Whether your teeth are crooked, straight, or in the process of being straightened, gum disease is one of the most significant threats to the health and integrity of your smile. Like tooth decay and cavities, gum disease develops when patients allow dental plaque to accumulate en masse on their teeth and along their gum lines. If the issue progresses, patients who wear braces may have to interrupt their orthodontic treatment to deal with gum disease before extensive damage occurs. LA orthodontist, Dr. Alpan, not only offers a variety of braces to fit all of our patients’ needs; he also helps educate patients on maximizing their oral hygiene to keep their smiles healthy as well as straight. Continue reading LA Orthodontist Discusses Braces and Gum Disease
What You Should Know About Crooked Teeth
Malocclusion is a technical term that describes crooked teeth, and is the reason why many patients undergo orthodontic treatment. If one or more of your teeth aren’t aligned perfectly, than you may already realized the effect that misaligned teeth can have on the appearance of your smile. However, image isn’t all that crooked teeth affect. Beverly Hills orthodontist, Dr. Alpan, warns that the orientation of your teeth also influences how well your mouth works and how effective your hygiene routine is. Continue reading What You Should Know About Crooked Teeth
Do Braces Increase the Risk of Cavities?
Straightening crooked teeth can have a profoundly positive impact on your oral health, as well as your confidence. Unfortunately, while highly effective, wearing orthodontic braces also affects your daily routines, like eating and brushing your teeth. By making dental hygiene slightly more difficult, braces can increase a patient’s risk of developing dental issues that result from excessive dental plaque, including tooth decay (the disease that causes cavities). Luckily, however, cavities are still highly preventable even with metal brackets and wires attached to your teeth. To help keep our patients’ mouths and braces clean and clear of cavities, Los Angeles orthodontist, Dr. David Alpan, takes the time to educate each patient about proper oral hygiene, and provides special instruments designed to effectively clean around braces. Continue reading Do Braces Increase the Risk of Cavities?
Wear Braces Behind Your Teeth!
Aesthetics is an important concern in any dental treatment, but when it comes to orthodontics (straightening crooked teeth), the conspicuousness of braces can cause some patients to neglect treatment altogether. Unfortunately, crooked teeth are more than a cosmetic concern. When teeth are misaligned, your bite may not function properly, and excessive, uneven pressure can lead to damaged teeth and/or damaged or misaligned jaw joints (TMJs). To address our patients’ cosmetic concerns as well as improve the look and function of their misaligned bites, Dr. David Alpan offers a wide range of discreet orthodontic treatments, such as Invisalign clear aligners and innovative lingual braces. While Invisalign comprises clear aligners instead of brackets and wires, your Los Angeles orthodontist also provides lingual braces that are placed behind your teeth, completely concealing your orthodontic treatment. Continue reading Wear Braces Behind Your Teeth!
Malocclusion—Why Adults Need an Orthodontist
Occlusion describes the manner in which your teeth fit together. When your jaw is closed, your upper front teeth should protrude ever so slightly in front of your lower front teeth. The chewing surfaces of your teeth should also align comfortably with the chewing surfaces of their opposites. This balance helps your jaw move smoothly along its joints, and allows teeth to evenly disperse the pressure of your bite to minimize impact and avoid damage. When teeth aren’t aligned properly, a condition known as malocclusion, a patient’s bite is imbalanced, and teeth can become excessively worn from exposure to undue pressure. The jaw’s joints can also become damaged, leading to debilitating discomfort in the form of TMJ disorder. If you suffer from malocclusion, then Los Angeles orthodontist, Dr. David Alpan, can personally design an appropriate course of treatment to correct your crooked teeth and preserve your smile’s beauty and function. Continue reading Malocclusion—Why Adults Need an Orthodontist
Why Do Children Need Braces?
For many people, the thought of braces might immediately conjure images of children with metal brackets and wires on their teeth. The natural connotation between children and braces may, in part, be due to the fact that orthodontic treatment is often prescribed in a child’s early years. Problems with a child’s occlusion (the way teeth fit together) and bite balance can become exponentially worse as the jawbone and teeth continue to grow. With a wide variety of options and designs for children’s braces, Beverly Hills orthodontist, Dr. David Alpan, can help straighten your child’s teeth early, preventing potentially serious orthodontic issues that might require invasive procedures to correct as an adult. Continue reading Why Do Children Need Braces?
Beverly Hills Dentist Answers Questions About Affordable Orthodontics
For many people, crooked or crowded teeth are a source of embarrassment. Unfortunately, some people with misalignment assume they won’t be able to afford orthodontic treatment. At Aesthetic Orthodontics, we strive to provide affordable orthodontics. In today’s blog, your Beverly Hills orthodontist, Dr. David Alpan, answers questions about our financing and payment plan options.
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90211 Orthodontist Offers Clear Braces
Despite the desire for a gorgeous smile, many people are hesitant to receive metal braces. Between the appearance and discomfort, often people would rather endure a smile filled with crooked or crowded teeth. Thankfully, at Aesthetic Orthodontics, we offer practically invisible alternatives to traditional braces. In today’s blog, your 90211 orthodontist, Dr. David Alpan, discusses the benefits of Invisalign and Incognito lingual braces.
Los Angeles Orthodontist Discusses Children’s Braces Options
Early dental and orthodontic treatment is vital for many children whose teeth and jaws are still developing. When detected early, issues like malocclusion (crooked teeth) and imbalanced jaw growth can be corrected relatively easily, and can prevent the need for extensive treatment later in life. To help correct alignment problems and guide children’s oral structures through proper growth, Los Angeles orthodontist, Dr. David Alpan offers a choice of children’s braces to address a wide variety of needs and preferences.
Traditional Metal Braces
Traditional braces consist of metal brackets that are attached to each tooth and metal arch wires that are positioned over the brackets. The arch wires are periodically tightened to produce the consistent force necessary to move gently move teeth. Metal braces are highly successful at repositioning crooked teeth, and are the most cost-effective braces option we provide.
Self-Ligating and Incognito Braces
Self-ligating braces are smaller and more discreet than traditional metal braces, and do not require the addition of elastics to hold the arch wire in place. Instead, they utilize a slide mechanism that eliminates friction and moves teeth faster and more comfortably. We also offer clear self-ligating braces for improved discretion. Incognito braces, or lingual braces, braces involve brackets and wires placed behind teeth, instead of on their front surfaces. Continue reading Los Angeles Orthodontist Discusses Children’s Braces Options
Beverly Hills Orthodontist Discusses Affordable Orthodontics with a Quiz
Typically one of the first questions we receive from a new patient is: “How much will this cost?” While orthodontic work can be expensive, you are obtaining a lifetime of improved dental health. After all, misalignment makes thorough brushing and flossing difficult, providing a number of places for bacteria to hide. Even smiles free of crowding or misalignment are more beautiful and less likely to develop tooth decay or gum disease, as long as you practice good oral hygiene. In order to protect your smile without busting your budget, Alpan Orthodontics provides a number of options for making braces more affordable. In today’s blog, your Beverly Hills orthodontist, Dr. David Alpan, offers a fun and informative quiz on affordable orthodontics.
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