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Braces

Routine Braces Adjustments Are Important for Realigning Your Child’s Teeth

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The braces installed in your child’s mouth have been designed to realign their teeth through the course of routine adjustment sessions. At each of these appointments, Dr. Muhammad Abey will apply a modest amount of tension to the orthodontic components. In the due course of time, this will progressively move their teeth into their ideal alignment.

Each adjustment is also an opportunity to replace or repair any braces hardware that has suffered excess wear and tear. If your son or daughter has noticed a problem with an element, be sure to let the orthodontist know. That way he can pay extra attention to the area or develop a plan to repair or replace it.

At the same time, it’s not unheard of for a spacer to feel loose or even fall out right before a scheduled adjustment session. Should this happen, you should call our clinic for advice. In most cases, we will simply recommend scheduling an earlier adjustment appointment.

Good oral hygiene habits are also important in the realignment process. Excessive wear and tear on braces hardware or tooth decay complications can increase the duration of the alignment process. If you are struggling to clean in and around any part of your braces, feel free to ask your orthodontist for advice.

If your son or daughter had braces installed in Wayne, New Jersey, and they have a scheduling conflict with an upcoming adjustment appointment you should call 973-341-3180 to reschedule. Our Wayne Family Orthodontics orthodontic team is happy to help you.

Braces at a Young Age

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Getting braces at a younger age has proved most effective in preventing dental problems in the future. Permanent teeth start to typically come in about the ages of six to eight, and because the bones are still growing, it’s best to evaluate their tooth alignment at a young age to determine what orthodontic treatment is needed at the time or in the future if needed at all.

A fun aspect of having braces is getting to choose colorful elastics! You or your child can pick their favorite colors, school pride colors, or base them on the holidays. And because braces are very common in many young people, they have become more acceptable. One of the most important things you can do as a parent is to help them understand the importance of having braces and taking care of them. Create a fun routine to help them attend to their teeth and braces or reward them when they’ve had a successful appointment or they’ve hit their dental care goals.

A recommended age to start looking at getting braces is about 7 years old, recommended by the American Association of Orthodontists. You may ask, “Don’t children still have their baby teeth at this age?” Yes, but this is to screen for any problems before braces and prepare for orthodontic issues. These can include underbites, overbites, lack of space, overcrowding, their bite and more. Early screening for these problems is more beneficial at a younger age as well due to the fact their bones are still growing.

By catching these problems early, we can work to align the jaw, create space for the permanent teeth and/or align their teeth early. This first phase of orthodontic treatment is a jumpstart to helping your child have a straight and healthy smile. It usually only requires a dental appliance, especially if your child is too young for braces or they do not need full orthodontic treatment right away.

With the aging and advancement of braces, they have become more acceptable and comfortable. They still take a little time getting used to the feel and the adjustments over time, but the satisfaction of having an aligned smile that will give you the look you want and oral health you need will be worth it.

If you’re looking for orthodontic care, please give our office a call. We will be happy to schedule an appointment and work with you and your child to find the best solution for a straight smile no matter what the age!

Four Benefits of Choosing Adult Braces

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The thought of wearing braces as an adult may not seem like a popular one, but many patients find it to be a wonderful life choice! Below, we offer four benefits of choosing to receive braces when you are an adult:

1. Your smile matters. Most everyone you meet will notice your smile first before anything else, which is why you should have a smile you are proud to show. Braces can help you achieve the smile of your dreams!

2. Braces stop teeth from changing over time. Even healthy teeth can shift during your adult years and alter your bite. If you have a crooked smile that is not treated with braces, it may continue to shift and become more crooked, causing further dental issues.

3. You can avoid significant dental issues by correcting misaligned teeth. It’s hard to remove bacteria and plaque from between crooked teeth, increasing your risk of tooth decay and gum disease, and we invite you to take this opportunity to correct your alignment.

4. Modern braces are better than ever. You can choose from a variety of options for braces, including lingual braces, ceramic braces, ClearCorrect®, and Invisalign®, offering you convenient and discreet treatment.

Adult braces are gaining popularity, and we invite you to learn if you would benefit from adult braces in Wayne, New Jersey. Call 973-341-3180 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Muhammad Abey, our orthodontist at Wayne Family Orthodontics.

Dental Hygiene for Those With Braces

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You’re on your way to a straighter, healthier smile. Your braces have been placed and your orthodontic treatment has begun. You may be aware that cleaning your teeth while wearing braces can be more difficult. Dr. Muhammad Abey and our team are happy to give you tips on proper dental hygiene while wearing braces.

