Protecting your smile while playing sports is essential when you have braces. Mouthguards help protect your teeth and gums from injury.   If you participate in basketball, boxing, hockey, football, gymnastics, lacrosse, martial arts, racquetball, rugby, track and field, skateboarding, skiing and snowboarding, skydiving, soccer, surfing, volleyball, water polo, weightlifting, or wrestling, it is recommended by the Canadian Association of Orthodontists that you wear a mouthguard.   Types of Mouthguards Choosing the right mouthguard is essential. There are three basic types of mouthguards. The pre-made mouthguard, or the so-called  “boil-and-bite” mouthguard, are more suitable when wearing braces, as your teeth are changing. A custom-made mouthguard from an orthodontist or dentist is more appropriate after treatment is complete.    Pre-made mouthguards and “boil-and-bite” mouthguards can be purchased at most sporting goods stores, while custom-made mouthguards are specially designed by an orthodontist to provide optimal protection against mouth injuries.   It is wise to wear a mouthguard during contact sports. Here at Greystone Orthodontics in Guelph, Ontario, we can show you how to fit a mouthguard properly and how to choose the right one to protect your smile.   Taking Care of Your Mouthguard Similar to a retainer, braces, or any other special dental appliance, it is important to take care of your mouthguard by storing it properly and keeping it clean, as well as knowing when to replace it with a new one.   Here are a few simple ways to keep your mouthguard clean and working correctly: Rinse your mouthguard at the arena and later gently scrub it after each use with a toothbrush. Store your mouthguard in a protective case. Do not leave it in the sun or in hot water or it may  become deformed. Replace your mouthguard at the beginning of every new sports season. You should also replace it if you notice it has become worn and no longer fits properly. If you wear braces, our office in Guelph can help design a mouthguard to protect your teeth and fit over your braces. Do not chew on your mouthguard.  Bring your mouthguard to your appointment if you would like us to check it.   Sports-related injuries to the mouth and jaw are among the most common injuries suffered by athletes. Our goal at Greystone Orthodontics is to help minimize your chances of a sports-related injury to your smile. Be sure to ask us about mouthguards at your next appointment, and GO TEAM!

Diode laser treatment may be beneficial for patients receiving orthodontic care.    Ideal Bracket Placement If your gums haven’t receded sufficiently, or a tooth is emerging more slowly than expected, a laser can be used to remove excess tissue and reveal enough tooth surface to place a bracket.   Impacted Teeth Impactions refer to teeth that are blocked or not erupting through the gum tissue. By using laser treatment, we can avoid a surgical referral or having to wait months for the tooth to erupt.   Aesthetic Gingival Recontouring Following the removal of your braces, we may recommend recontouring your gum line to maximize the aesthetics of your smile. Aesthetic gingival recontouring is a procedure to reshape the gum line to improve the aesthetics of your smile by exposing more of your teeth.

Upon completion of dental school, some graduates will practice as dentists while others choose to pursue a specialty. This requires additional schooling during a three-year residency program.   Dr. White holds a specialty licence from the Royal College of Dental Surgeons of Ontario and is a graduate of the Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics Programme at the University of Toronto.   Orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics is one of nine specialties. It entails the management of tooth movement, while dentofacial orthopedics involves the guidance of facial growth and development, which occurs largely during childhood. Appliances are frequently used — the more familiar braces for orthodontics, and other specialized appliances, depending on what facial abnormalities are present. Sometimes orthopedic treatment may precede conventional braces, but often the two are used at the same time.   Dr. White’s diagnosis will include problems with alignment of the teeth and jaws, as well any concerns with related facial structures. He may devise a treatment plan that integrates both orthodontic and dentofacial orthopedic treatment.

You’ve Worked Hard for Your Beautiful Smile; Keep It That Way! Finally, your braces have been removed and your smile is beautiful, straight, and best of all, metal-free! However, your orthodontic journey isn’t quite completed.   To keep your smile looking its best, you’ll have to wear a retainer to preserve and stabilize your results. Retainers are needed to control or limit potential changes in tooth position. They are used after braces treatment to hold teeth in their correct alignment while the surrounding gums, bone, and muscle adjust to the new positioning of your teeth.   Types of Retainers Retainers are custom-made and can be removable or fixed. Traditional removable retainers typically include a metal wire that surrounds the front teeth and is attached to an acrylic arch that sits on the roof of the mouth. The metal wires can be adjusted to finish treatment and continue minor movement of the front teeth as needed. Aligner-style retainers, or Essix retainers, look similar to clear aligners and offer a more aesthetic alternative to wire retainers. This clear retainer may fit over the entire arch of your teeth, or only from canine to canine (clip-on retainer). It is produced from a mould of your newly aligned teeth. Fixed retainers consist of wires bonded behind the bottom and/or top front teeth.    Pros and Cons Removable retainers can be taken out for eating and hygiene routines. Removable retainers can get lost easily, so remember to keep yours in the case whenever you remove it to eat or brush. A fixed retainer is great if you don’t want to have to keep track of it, or don’t want to worry about how many hours per day it must be worn. Teeth with fixed retainers require a little extra attention to remove tartar while flossing. Patients with fixed retainers often must use floss threaders to pass dental floss through the small spaces between the retainer and the teeth.

