You might not realize how much crooked teeth can affect your life and overall health. Whether you choose braces or Invisalign as your ideal teeth-straightening method, fixing spacing and alignment issues with your teeth can bring many benefits. Keep reading to find out why now is the time to talk to an orthodontist about straightening your teeth:

More Confidence
If you feel self-conscious about the condition of your teeth, you might not smile as much as you want. Straightening your teeth helps you instantly feel better about your smile, which makes you want to show it off. When you smile more, you feel and look more confident. Feeling good about yourself and your smile can help you in your social and professional interactions, which can improve every facet of your life.

Better Oral Health
It is much easier to clean straight teeth than it is to clean crooked ones. If you want to improve your oral health and get cleaner teeth and gums, it is time to talk to the orthodontist about straightening methods like braces or Invisalign. When you can easily clean between all of your teeth and gums, you can significantly lower your risk for tooth decay, cavities, and periodontal disease. If you can maintain healthy gums, you can also lower your risk for other health issues like heart disease or diabetes.

Less of a Chance for TMJ Disorders
When your bite is even, you are not as likely to have issues with the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). TMJ disorders can cause pain, headaches, and stiffness or clicking in the jaw. When you straighten your teeth, though, you take stress off of the TMJ and reduce your risk for these uncomfortable disorders.

With so many new advancements in dental technology, it is easier than ever to get straight, beautiful teeth. Schedule an appointment with a Glenview orthodontist to start talking about the different straightening options and to find the right treatment plan for your needs.

At DentiStar, there is nothing more important than or patients. Check out our latest reviews on Yelp to read about why people love Dr. Shin. Have a great experience of your own? We would love to hear about it. Leave a review on our Google+ page.

“I’m glad me and my family decided to come in because we definitely left with a happy mindset and possibly a new family dentist.” – Maximiliano A.

It is extremely important that a patient feels comfortable with an oral health professional so they regularly attend their checkups. The right dentist can help a patient work toward a healthier, more beautiful smile.

Dentists like Dr. Sam Shin, DDS help their patients get the oral care they need to maintain healthy teeth and gums. After graduating from New York University’s College of Dentistry in 2004, Dr. Shin started to work toward becoming the best dentist he could be. He holds contributing memberships to the American Dental Implants Association, the American Academy of Implant Dentistry, the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, the American Dental Association, and the Illinois State Dental Society.

Dr. Shin works closely with his patients to ensure that they get the care that they need for their specific oral issues. If you are looking for a dentist in Glenview who is looking out for you, Dr. Shin is it. Schedule an appointment for a checkup and see how Dr. Shin can help you improve your smile.

Dental implants have already helped people all over the world find a permanent solution for their problems with missing teeth. If you and your dentist in Glenview have decided that dental implants can help you, use this guide to learn more about the procedure and what to expect from it:

Taking a Visit to the Dentist
Once you officially decide to get dental implants, your dentist will most likely perform the procedure in his or her office. Most patients only need local anesthesia, but there are other available sedation options like nitrous oxide or intravenous sedation. The dental implant procedure requires a few different visits so you can give the gums enough time to heal in between getting the implant and the replacement tooth.

Placing the Implant
The first step to the procedure is to place the implant beneath the gum. The implant will serve as a new tooth root. Once it is placed, the area around the implant needs some time to heal before the dentist can move onto the next step of the procedure.

Attaching the Abutment
Once the dentist is sure that the implant has officially healed, he or she can attach a post, known as an abutment, which extends into the mouth. The gum needs time to heal around the abutment before the dentist can finish the procedure with the replacement tooth.

Completing the Process with the Replacement Tooth
While the gum heals around the abutment, your dentist will probably advise you to stay away from chewing on hard food. As soon as the area is healed, the dentist will attach custom replacement teeth on to the implants to restore the aesthetic appeal and the function of your smile.

As long as you are in good overall health, have enough jawbone, and do not have any major oral issues like periodontal disease, you could be a good candidate for dental implants. Talk to your dentist about the implant procedure to find out if it might be the right solution for you.

Ask your dentist what the most important things you can do for you oral health are, and you’ll learn that the solution to a healthy smile is actually fairly simple: brush and floss. Brushing and flossing are at the foundation of a good oral healthcare regimen, and along with regular visits to your Glenview dentist , can help prevent a wide range of dental health issues.

Watch this video to learn more about the importance of brushing and flossing. You should brush at least twice a day and floss at least once daily to reduce your risk of tooth decay and gum disease. If you need help perfecting your brushing and flossing methods, ask your dentist for advice. Teaching patients good oral health habits is an important part of family dental care, and your dentist will be happy to help.

