Vinson Orthodontics

There are many reasons why people want straight teeth. Not the least of these is the fact that crooked teeth are not the most attractive feature. While a nicely aligned smile can be the part of your looks that pulls everything else together, a crooked smile can draw attention away from an otherwise striking appearance. A great smile is vital to your self-confidence, which in turn can improve your outlook on life in general. However, the benefits of straight teeth do not end with just your appearance.

Crowded teeth…Have you ever given any thought to what it actually means to have a “perfect” smile? Most people when asked this question will conjure up mental images of models and Hollywood actors with dazzling teeth. However, there is an actual medical definition of the way the teeth are meant to fit together. The word “occlusion” refers to the alignment of the teeth and the way the upper and lower teeth fit together (bite). Ideally, all upper teeth fit slightly over the lower teeth, just like the top of a house sits over a basement. All teeth are lined up straight and spaced evenly. The upper teeth keep the cheeks and lips from being bitten and the lower teeth protect the tongue. Not all people are so lucky as to have this medically “perfect bite.”

Tongue thrust…what is it? Our bodies are always breathing, blinking, staying balanced and doing a thousand other things we don’t notice to stay healthy and happy. But, the side effects of doing these unconscious behaviors wrong may create health problems that often go unnoticed or untreated. Take for example, the way people chew and swallow food. For nearly everyone, consuming food comes natural and we never consciously think about the way we do it. But, doing it wrong can have nasty consequences. Infants swallow with their tongues thrusted against their gums, which is fine for babies and very young children, but not for adolescents, teenagers or adults.

Missing teeth…Missing permanent teeth or premature loss of baby teeth is one reason why the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends an orthodontic consultation for children beginning at age 7. The upper lateral incisors, second premolars and third molars (wisdom teeth) are the teeth most likely to fail to develop or erupt. Heredity is considered a major factor when permanent teeth are congenitally missing. To determine whether or not teeth are actually missing, x-rays must be taken and carefully evaluated by Vinson Orthodontics. At times, a tooth may not actually be missing, but hidden underneath the gums and in poor position, preventing normal eruption and requiring orthodontic treatment to bring the tooth into alignment.

The American Association of Orthodontists recently completed a study that reported more than 1/3 of US adults are unhappy with their smile. Are you one of them? If so, 2017 is the year to do something about it!! What better New Years Resolution can you promise yourself or someone you love than a new smile? In a nutshell, here’s what the study found after surveying 1,000 U.S. adults ages 18 and older.

The holiday season is upon us again. Where did the year go? At Vinson Orthodontics we would like to share some stocking stuffer ideas to consider for patients of all ages wearing braces. Instead of candy and sweets that can bend wires and knock off brackets during holiday festivities, give something more suitable to make your season bright. Stocking Stuffer Ideas Colgate Wisps for those on the go. Wisps are disposable mini-toothbrushes with a breath-freshening bead that allows you to have a clean, fresh mouth without water or rinsing. Playing cards and card games Fun pens, markers, and note paper Comic books, puzzle books, or magazines For the ladies – Festive nail polish, or for teens and adults, the latest in jamberry nail or Incoco nail design wraps that are easy to apply, don’t chip easily, and last up to two weeks! Cash or prepaid debit card Movie or concert tickets Scratch off lottery tickets. Super Snow for the kids no matter what age. Gift cards Fun Express Inflatable Reindeer Antler Ring Toss Game Hog Wild Holiday Reindeer Popper For the kids; include a letter from Santa thanking them for avoiding the hard and sticky foods they love so much

WaterPik versus floss…Good dental care with routine maintenance can be costly, especially if you don’t have dental insurance. The American Dental Association (ADA) and Vinson Orthodontics recommend you see your dentist twice a year for regular checkups and cleanings. If you take good care of your teeth on a regular basis with proper brushing and flossing, the cost of maintaining your teeth is minimal. (watch video below) However, if your oral hygiene is lax, the cost of dental care rises, depending upon what it needed to correct the situation, be it a routine filling, root canal, or implant and bridge to replace a lost tooth.

Thanksgiving is celebrated with feasts and football games and the start of the Christmas shopping season, Thanksgiving means roasted turkey, cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie, and green bean casserole with Campbells mushroom soup. No matter how you celebrate this momentous day, at Vinson Orthodontics, we want you to know we are thankful for all our wonderful patients we treat throughout the year. We wouldn’t be here without you! To commemorate this traditional holiday, we would like to share some fun trivia we thought you would enjoy! Feel free to add some fun facts of your own in the comment area.

Thumb sucking…Children are born with a natural sucking reflex that often evolves into a comfort behavior. It is not at all unusual for an infant or child to find a thumb or finger to calm them when tired or upset as a coping mechanism. Ultrasound scans have revealed that thumb sucking can start before birth, as early as 15 weeks from conception. Even though a sucking reflex disappears at about four months of age, some infants will continue to suck their thumb or fingers as a voluntary habit to soothe them. It helps provide a sense of security and relaxes children as they fall asleep. Thumb sucking can be one of the most comforting aspects of childhood.

Halloween was also known as All Hallows’ Eve in some circles. It goes as far back as about 2,000 years to a pre-Christian Celtic festival held around Nov. 1 called Samhain (pronounced “sah-win”), which means “summer’s end” in the Gaelic language. Halloween costumes and the tradition of “dressing up” may go back to a time when people would disguise themselves and go door-to-door, asking for food. Early costumes were usually disguises, often woven out of straw and there were times when people wore costumes to perform in plays or skits to celebrate All Hallow’s Eve. Trick-or-treating didn’t start in the United States until World War II. However, Halloween was as much a time for festivities and games as it was for playing tricks or asking for treats. Apples are associated with Halloween, both as a treat and in the game of bobbing for apples, a game that since the colonial era in America was used for fortune-telling. Halloween is a fun time of year for kids of all ages… but for orthodontic patients it can be a “nightmare” waiting to happen if braces are being damaged from eating the wrong treats. Watch this video put out a few years ago