What do you think of when you hear “Novocain”? Most people are not aware of what it actually is. You know when you get a shot in your mouth right before a filling, or before the dentist grinds your teeth? The dentist is injecting Novocain into your mouth. Novocain is a local anesthetic that is used most commonly in dentistry. It lasts for a couple hours depending on how many injections you get. Sometimes, depending on what is being done to your teeth, you will get several injections of Novocain (don’t worry after the first one, the other ones don’t hurt!). Here is what to expect.
First before you get the injection, your dentist will usually apply a numbing gel to the area that they are going to inject. This usually minimizes the pain, although you will still feel it. Next they will load a syringe with the Novocain and give you the injection. Usually it is given in the back of your mouth near your back molars it takes about 10 seconds because they have to squeeze the syringe slowly to make sure it all goes in. For most people the only pain is when the needle enters your gum. Then they will take it out, wait for a few seconds and ask you which part of your mouth is numb. If your whole lower lip, chin and cheek are numb that is usually enough. So they will give you as many injections until that happens. It all depends on the person. After they are done administering whatever procedure they were going to do, they will let you leave.
Here is some advice we found useful:
1. Do not eat afterwards! Because your mouth and cheek are numb you can accidentally bite your lip or cheek and that will hurt a lot after the Novocain wears off.
2. Be prepared that even though your mouth might not hurt when it’s still numb doesn’t mean it won’t be sore. So take some ibuprofen or painkiller while the Novocain is still in effect.
3. Just because your mouth is numb, doesn't mean you won’t be able to feel the vibrations or prodding of your mouth/teeth during the operation. Just be prepared.
Hopefully this helps you be more prepared for your next dentist appointment!
-Amanda and Erik
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Clear Braces
One option instead of getting traditional braces are to get clear ones. The most popular brands are Invisilign and ClearCorrect. There are advantages and disadvantages to this.
Pros: With clear braces you can take them on and off similar to the clear plastic retainers you can get. This means that while you have braces you can eat whatever you want, whenever you want! Obviously since they are clear you do not have to deal with all the teasing and so on that goes along with getting metal braces. This makes clear braces an especially attractive option for adults. Since the pressure is even on all areas of your teeth there is less pain to it. And the fact that they are smooth and fitted to your teeth means, no ripped up gums and cheeks!
Cons: Now although being able to take them off means you can eat whenever, that also means you need to brush before you put them back on each time which can be a hassle. Like with retainers you need to be super careful not to lose them after you took them off to eat. Plus since you can take them off, it means less time sitting in your mouth straightening your teeth where as metal braces are working constantly. It all relies on how strict you are with them. They also cost anywhere from 3000 to 9000 dollars depending on how many sets of braces you need. Each time you “tighten” them, you get a new pair of clear braces, making it more expensive then normal metal braces. Keep in mind that although they are clear, people will still be able to tell you are wearing braces because the plastic will reflect light. Although rare, some people have had allergic reactions to the plastic so if you have previously had reactions you should probably reconsider this option.
Well we hope to have answered some questions you might have had regarding clear braces. Personally we both have gone through the metal braces route, and it has worked very well for us. It is tried and true, where as the clear braces are a relatively new procedure, along with being less expensive. Its all a matter of preference!
-Amanda and Erik
Pros: With clear braces you can take them on and off similar to the clear plastic retainers you can get. This means that while you have braces you can eat whatever you want, whenever you want! Obviously since they are clear you do not have to deal with all the teasing and so on that goes along with getting metal braces. This makes clear braces an especially attractive option for adults. Since the pressure is even on all areas of your teeth there is less pain to it. And the fact that they are smooth and fitted to your teeth means, no ripped up gums and cheeks!
Cons: Now although being able to take them off means you can eat whenever, that also means you need to brush before you put them back on each time which can be a hassle. Like with retainers you need to be super careful not to lose them after you took them off to eat. Plus since you can take them off, it means less time sitting in your mouth straightening your teeth where as metal braces are working constantly. It all relies on how strict you are with them. They also cost anywhere from 3000 to 9000 dollars depending on how many sets of braces you need. Each time you “tighten” them, you get a new pair of clear braces, making it more expensive then normal metal braces. Keep in mind that although they are clear, people will still be able to tell you are wearing braces because the plastic will reflect light. Although rare, some people have had allergic reactions to the plastic so if you have previously had reactions you should probably reconsider this option.
Well we hope to have answered some questions you might have had regarding clear braces. Personally we both have gone through the metal braces route, and it has worked very well for us. It is tried and true, where as the clear braces are a relatively new procedure, along with being less expensive. Its all a matter of preference!