Brushing Teeth
Brush your teeth twice each day, for at least two minutes each time. Choose either a manual or electric toothbrush with soft bristles and a small head. Before you brush your teeth, be sure to remove any elastics. Brush back and forth and then brush toward the biting surface of the teeth. Take care to brush the top and bottom of each bracket as well as the front of the brackets and wires. You may find it helpful to hold back your lip while you brush your brackets. As you brush your teeth, be sure to clean each surface of the teeth.

Flossing
In order to properly care for your teeth, it is important that you floss your teeth at least once every day. Flossing while wearing braces can prove challenging at first. We recommend using a floss threader to aid you in properly cleaning between your teeth. Floss threaders can help you get the dental floss beneath or over the wires so that you can clean your teeth beneath the gumline.

Contact Wayne Family Orthodontics at 973-341-3180 today to learn more about braces in Wayne, New Jersey, and to schedule a visit with our orthodontist.

The Different Types of Braces

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In recent years, a growing number of adults have embraced the concept of correcting the alignment of their teeth with braces. Not only can orthodontics improve the appearance of your smile, but treatments can reduce the potential for your teeth.

There are several different forms of braces available at Wayne Family Orthodontics’s orthodontic clinic. Which style Dr. Muhammad Abey recommends will be based on your personal preference as well as the degree of misalignment.

Traditional braces use a series of small metal brackets, wires, and other hardware. Parts of your orthodontic work are cemented to your teeth and are connected to wires and other components.
With traditional braces, you will need to periodically return for regularly scheduled adjustments. This will apply progressive tension to your braces and gradually bring your teeth closer to their ideal alignment and position.

If you’re not comfortable with a smile full of orthodontic hardware, our orthodontist can apply a special porcelain glaze to some of the braces hardware. This material can be shaded to match your natural tooth enamel and lessen the visual impact of your braces.

For a more discreet look, a clear plastic orthodontic option like Invisalign® might be the answer to correcting your smile. Each set of custom aligners gradually moves your teeth closer to their ideal alignment.

If you live in the Wayne, New Jersey, region and you have alignment issues with your teeth, call 973-341-3180 to set up a consultation at Wayne Family Orthodontics.

Damaged Braces Require Professional Repair

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The braces installed in your mouth at Dr. Muhammad Abey’s orthodontic clinic incorporate several different components. This includes metal brackets that have been cemented onto the face of your teeth and interconnect with wires. Most traditional braces also incorporate bands and spacers.

While these orthodontic hardware components are intended to be durable enough to handle the act of biting and chewing most common foods, they are not invulnerable to damage. This is more likely to be an issue if you frequently eat sticky foods, or crunch down on hard foods.

If a wire becomes bent or some other braces component does become bent or damaged it, could alter the tension applied to your braces, thus complicating the realignment process. This could increase the number of adjustments required to fully improve your smile’s appearance.

If you do notice a problem with some part of your braces, the wisest course of action is to contact Dr. Muhammad Abey’s to have it examined and professionally repaired. In many of these cases, he can simply uninstall the damaged braces component and replace it with a new piece of orthodontic hardware.

If you had braces installed in your mouth at Dr. Muhammad Abey’s orthodontic clinic in Wayne, New Jersey, and you have a problem with one of the orthodontic components, you should call 973-341-3180 to have it examined at Wayne Family Orthodontics.

Orthodontic Braces Need Consistent Oral Hygiene as They Correct the Alignment of Your Teeth

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The traditional orthodontic braces installed by Dr. Muhammad Abey includes brackets, wires, bands, and other hardware components that are secured in your mouth to help correct the alignment of your teeth. This is done by attending routine adjustments to have your braces tightened as they gradually reposition your teeth.

If some part of your braces is damaged or you suffer from cavities, the complications and treatment process could alter the tension being applied to your teeth. This can significantly increase the amount of time it takes to fully correct the alignment of your teeth.

If twice daily brushing and your evening flossing session don’t prove effective at thoroughly cleaning your teeth and braces there are a few special oral hygiene tools you might want to try.

The small, angled brush head of an interdental brush can help remove food material from some of the hard to reach areas around braces hardware. It can be especially helpful for freeing small food particles from bands and spacers.

An oral irrigator device like Waterpik® creates a stream of water that can help loosen and wash away food particles and plaque. Just keep in mind that this is not a viable alternative to flossing.

