Straight teeth are more attractive than crooked or gapped teeth.
That’s certainly no secret.
But what’s not as widely known is that better dental alignment can have incredible health benefits, as well.
If you’ve ever considered orthodontics to improve your smile’s appearance, check out today’s video to discover the other ways straightening your teeth with Invisalign clear aligners in Charlotte, NC can improve your oral and overall health at the same time!
Find out if Invisalign is right for you! Call Charlotte Dentistry at 704-285-0846 to schedule an appointment.
As the country begins to phase into a new kind of normal, many are anxious to get back to the dentist for routine cleanings and exams they missed while sheltering in place.
Public health and safety is our top priority, which means keeping certain measures in place while we welcome our Charlotte, NC patients back to our practice for outstanding dental care.
If it’s been a long time since your last checkup, take a minute to watch this American Dental Association video so you’ll have an idea what to expect during your first trip back!
We look forward to seeing you! Call Charlotte Dentistry at 704-285-0846 to schedule an appointment.
Your open dentist office in Charlotte, NC is ready to get back to providing you with excellent care so you can have a bright, healthy smile!
We wanted to give you an update about what you can expect as we phase back to normal hours and fill you in on the steps we’re taking to ensure your safety.
We look forward to seeing you again! Call Charlotte Dentistry at 704-285-0846 to schedule an appointment.
Our Charlotte Dentistry Family,
We are excited to let you know that we are ready to begin opening our schedule for routine and orthodontic patients. Our plan is to gradually build into a full schedule over the next 3 weeks. We will be contacting you to get your appointment rescheduled as quickly as possible. Our staff have been trained on the highest levels of infection control per all regulatory agencies and are taking every necessary precaution to keep you our patients safe. While we have always exceeded infection control standards, we have now added additional COVID-19 protocols to our regimen. We are absolutely committed to safely caring for all those whom we serve. Remember to bring your REQUIRED face cover to be treated.
Charlotte Dentistry adheres to those protocols made by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the American Dental Association (ADA), NC State Dental Board (NCDB), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). We continually monitor these agencies to remain up to date on any new guidance that may be issued. This ensures you that our infection control procedures are current and adhere to each agencies’ recommendations.
We look forward to serving you soon and are happy to answer any questions you may have about the steps we take to keep you, and every patient, safe during your visit. To make an appointment, please call our office at 704-285-0846 or visit our website at Charlottedentistry.com.
Thank you for allowing us to care for your dental and orthodontic needs since 1977. We value your trust and loyalty and look forward to welcoming back our patients, neighbors and friends.
Sincerely,
Your Charlotte Dentistry Team
When it comes to protecting your smile, you deserve the highest quality of care. Your Charlotte dentists make sure you get it even when you’re not here in our office.
The custom mouthguards we create are just one example of how we can help protect your teeth and gums while you’re hard at play or fast asleep.
Check out this American Dental Association video to discover the benefits of this kind of investment in your oral health!
If you’re an athlete or think you might be grinding your teeth at night, visit us for a mouthguard designed to fit you perfectly!
Call Charlotte Dentistry at 704-285-0846 for an appointment.
As excited as we are about our new website, we’re just as excited about our new Charlotte Dentistry blog. We invite you to check back here often for the latest tips and advice on keeping your mouth healthy and your smile bright. If you have any questions about us or your dental care, just give us a call at 704-285-0846 and we’ll be glad to help.
For this edition of our new blog, we’re highlighting some of the things that are unique to our practice. We hope you enjoy reading!
Your Family Will Benefit From Our Vast Experience & Expertise
Our impressive team boasts a grand total of 16 dentists! Some of them specialize in one or two areas of dentistry, while others provide the full spectrum of general dental care. With their combined skills, we have you and your family covered for your smile care. We can provide all the services you need in one convenient location.
We’re Here When You Need Us to Be
Charlotte Dentistry tries to make it as easy as possible for you to get good dental care. We stay open until 4:30 p.m. during the week. If you have a dental emergency, we’ll get you in the same day so you don’t have to deal with pain any longer than necessary. We even have a pager for after-hours emergencies that stays on until about 10:00 p.m.
We Can Make Your Dental Restoration On-Site
We’re one of the few dental practices that has its own lab on the premises. That means you won’t have to wait as long to get your new crown, bridge, dentures, or veneers. Plus, we can better manage the quality control process and ensure that your restoration fits the way it should – the first time. You’ll save time and headache over using an outside lab.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this edition of our Charlotte Dentistry blog. Give us a call at 704-285-0846 to schedule your next dental visit, or schedule one online.
Getting orthodontic work done is one of the best things you can do for your smile. This corrective work will restore your natural bite, correct any crooked or crowded teeth, and leave you with a gorgeous smile that you can be proud of for life. It’s important to be prepared for what will happen once your treatment is complete and the braces/Invisalign are off. Your orthodontic provider may have talked to you already about wearing a retainer to keep your teeth straight. Will your teeth shift after orthodontic treatment? Here’s how you can know what’s normal and what’s not.
