What are Orthodontic Spacers and Bands Used For?

You have probably seen orthodontic bands and spacers before, even if you don’t know what they are. From the name, you can tell that they are used to fix your teeth, but let’s get in-depth so that you can find out more about these orthodontic devices.

Orthodontic Spacers

Orthodontic spacers are actually called separators, and are rubber bands or metal appliances that orthodontists place between your teeth in order to move them slightly apart. The names ‘separators’ and ‘spacers’ are interchangeable.

Commonly placed between the molars, spacers can either come in the form of circular rubber bands or small metal spring clips called spring separators. The rubber bands can be placed between the top and bottom molars while the spring separators are used to push molars apart.

Spacers move teeth apart to create enough space for orthodontists to fit in molar bands. After one to two weeks, orthodontic bands or braces are put in during the next appointment after the spacers have been removed.

Due to their material and purpose, patients have reported that spacers can range from anywhere between a mild annoyance to a very painful experience. In fact, spacers can also cause toothache and gum pain due to the constant pressure they exert on your teeth.

Certain dentists recommend not flossing while you have spacers in, which might be the only time your dentist might tell you not to floss! This is to keep the separators from getting loose before your next appointment.

However, having spacers in is not an excuse to avoid brushing your teeth as they will not be displaced by brushing. Rather, we recommend brushing while spacers are in place to discourage plaque buildup.

Certain separators can also cause pain during chewing, and crispy or tough foods might be difficult to eat. In the meantime, avoiding sticky foods such as chewing gum is recommended.

Spacers might seem like a hassle to maintain, but they remain a necessary part of the process of getting braces as they create space for other orthodontic appliances.

Orthodontic Bands

Orthodontic bands are custom-fit stainless steel, plastic, or ceramic rings that completely encircle a tooth, usually molars, for constructing a set of braces. They are also known as molar bands, and orthodontists use them to anchor the archwire in braces.

Orthodontic bands are secured in place with a durable, non-toxic cement, and while they are not completely necessary, some orthodontists prefer them due to increased stability of attachment on a large tooth in an active part of the mouth.

How does it work?

Thanks to the space created by orthodontic separators, bands are selected to fit each individual tooth. Using a bite stick to relieve strain on the jaw while positioning the band, the orthodontist informs the patient when to bite and how hard.

Following that, the orthodontist selects bands which fit the molars and lines them with band cement before positioning it on the tooth and bonding it to keep the bands in place.

As you can see, orthodontic bands and spacers are used in the process of getting braces. They might seem intimidating at first, but we’ll be here to guide you through the process!

from Alda Dental Surgery – Bedok https://www.aldadental.com.sg/articles/orthodontic-spacers-and-bands/
via https://www.aldadental.com.sg

What is the Difference between a Dentist and an Orthodontist?

“I’m going to the orthodontist to get my braces!”

Whether you are an adult or a teenager, it is pretty common to hear that somebody you know is getting braces. But why do they go to the orthodontist instead of the dentist?

It is common knowledge that you should see your dentist twice a year to check up on your teeth and for a thorough cleaning, but when should you visit an orthodontist? How are these two professions different when they both relate to teeth?

Read on to find out more about the difference between a dentist and an orthodontist!

Similarities

The main similarity between a dentist and orthodontist is that they both focus on oral care, pertaining to the teeth, mouth, and gums. They are both doctors, and an orthodontist can be found in a dental office and is usually qualified to do a dentist’s job if the situation calls for it.

Differences

While both dentists and orthodontists specialise in improving the oral health of their patients, both jobs have vastly different scopes. Dentistry is a broad term that pertains to oral care and deals with the teeth, gum, nerves, and jaw.

On the other hand, orthodontics is one of nine specialisations within dentistry itself with a focus on improving the straightness of teeth by correcting bites and occlusion. This can be for both cosmetic reasons and health-related ones.

They help patients with the alignment of their teeth and fit them for corrective braces and devices, which can improve a patient’s physical appearance. But that is not all — making sure that your teeth are aligned can reduce the risk of tooth decay and periodontal disease while ensuring that your chewing muscles function just fine.

Because orthodontists are specialists, dentists who find that a patient has a specific problem such as a bad bite, known as a malocclusion, will send them to the orthodontist to be treated. Orthodontists have a variety of tools at their disposal to correct these problems, such as braces, retainers, and other headgear designed to move teeth into better positions and retrain muscles.

In fact, orthodontists are required to undergo additional schooling to specialise in orthodontics, just like how a surgeon would need to spend a few more years in school than a doctor. Therefore, it is possible to say that all orthodontists are dentists, but not all dentists are licensed orthodontists.

While there might be an overlap in the services offered by a dentist and an orthodontist, do take note of the difference between the two. Orthodontists usually stick to their specialisation and offer limited dental services.

On the other hand, dentists may advertise orthodontic treatments, but only a dental professional who has undergone the relevant training and completed the coursework can be known as a licensed orthodontist.

Who should I call?

Now that you know the difference between a dentist and an orthodontist, it is much easier to make a decision on who to call when you have a dental problem. If it is a toothache, you go to the dentist for a diagnosis and a treatment.

However, if you have already been to an orthodontist and your braces are giving you trouble, it is best to head back to the orthodontist as they would know best.

If you have more questions on whether your dental problem would fall under orthodontics or general dentistry, please feel free to send us an enquiry! We are always happy to answer any questions you have and put misconceptions to rest.

from Alda Dental Surgery – Bedok https://www.aldadental.com.sg/articles/difference-between-dentist-and-orthodontist/
via https://www.aldadental.com.sg

What is Sleep Dentistry?