When you have missing teeth, it’s important to discuss your tooth replacement options with your dentist. Leaving a gap where you’ve lost a tooth can have serious repercussions for your long-term dental health, including deterioration of bone and damage to remaining teeth. Dentures and bridges used to be the only alternatives for replacing missing teeth, but now dentists are turning to dental implants more and more for better results and greater patient comfort. Talk to your Glenview dentist about whether implants are the right choice for you, and as you weigh your options, keep these benefits in mind.

No Slippage
One of the biggest issues faced by denture wearers is the way dentures can slip around in the mouth. In addition to impacting your self-esteem—making you constantly concerned that people will see your dentures moving—slippage can irritate your gums and affect how you eat and speak. With dental implants , there’s no risk of slippage. The implants are anchored in your jaw with artificial tooth roots, so they stay in place just like your natural teeth.

No Damage to Neighboring Teeth
When you have natural teeth remaining, instead of a full denture, your dentist can replace the missing teeth with a bridge. The trouble with a bridge is that it relies on your natural teeth for support. Over time, the bridge can weaken those teeth, cause toothache, and even deteriorate teeth to the point that extraction is required, necessitating another bridge. Dental implants are supported by artificial roots that fuse with your jaw, not any other teeth. None of your remaining teeth are damaged by dental implants.

No Special Care
Dental implants look like natural teeth, and you can care for them the same way. Simply brush, floss, and have regular check-ups with your dentist, and your implant should last indefinitely. Dentures require special cleaning daily, and over time, as your mouth changes, you may need adjustments to your dentures so they continue to fit.

Missing teeth are bad news for your dental health. When you’ve lost teeth, you leave your gums vulnerable to irritation and your remaining teeth at risk for shifting and falling out. While dentures and bridges used to be the only options for people with tooth loss, a newer solution is becoming the gold standard for tooth replacement: dental implants. With dental implants, you don’t have to worry about many of the problems that accompany dentures, like special care requirements and slippage that causes speech and eating difficulties. Dental implants look and act like your natural teeth, and they don’t require special attention. No one will know you’ve got an implant except you and your Glenview dentist . Learn more about dental implants in this infographic from DentiStar. If you have friends and family members who are dealing with tooth loss, share this information with them so they can talk to their own family dental care providers about their treatment options.

Dental implants have many advantages, but one of their biggest boons is that they do not require the same kind of special care as dentures and bridges. With minimal attention, dental implants can last a lifetime. Having regular check-ups with your Glenview dentist is an important part of dental implant maintenance. Here is what else you need to know.

Dental implants are rooted in your jaw and don’t rely on natural teeth for support. They look and feel just like your natural teeth—no one will know you have a dental implant but you. You can also care for them as you would your natural teeth. Brush and floss your dental implant as you do your other teeth, and you will be able to keep it clean and healthy. Although dental implants can’t get cavities, you can get gum disease around the implant, so have regular cleanings and checks-ups to keep gum issues at bay. This easy care routine will make your dental implants last indefinitely.

If your orthodontist has told you that you need treatment for tooth misalignment, then you have a choice: braces or Invisalign. There are pros and cons to each type of orthodontic treatment, but many patients find that Invisalign gives them both the convenience and results they want. Make an appointment with a Glenview orthodontist to discuss your treatment options. As you explore your choices, consider the following signs that Invisalign could be the right fit for you.

You Have Cosmetic Concerns about Braces
What many people dread the most about getting braces is the metal brackets and wires. This is especially true for adult patients getting orthodontic care who are hesitant about the effect wearing braces could have on their professional lives. Invisalign is the perfect solution. Because the aligners are clear, no one will know that you are wearing them but you.

You Don’t Want to Change Your Eating Habits
When you get braces, your orthodontist will give you a long list of foods that are off-limits during treatment, including things like popcorn, gum, and apples. With Invisalign, you don’t have to change the way you eat at all. You remove the aligners every time you eat, so you can have anything you like without worrying about breaking a bracket or getting a piece of food stuck under a wire.

You Want to Brush and Floss Normally
Another thing your orthodontist will teach you when you get braces is how to brush and floss around the brackets and wires. Invisalign patients don’t have these issues. They pop out their aligners and follow their usual oral hygiene routines, without the need for special tools like floss threaders and proxabrushes. As a result, people with Invisalign tend to have fewer dental health issues during treatment than those with braces, who often struggle to effectively keep their teeth clean.