Shifting Will Happen
Shifting is a normal part of the process when your orthodontic work is completed. Your teeth have been held firmly into place by the braces/Invisalign for some time now, so the removal of these sturdy brackets and wires will lead to a bit of shifting. Your teeth will be settling into their positions now that the braces are gone, and this is just what should happen. During this time, it’s absolutely essential that you wear your retainer. This will prevent too much shifting and keep the teeth in their correct position while the settling process is happening.
Wear Your Retainer
Your retainer was specially fitted for your unique mouth. The retainer is a crucial part of your treatment, and perhaps the most important—it will keep your newly adjusted smile looking just as it did when the brace or Invisalign aligners were on. The retainer will help keep your teeth in place to prevent any abnormal shifting. Your orthodontic provider may have informed you that you’ll need to wear your retainer every night for the rest of your life. This is because teeth can shift naturally over time, and you’ll need your retainer as a gentle reminder to tell your teeth where they belong.
What to Look Out For
If you neglect to wear your retainer even for a few nights—especially soon after your braces come off—your teeth could shift to the point that the retainer no longer fits. At this point, you’ll need to go back to your orthodontic provider to see if he or she can fit your mouth with another retainer or if you need additional treatment.
Your retainer should be comfortable and fit your mouth appropriately. Your orthodontic provider should check that it fits well before you leave the office with your new smile. If for any reason your retainer doesn’t fit well or feel right, talk to your orthodontic provider about getting an adjustment.
If you’re having major shifting after your orthodontic treatment is completed, this isn’t normal and is a cause for concern. Your orthodontic provider can help you figure out what’s going on and correct the problem. Your teeth will naturally settle with the help of your retainer, but always be sure to look out for abnormal shifting or problems with your retainer if you’re wearing as prescribed.
Keeping your teeth beautiful and straight after the braces come off is easy when you follow your orthodontic provider’s instructions. Teeth shifting after braces/Invisalign is normal, but the shifting should be minor and you should still be able to comfortably wear your retainer. Talk to your orthodontic provider if you’re having any issues—don’t wait!
What Is the Official Symbol of Dentistry?
The American Dental Association started using the official symbol of dentistry in 1965. It can be recognized by the snake coiled around a staff before two branches bearing 20 berries and 32 leaves, which are centered in a design that combines a circle with a triangle. “Dentistry” is inscribed upon the bottom half of the circle, while the interior of the design is painted in a particular shade of purple called lilac, which has a special meaning of its own.
What Does the Official Symbol of Dentistry Mean?
First and foremost, the snake coiled around the staff represents Asclepius, who started out as one of the semi-divine sons of Apollo but managed to become such a skilled physician that he could resurrect the dead. Unfortunately, his resurrections created an imbalance in the world when the number of living humans began to soar, thus forcing Zeus to strike him down with a thunderbolt when the other gods started to complain. Still, Zeus was not without mercy, which is why he raised up Asclepius to live as one of the gods so long as he stopped resurrecting the dead without permission while placing no such restriction on other maladies. As a result, Asclepius became the God of Medicine, who the ancient Greeks would beseech whenever they sought a cure for a condition that was beyond the skill of mortal physicians.
The snake is supposed to be the same snake that had taught Asclepius much of his skill as a physician, while the staff is supposed to be the symbol of his office as a physician. However, it is interesting to note that the snake was not a coincidental choice, seeing as how the ancient Greeks considered them to be symbols of rebirth. Partly, this was because of their sloughing of their skin, and partly, this was because of their closeness to the earth, meaning that they were privy to much that was unknown to other creatures. Since snakes were such powerful symbols, they became a natural choice to represent ancient Greek physicians, which in turn, made them a natural choice to represent not just modern dentists but also other modern medical professionals.
Meanwhile, the 20 berries and 32 leaves on the two branches are supposed to represent the 20 baby teeth and 32 adult teeth of humans, which once again, makes them a natural choice to represent modern dentists. In contrast, the choice of lilac to fill in the interior of the design is a little bit more obscure since it represents the honor of becoming a dentist, which is why it is the exact same color that is used on both the caps and the gowns of dentistry graduates. Not coincidentally, purple has been a prestigious color since ancient times because of its relative rarity, so much so that it was once reserved for kings and emperors. Finally, it should be noted that the circle and the triangle incorporated into the design are actually an Omicron and a Delta, which are the 15th and 4th letters of the Greek alphabet respectively. The first stands for odont, which means “tooth” in Greek, while the second stands for dentistry, which is descended from Latin by way of French.