Many people are nervous about going to the dentist, especially if they have not visited in a long time. While you might not have full-blown dentophobia (a phobia of the dentist), the thought of undergoing certain procedures might make you apprehensive, which is actually perfectly common!

Sleep dentistry helps calm down even the most uncomfortable of patients and allows them to relax or even fall asleep, allowing our dentists to focus on the procedure and treatment. This procedure is performed by qualified anaesthetists.

Sleep dentistry is also known in the industry as sedation dentistry, and involves putting patients under sedation or nitrous oxide. Read on to find out more about the different types of sleep dentistry!

Conscious Sedation

This is a method usually recommended for extremely nervous patients, and involves having the sedative administered intravenously into your bloodstream. This puts the patient under “conscious sedation”, which is a state between wakefulness and sleep.

You might not be fully asleep, but you will have limited awareness of the treatment being administered. Being roused from conscious sedation is fairly easy, and there are few lingering effects from this method of sedation.

However, we recommend avoiding driving, operating heavy machinery, and consuming alcohol for the next 24 to 48 hours, just to be safe!

Nitrous Oxide

Nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, is a mild sedative that is inhaled through a nosepiece during the procedure. Despite the fact that the effects of nitrous oxide are mild, most patients start to feel its effects very quickly.

Nitrous oxide is a gas that is colourless and slightly sweet-smelling, and it induces a sense of relaxation and euphoria in patients. This helps relax patients enough to make certain procedures less uncomfortable.

While inhaling nitrous oxide, you will still be conscious. Most patients report feeling calm, and as a mild sedative, it also slows down the body’s reaction time. Occasionally, some patients experience tingling in their limbs and light-headedness.

However, once the supply of nitrous oxide has been stopped, the feeling of relaxation and euphoria wears off just as quickly. Most patients are able to resume day-to-day activities with no lingering effects after undergoing a procedure with nitrous oxide.

Local Anaesthesia

The above methods can be compared to local anaesthesia, which is the most common method dentists use on patients. Using local anaesthesia involves injecting an anaesthetic solution directly into your gums, and is a procedure that sounds scarier than it actually is!

Depending on the dental treatment the patient has to undergo, the anaesthetic can be either injected into a small area of your mouth or used to numb a large region, such as your left cheek and gums.

Most simple procedures can be carried out under local anaesthesia, such as wisdom tooth extraction and teeth whitening. However, if you are concerned about experiencing pain during procedures such as root canal or veneer bonding, please feel free to send us an enquiry! We are always happy to answer any questions you have and put misconceptions to rest.

from Alda Dental Surgery – Bedok https://www.aldadental.com.sg/articles/sleep-dentistry/
via https://www.aldadental.com.sg

What is Cosmetic Dentistry?

Cosmetic dentistry is sometimes known as aesthetic dentistry, and involves any sort of dental work aimed at improving the way teeth look, whether in colour, position, shape, size, or alignment. This is also sometimes known as a smile makeover, and is often used to fix obvious flaws to boost confidence.

While not exactly a formal specialisation for dentists, the demand for cosmetic dentistry has grown in leaps and bounds over the past few years, especially in Singapore.

Given how teeth can reflect a person’s health, it is no wonder that a growing number of people are turning to cosmetic dentistry. The smile is often the most striking feature of a face, and shelling out top dollar for a winning smile might soon be the norm in a few years’ time.

Read on to find out more about the different types of cosmetic dentistry!

Teeth Whitening

One of the simplest and most obvious ways to improve one’s smile, teeth whitening is also the most common procedure in cosmetic dentistry. They can be bleached with products at your regular dentist, who will usually have them on-hand.

If you don’t mind going the DIY route, tooth-whitening products such as whitening toothpaste and whitestrips are also available over the counter at retail shops or drugstores.

Dental Veneers

An option for people who are willing to pay for quality, dental veneers are ultra-thin custom-made porcelain or resin laminates that are applied and bonded directly to the teeth over the front surface.

They can be used to close gaps or enhance the shape or change the colour of teeth that do not respond to whitening products. Applying the dental veneer means having to remove the top half-millimeter of enamel from the surface of the tooth that the veneer will be applied on.

After that, these mini shells are bonded to the front of the tooth. In most cases, dentists will produce mock-ups of the post-veneer smile to visualise the necessary changes to the teeth according to the customer’s wishes.

Dental Implants

Have you ever lost an adult tooth? If so, you might already have a dental implant. They are prosthetic replacements for missing teeth, with titanium roots and a denture (or dental crown).

During the procedure, titanium replacement tooth roots are inserted into the bone socket of the missing tooth so that when the jawbone heals, it grows around the titanium implant, securing it in place and keeping the replacement tooth firmly where it belongs.

Dental Crown

A dental crown is a type of cap that fits over a damaged tooth above the gum line. This procedure restores the appearance and strength of the tooth, and can be used to hold a cracked tooth together or even keep a weak tooth from breaking.

In cosmetic dentistry, they can be used to “fix” misshapen or discoloured teeth that do not respond to whitening products. Crowns are made of various types of materials, ranging from porcelain to metal to resin.

Modern cosmetic dentistry might be able to fix any flaws you find with your smile, but prevention is often better than cure. Instilling good dental habits from a young age and visiting a dentist once every six months can mean nipping a future tooth problem in the bud.

from Alda Dental Surgery – Bedok https://www.aldadental.com.sg/articles/cosmetic-dentistry/
via https://www.aldadental.com.sg

What is Preventive Dentistry?

When it comes to going to the dentist, prevention is usually better than the cure. That’s why preventive dentistry is […]

from Alda Dental Surgery – Bedok https://www.aldadental.com.sg/articles/preventive-dentistry/
via https://www.aldadental.com.sg