The palatal expander “expands” (or widens) your upper jaw by putting gentle pressure on your upper molars each time an adjustment is made. The images below will instruct about how to adjust your expander. When you achieve the desired expansion, you will wear the appliance for several months to solidify the expansion and to prevent regression.   Adjusting the Palatal Expander You can also download these instructions in a printable PDF document.   Step 1 In a well-lit area, tip the patient's head back.   Step 2 Place the key in the hole until it is firmly in place.   Step 3 Push the key toward the back of the mouth. You will notice the fender will rotate and the new hole will appear. The rotation stops when the key meets the back of the expander.   Step 4 Press back and down toward the tongue to remove the key. The next hole for insertion of the key should now be visible.

True orthodontic emergencies are rare, but when they occur, we are available to you. As a general rule, you should call our office when you experience severe pain or have a painful appliance problem you can’t take care of yourself. We’ll be able to schedule an appointment to resolve the problem.   You might be surprised to learn that you may be able to solve many problems yourself temporarily until you can get to our office in Guelph. If there is a loose piece that you can remove, put it in a plastic bag or envelope and bring it with you to your next appointment.   If your braces are poking you, put soft wax on the piece that’s sticking out. If the wire has slid to one side, you can pull it back to the other side with your fingers or small needle-nosed pliers, and reinsert it in the tube on the back tooth.   After alleviating your discomfort, it is vital that you still call our office as soon as possible to schedule a time to repair the problem. Allowing your appliance to remain damaged for an extended period of time may result in delays of your treatment.   If you are in significant pain that cannot wait or be alleviated by the above, please call Dr. White at home at 519-763-5756. General Soreness When you get your braces on, you may feel general soreness in your mouth, and teeth may be tender to biting pressures for three to five days. Stick to a soft diet until your teeth do not hurt when chewing.   Irritated gums and other sore spots can be relieved by rinsing your mouth with a warm salt-water mouthwash. Dissolve one teaspoonful of salt in eight ounces of warm water and rinse your mouth vigorously.   If the tenderness is severe, take acetaminophen (Tylenol) if possible or whatever you normally take for headaches or similar pain.   Aspirin, Ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil), and Naproxen (Aleve) can actually slow the tooth movement, so it is not advisable to use them frequently while wearing braces.   The lips, cheeks, and tongue may become irritated for one to two weeks as they learn a new posture and become accustomed to the surface of the braces. You can put wax on the braces to lessen this. We’ll show you how!   Loose Appliance If your appliance is poking you, place wax on the offending part.   Loose Bracket If your bracket or band is still attached to the wire, you should leave it in place and put wax on it if needed for comfort. If the bracket or band can be removed easily, place it in an envelope and save it to bring to your next appointment.    Loose Wire Using a pair of tweezers or needle-nosed pliers, try to put your wire back into place. It is okay to use a piece of floss to tie the wire into place. Tie the floss around the bracket in place of the missing coloured O-ring.   If you cannot put the wire into a comfortable position, and covering the end with wax doesn’t help, as a last resort, use a small fingernail clipper to clip the wire behind the last tooth to which it is securely fastened. If the end of the wire is still sharp, place wax on it.   Poking Wire Tie Using a pencil eraser, push the poking wire down or place wax on it so it is no longer poking.   Aphthous Ulcers (Chancre Sores) These can occur with or without braces and may develop from a small scratch on the cheek or gums. They can last 1 to 2 weeks and can be painful. Warm salt water is again recommended. Applying a topical numbing gel that babies use for teething will help in the short term.

It is important to continue regular exams and cleanings at your dentist's office during orthodontic treatment. Cleanings may need to be done more often than usual, especially when wearing braces.

Bonding of teeth by your dentist may be necessary for various reasons to enhance your final orthodontic outcome.

A bridge by your dentist may be used to replace missing teeth.  Orthodontic "uprighting" may be beneficial to improve the quality and longevity of a bridge that is planned.

Crowns are a restorative procedures performed by your dentist used to improve your tooth’s shape or to strengthen it.

There are times when it is necessary to remove teeth for orthodontic purposes.  The reasons why are situation specific and will be explained when your treatment plan is presented.

If you are missing teeth, and implant supported crown may be recommended by your dentist rather than bridge.  One advantage is the teeth adjacent to the space do not have to be trimmed/cut down.  Orthodontics can help prepare the implant site to improve the final result.

If you often wake up with jaw pain or headaches, or find yourself clenching or grinding your teeth, you may have a common condition called “bruxism.” Many people do not even know they grind their teeth, since it often occurs when one is sleeping. If not corrected, bruxism can lead to tooth wear, broken teeth, cracked teeth, or even tooth loss. There is an easy, non-invasive treatment for bruxism. Nightguards are a way to prevent the wear and damage that teeth-grinding causes over time. They are best done after orthodontics is completed and may act as a retainer as well.

A Sealant is a bonded plastic coating that seals the small fissures and grooves on the tops of back teeth.  These fissures can be impossible to clean and decay may start within them.  Sealants are a ideal way to prevent this type of cavity from forming.

Wisdom teeth are third molars found in the very back of your mouth. Most people have room for first and second molars but not third molars. They usually appear in the late teens or early twenties and may become impacted due to lack of room.  Evidence shows wisdom teeth do not contribute significantly to dental crowding however there are other reasons they may need to be removed. Dr. White can advise you on your specific orthodontic situation.