalign braces from them.

Maxillofacial surgery or jaw surgery is a procedure for correcting jaw abnormalities and might involve your upper maxilla, low mandible, or both of your jaws. If the process you need involves both jaws, it is called a bimaxillary osteotomy.

Maxillofacial surgery aims to improve the function and appearance of your jaws. Depending on your deformities, the surgeon at maxillofacial surgery near you might reposition both your upper and lower jaws. The surgeon might also change the size of your jaw by removing bones. If you are advised of maxillofacial surgery, kindly continue reading about why you need this procedure and your recovery timeline.

Who Needs Maxillofacial Surgery?

You might need maxillofacial surgery if you have severe jaw misalignment, impacted jaw function, severe temporomandibular joint disorder, or moderate to severe sleep apnea. However, before determining your candidacy for the surgery, you must have tried to treat your condition using nonsurgical options, give up harmful lifestyle habits like smoking, understand the risks, and have reached skeletal maturity.

If you satisfy the criteria, you qualify for maxillofacial surgery to correct your jaw position or size.

The Maxillofacial Surgery Procedure

If preparing for maxillofacial surgery, you can expect to get braces for 12 to 18 months before your process. The braces help align your teeth, and some dentists suggest using transparent aligners.

On the day of the procedure, you receive general anesthesia making you fall asleep and feel nothing during the surgery. The maxillofacial surgeon makes incisions inside your mouth to prevent visible scars on your face.

The surgeon cuts and repositions the jawbone by moving, enlarging, or reducing other bones. In addition, the surgeon and titanium screws and plates to hold the bone with elastic bands and wires to keep the jawbone in its new position. You will remain in the hospital in the recovery room until you recover from the surgery, and nurses will monitor you until you wake up.

After Care of Maxillofacial Surgery

You will likely spend about 72 hours in the hospital after undergoing maxillofacial surgery. The precise time depends on how you progress.

You will experience swelling in your face that remains with you for 48 hours. However, you will be able to drink water immediately after the surgery and eat liquids the following day.

Before discharging you from the surgical center, the dentist in Calumet City, IL, will check your jaws by taking x-rays. You will need help driving yourself home from the surgical center with instructions from the dentist to take time off from work and/or school for about 3 to 8 weeks.

Tips for Recovering after Maxillofacial Surgery

After your discharge from the surgical center, the dentist provides after-care tips for you during your recovery from the maxillofacial surgery. The advice you receive from the dentist includes the following:

You will likely experience pain from the surgical procedure, but the dentist prescribes painkillers to help manage the discomfort. The swelling in your face will require a couple of weeks to disappear, but you can intermittently use ice packs at 15-minute intervals after you reach home.

You can expect stiffness in your mouth, possibly weeks following the procedure. If you experience numbness in the mouth, it is normal and requires a few months to disappear. It is standard to develop dry and chapped lips during your recovery. However, lip balm applied frequently helps you to manage the problem. These side effects alleviate and disappear in a few days.

To ensure speedy recovery from maxillofacial surgery, the dentist suggests you eat soft and pureed foods during the initial six weeks after the surgery. You must take your medications as prescribed and avoid habits like smoking or consuming alcohol. You must stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water but avoiding carbonated drinks because they can cause complications in your mouth. Besides the above, you must refrain from strenuous activity, practice excellent dental hygiene as your doctor prescribes, and rest as suggested.

You will have weekly follow-up appointments for a few weeks. The initial recovery phase lasts for about six weeks. However, you need at least 12 weeks for your jawbone to heal entirely.

Maxillofacial surgery is performed to fix jaw deformities like misalignment and uneven size. Your dentist can help if you are a candidate for the procedure after examining your jaw and if you have completed nonsurgical treatments.

Family Dental Care — Calumet City performs maxillofacial surgeries on many patients with jaw deformities, helping them correct their jaw position. Kindly do not hesitate to contact them if you need this process to reposition your jaw to benefit your dental and overall health.