-Amanda and Erik
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Fiberotomy 2
Here is some more updated information about the new procedure called fiberotomy.
Cost: There is not much information about this procedure on the internet but we have had from good sources from our orthodontist an estimate of the approximate cost. The whole procedure costs from around 1000 to 1500 dollars. Now keep in mind that after you have had your braces, that is a lot of extra money to be paying on top of your expensive braces.
The anesthesia: When you get the operation done you will first be given some normal over the counter painkillers. Then you will get a numbing gel in your mouth similar to when you get a filling. Next comes the local anesthesia. This is part of the cost of the procedure.
See these links for some more information.
http://healthmad.com/medicine/fiberotomy/
http://www.toothiq.com/dental-glossary/dental-definition-supracrestal-fiberotomy.html
Our opinion on the necessity of getting a fiberotomy is the same. It is a lot of money to pay when you could get the 90 dollar retainers. And there is more of a risk of infection or something going wrong. We recommend keeping these things in mind when making your decision.
-Amanda and Erik
Cost: There is not much information about this procedure on the internet but we have had from good sources from our orthodontist an estimate of the approximate cost. The whole procedure costs from around 1000 to 1500 dollars. Now keep in mind that after you have had your braces, that is a lot of extra money to be paying on top of your expensive braces.
The anesthesia: When you get the operation done you will first be given some normal over the counter painkillers. Then you will get a numbing gel in your mouth similar to when you get a filling. Next comes the local anesthesia. This is part of the cost of the procedure.
See these links for some more information.
http://healthmad.com/medicine/fiberotomy/
http://www.toothiq.com/dental-glossary/dental-definition-supracrestal-fiberotomy.html
Our opinion on the necessity of getting a fiberotomy is the same. It is a lot of money to pay when you could get the 90 dollar retainers. And there is more of a risk of infection or something going wrong. We recommend keeping these things in mind when making your decision.
-Amanda and Erik
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Reatiners Part 2: Maintenance
You will have to wear your retainers for a good year or two after you get your braces off so obviously you want to keep them in as good of condition as possible. Retainers are just small pieces of plastic and are very fragile, so they will be very easy to break. Here are some tips on keeping your retainer working and fitting properly:
1. Try not to play with it too much. It may be tempting to mess and move it around with your tongue but this will eventually render your retainer ineffective. When you first get your retainer it is specifically fit to your teeth. The act of taking it on and off with your tongue will wear at the metal fittings and before long it may not even fit your teeth anymore and will not do its job!
2. Be aware of when you are wearing it. This can be a problem when you are exercising or just out and about. You might forget you have them in and bite down hard like you had nothing in your mouth. Doing this can crack or damage the retainer because your teeth smash against the top of the plastic so just always be aware when it’s in your mouth.
3. If you do accidentally break it there are a couple things you can do in response. The first is to just wear it still and know it won’t be keeping your teeth as straight as it could but this is very dependent on what kind of damage has been done. You can replace it, but this will be pretty expensive. You can TRY gluing it back together (again it depends on the extent of the break) or something similar but we highly recommend talking with your orthodontist before trying this.
If you follow these tips and ultimately just be cautious and careful when you are out and about, your retainers should serve you well for the time you need to wear them and will help keep your teeth looking as straight and beautiful as they do when you first get your braces off!
-Amanda and Erik
1. Try not to play with it too much. It may be tempting to mess and move it around with your tongue but this will eventually render your retainer ineffective. When you first get your retainer it is specifically fit to your teeth. The act of taking it on and off with your tongue will wear at the metal fittings and before long it may not even fit your teeth anymore and will not do its job!
2. Be aware of when you are wearing it. This can be a problem when you are exercising or just out and about. You might forget you have them in and bite down hard like you had nothing in your mouth. Doing this can crack or damage the retainer because your teeth smash against the top of the plastic so just always be aware when it’s in your mouth.
3. If you do accidentally break it there are a couple things you can do in response. The first is to just wear it still and know it won’t be keeping your teeth as straight as it could but this is very dependent on what kind of damage has been done. You can replace it, but this will be pretty expensive. You can TRY gluing it back together (again it depends on the extent of the break) or something similar but we highly recommend talking with your orthodontist before trying this.
If you follow these tips and ultimately just be cautious and careful when you are out and about, your retainers should serve you well for the time you need to wear them and will help keep your teeth looking as straight and beautiful as they do when you first get your braces off!
-Amanda and Erik
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