Incorporating waxed dental floss in a floss threader can help you work the strand between teeth and around the gumline. This is especially helpful for flossing under braces wires.

If you had braces installed at Dr. Muhammad Abey’s orthodontic clinic in Wayne, New Jersey, and you have concerns about how to maintain good oral hygiene practices, you can always call 973-341-3180 to speak to one of the specialists at Wayne Family Orthodontics.

Holidays With Braces

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Holidays are coming up fast, and with them come parties, candy, and other treats. Unfortunately, many of these treats are damaging to your child’s braces. How do you make the holiday fun, while maintaining excellent oral health and not damaging any wires or brackets? Our office is here to help.

First, know what your child should not be eating. The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends avoiding such things as bubblegum, caramel, hard candy, hard pretzels, jelly beans, licorice, lollipops, popcorn, and taffy. These can damage your child’s braces and render them broken or less effective. They can also get stuck in between braces and increase the occurrence of cavities.

Second, help your child understand that there are many things they CAN still eat. To help guarantee this, volunteer to bring something they can eat to holiday parties, as is appropriate. Make sure your family treats are braces-friendly. Here are some options:

–thinly sliced apples sprinkled with cinnamon-sugar

–cheese platters

–brownies cut into holiday shapes and decorated

–orange slices dipped in chocolate

–peanut butter cookies (no nut pieces)

–fudge (no nuts)

–ice cream

–pumpkin pie

–fruit pie

–cake

Of course, when eating sugary snacks and treats, make sure to keep portions small, and have them rinse their mouth with water afterwards. Make sure to remind them to brush and floss extra-well that day.

For more information, call Wayne Family Orthodontics in Wayne, New Jersey at 973-341-3180. Dr. Muhammad Abey and our whole team will be happy to help you keep your smile bright this holiday season.

Don’t Let Bad Alignment Ruin Your Smile

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Don’t let bad tooth alignments ruin your smile. Fix your teeth with orthodontic treatments and braces designed to give you an aesthetically pleasing configuration of teeth that you can marvel over. You smile makeover into a mouth masterpiece can be achieved by contacting our team at Wayne Family Orthodontics for a consultation. We will gauge your current level of misalignment and help you determine what type of orthodontic braces could work best for you. Here are some of the benefits:

– Orthodontic braces promote healthier teeth and gums. Straight teeth are much easier to brush and floss than misaligned teeth.
– Straight teeth can fix jaw alignment issues and can help prevent Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome, also known as TMJ.
– Bite problems caused by misalignments can be fixed with orthodontic braces.
– Various types of clear braces can be near invisible and potentially removable for eating.
– With straighter teeth, self-esteem can drastically improve, as well as interactions in social settings and amongst peers.

If you are interested in learning more about our orthodontics services at Wayne Family Orthodontics, or would like to set up an appointment with Dr. Muhammad Abey, feel free to call us at 973-341-3180. Our office is located in Wayne, New Jersey. Come in now to learn all about what a straight smile can do for you!

Proper Dental Hygiene With Braces

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If you have crooked or crowded teeth, Dr. Muhammad Abey may recommend braces in Wayne, New Jersey. Getting braces requires dedication on your part. Caring for your teeth while wearing braces will take a little more time, but the results are well worth the effort.

Brushing Your Teeth With Braces
Brush your teeth with a soft-bristled toothbrush using a gentle, circular motion. Brush down from the top of the teeth and then up from the bottom. Tilt your toothbrush 45 degrees to brush the tops and bottoms of your brackets. Then brush between your brackets using a proxabrush, which is shaped like a miniature Christmas tree. Insert the brush between the arch wire and the teeth and brush with upward and downward strokes. Repeat until you have cleaned between all of your brackets.

Floss Your Teeth With Braces
Dental hygiene is a little more involved while wearing braces. To floss, work the short end of your floss through the space between the upper part of the tooth and the arch wire. Then use a sawing motion to gently work the floss between the teeth. Be very careful around the arch wires.

Avoid These Foods While Wearing Braces
For those wearing braces, most foods can be eaten as long as they are cut into small pieces that can be easily chewed. However, some foods can damage braces and should be avoided, including:

– Hard foods that are hard to bite
– Chewy foods
– Corn on the cob
– Popcorn, nuts, carrots, and hard pretzels

Do not chew ice or bubble gum with braces.

We invite you to contact Wayne Family Orthodontics at 973-341-3180 today to learn more about braces and to schedule your next visit with our orthodontist.