A diastema is a space (gap) between two teeth, most often noticeable between the two front teeth. This condition usually occurs when there is a disproportionate relationship between the jaw and the size of the teeth, but can also be caused by alignment problems, protruding teeth, or over-sized tissue.
Who Experiences Diastemas?
A diastema occurs to many different types of mammals (especially herbivores), but only humans can seek dental care to correct the problem. In animals such as sheep, rodents and beavers, this benefits them substantially by allowing for food to be moved to the cheek so that food consumption can continue without being slowed down.
In some cultures past and present, particularly in Africa, a diastema is considered to be a sign of attractiveness and fertility, and is associated with seductiveness. Some people have even had gaps created through cosmetic surgery. In France they are called lucky teeth, and in Australia, children with a diastema are considered to be able to predict future wealth.
Choosing to Correct Diastemas
Many individuals decide to opt out of having a cosmetic dental procedure to fix a diastema. Maybe you don’t feel like wearing braces for a couple of years, or maybe you are happy with your smile just the way it is. It’s considered a part of who you are. With the entire perfect smile” advertising today, Hollywood celebrities and regular people have become self-conscious of the “gap” between their teeth. And everyone wants that Hollywood perfect smile with straight, white teeth.
However, many others believe the diastema adds authenticity and originality. As Kirsten Dunce famously said about her diastema, “It gives me character and character is sexy.” Other celebrities like David Letterman, Madonna, Seal, Michael Strahan and Lauren Hutton, to name a few well known celebrities, who have totally embraced the gaps between their two front teeth and believe the diastema has benefitted their individual careers. They feel it makes them unique and memorable.
Procedures to Correct Diastemas
If you’re not famous but have a diastema that you’d rather not display when you smile, you can fix your diastema relatively painlessly. Perhaps the most often sought solution is to have an orthodontic procedure to move your teeth together using braces or the new “clear” Invisalign® tooth straightening procedure. These can be extremely effective, especially for those with larger gaps. The most appealing feature of Invisalign is they are invisible and removable for eating, brushing and flossing.
Another popular option is having porcelain veneers applied. Similar to artificial fingernails, veneers are thin layers of material especially customized to close the gap between the teeth. They are slightly wider than the natural tooth and bonded directly to the tooth surface to close the space. This procedure works well when the diastema is smaller in width. The cost of porcelain veneers vary from $300 per tooth to $1,300 per tooth.
The last option and perhaps most appealing is dental bonding. This procedure works well for closing smaller spaces. Bonding material, which is a tooth colored composite resin designed to match the color of your teeth and is sculpted in a freehand manner around the teeth to close the gap. The average cost for dental bonding is between $200 and $600 per tooth. With proper care, bonding last ten years and longer.
If you have a diastema you would like to correct, schedule a free consultation at Charlotte Dentistry®!
When you have had your wisdom teeth removed, it’s important to understand the best ways to heal comfortably and quickly. Once the teeth are removed, healing begins when a blood clot forms over the area. When this is displaced, a condition called dry socket may result, which can be painful. To prevent this from happening and for pain relief, it’s important to follow these care tips. By following these few simple tips, you can avoid dry socket and reduce pain significantly.
Take Your Pain Medication
Once you are home, it’s important to take your pain medication. If your dentist has given you a prescription, follow those instructions. If your doctor has advised you to take over the counter medication, like ibuprofen or aspirin, take it before you feel pain. Don’t wait for the pain to set in, it’s easier to prevent it than make it subside.
Take Care of the Dressings
When you leave the office, you will have a dressing, usually a gauze pad, covering the area. It may be bloody, but don’t panic, that’s normal. Any bleeding you may suspect is abnormal, call your dentist right away. Change the dressing as instructed; this is an important part of preventing dry socket.
Cleaning Your Mouth
Take care to avoid displacing the blood clot when brushing your teeth near the extraction site for three to four days as you heal. Carefully dab at that area with a clean and moist gauze pad. You could also use mouthwash if you prefer not to use a toothbrush the first few days. A chlorhexidine mouthwash is a good alternative to a toothbrush.
Reduce the Swelling
You may experience swelling. Apply ice packs for 15 minutes on and then 15 minutes off to help reduce swelling. Consider aspirin or ibuprofen as an anti-inflammatory to help reduce swelling as well. Be sure to keep your head elevated until bedtime.
Dont’s:
Here are additional “don’t” tips to avoid dry socket and promote healing:
- Don’t rinse the area for 24 hours after tooth removal.
- Don’t poke at the extraction site with your tongue.
- Avoid sucking through straws, spitting, and blowing your nose.
- Don’t smoke, it can interfere with healing; the sucking motion could dislodge the blood clot.
Charlotte Dentistry® has been serving the area for over 33 years, where you’ll find a dentist to satisfy your needs. Charlotte Dentistry® ensures beautiful smiles stay healthful throughout life.