Family Dentist- Laurel
8363 Cherry Lane
Laurel, MD 20707
301-953-3021
We are open 7 days a week from 6am - 10pm and we offer Emergency Dental Services
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- 2011
- May (15)
- The Formation of Plaque
- Toothache and Heart Attack
- Bad mood and Bad breath
- Tooth Extractions
- Three Ways to Straighten Teeth
- When a tooth need to be extracted
- The Importance of Baby Teeth
- When should dental care start
- Mouthguards/ Nightguards
- Dry Socket
- Dental Decay and Ways to Prevent It
- Accelerated Orthodontics
- Dental Pulp Diseases
- All About Cosmetic Dentistry
- Fish Fights Gum Disease
- April (14)
- Top 5 Embarrassing Oral Health Problems
- Four Types of Teeth
- Getting Dental Braces as an Adult
- Crown Lengthening
- Understanding Periodontal Disease
- Tooth ALERT!
- Choosing a Mouth Rinse
- Going to the Dentist While Pregnant
- Dental Filling Options for Fillings
- Anxiety in the Dentist Chair
- A Guide To Flossing Your Teeth
- 7 Nighttime Tips for Improving your Oral Health
- Green Tea can help you make your Teeth Stronger
- Healthy Diet leads to Health Teeth and Gums
- 2010
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Three Ways to Straighten Your Teeth
So everyone wants straight teeth. Who doesn't? But most people - and I don't blame them - don't want to spend 2-3 years in full metal braces as an adult! So what options are there to straighten your teeth? Let's go over them:
1. Veneers - If you absolutely want the fastest way to straight teeth, then veneers are your answer. Yet, there are two important downsides to consider. The first downside is that you are shaving down possibly perfectly healthy teeth, which can increase risk of root canals and also nothing is stronger than perfectly healthy teeth. The second is that any dental work doesn't last forever so your veneers will need to be replaced down the line.
2. Comprehensive Orthodontics - You would typically visit an orthodontist where you spend 2-3 years in metal braces to move your teeth as close to the ideal position. In orthodontics, there is a position of how teeth fit together that is considered "ideal." If you are considering braces for your kids, this is the way to go. In adults, this is also a great option if your goal is to get your teeth straight and as "perfect" as possible. The obvious negative is the length of treatment.
3. 6 Month Smiles Braces - With adults, often times they want straight teeth and see value in braces versus veneers, but don't want to spend 2-3 years as a metal-mouth. This is where limited orthodontics steps in. The standard philosophy amongst most dentists with adults is to treat them realistically and kids idealistically. Kids that want braces, go to the orthodontist to have comprehensive braces done. Adults, we can straighten your teeth in typically 6 months! How is that possible? In comprehensive orthodontics, teeth are moved into "ideal" positions; this means moving large multi-rooted molars through the jaw. The benefit of 6 Month Smiles braces is that if your bite is alright, and you don't have jaw pain, problems chewing, and so on, your dentist will not focus on movement of your back teeth. All he/she will focus on is the movement of your front teeth into a straighter position. It gives you the look you want in a MUCH shorter time!
At the end of the day, choosing the best way to straighten your teeth can depend on your unique dental scenario. Finding a dentist that offers all three of the above is the best step in the right direction.