bite

VALENTINE’S DAY IS THE PERFECT time to look and feel your very best. Nothing will make you feel happier and more confident than a gorgeous new smile!

If you are an adult, your Valentine’s smile makeover may require comprehensive dental care. Here is your smile makeover action plan!

Love Your Gums, Love Your Smile

First, see a periodontist for a thorough soft tissue evaluation of your gums and bones around your teeth. Your periodontist will get your teeth ready for orthodontic treatment. To find a periodontist near you, visit the American Academy of Perodontology at www.perio.org.

Love Your Face, Love Your Bite

An orthodontist will put your teeth in the correct position for the best smile makeover possible. Teeth will need to be spaced correctly for a cosmetic result and your bite will need to be correct for dental health and tooth stability. To find an orthodontist near you, visit the American Association of Orthodontists at www.mylifemysmile.org.

Love Your Teeth, Love Your Smile

Finally, a cosmetic or general dentist will need to complete your final tooth treatment of either crowns or veneers as desired. To find a dentist with interest in dental cosmetics visit the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry at www.aacd.com.

This case was treated by orthodontist Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca, Gorczyca Orthodontics, Antioch, CA. Find us at www.clubbraces.com or call us at (925) 757-9000 to begin your Valentine's Day smile makeover.

Love is in the air. Happiness is your beautiful new smile!

ONCE YOUR BRACES are off, a tooth positioner is an excellent finishing device which you may want to add to your orthodontic treatment.

What Is A Tooth Positioner?

A tooth positioner can be used as a removable retainer under special circumstances. It has the advantages of being able to relate the upper teeth to the lower teeth in the ideal bite position, something that two separate retainers cannot do. A positioner also has the ability to close small spaces between the back teeth left by orthodontic bands. These spaces usually close up over a few months after braces are removed, but a tooth positioner can speed up this process.

How Do Tooth Positioners Work?

Tooth positioners are usually worn 4 hours per day when awake and during sleep. Actively biting into your tooth positioner when you wear it will help the tooth positioner work at moving your teeth. The force of your jaw will help move your teeth to their final position.

A tooth positioner may be used to improve your bite, but they do not make good long term retainers. Positioners do not retain front teeth straightness long term as well as standard removable Hawley retainers. Tooth positioners are also bulking and take away your ability to speak. They are flexible and soft, similar to a mouth guard. If worn over a long period of time, the positioner will tend to tear and wear out. So once your positioner work is done, it’s good to receive and wear your final retainers.

Who Should Use A Tooth Positioner?

Overbite tends to increase with the wear of a tooth positioner. Tooth positioner use is desirable with mild open bites. A tooth positioner may be beneficial at the end of Invisalign treatment where upper and lower teeth have been slightly separated by aligner wear and a slight open bite may exist at the end of treatment.

Tooth positioners are usually not included in standard orthodontic treatment but may be beneficial to further perfect your bite after the braces come off. Like mouthguards, tooth positioners come in a variety of colors. There are even flavored tooth positioners.

A short amount of time in a tooth positioner can make a big difference in your bite. Ask your orthodontist if a tooth positioner may be right for you. If your orthodontist recommends a tooth positioner, go for it. It will be well worth the short time and extra effort for a beautiful and more perfect bite.

Bring Us Your Tooth Positioner Questions!

If you have questions about tooth positioners, visit us at Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, California. Call us at 925-757-9000 or visit us at www.clubbraces.com.

Your smile is our inspiration.

YOU’VE PROBABLY NOTICED that your teeth aren’t all the same shape, but do you know the reason? Humans have four different types of teeth, and they each serve specific purposes, both in helping us chew and in giving us our beautiful smiles!

Types Of Teeth And What They Do

The reason we need so many different types of teeth is that we are omnivores, which means we eat both plants and meat. We need teeth that can handle all of our favorite foods!

Incisors

The top four and bottom four front teeth are the incisors. The middle ones are central incisors, while the ones on the sides are lateral incisors. Incisors are built for slicing. When we take a bite out of an apple, for instance, our incisors shear off a tasty chunk of fruit, but they aren’t the teeth we actually chew with.

Canines

Next to the lateral incisors are our canines or cuspids, which are the sharpest and longest teeth in our mouths. This enables them to grip and tear food, particularly meat. Unlike incisors, we only have four canines. Their long roots and their position at the “corners” of our dental arches also make them some of the most important teeth in our smiles, because they provide much of the shape. Another name for canine teeth is eyeteeth. That might seem weird, but it’s because these teeth are directly beneath our eyes!

Premolars

After the canines, we have our premolars, also called bicuspids because they each have two cusps. You can think of premolars as hybrids between canines and molars. They have sharp outer edges, but they also have flat chewing surfaces, which means they can help the canines with tearing food and the molars with grinding it up. We don’t have any premolars as children; our eight adult premolars are actually the teeth that replace our baby molars!

Molars

Finally, we have the molars. Molars are our biggest teeth, with multiple roots and large, flat chewing surfaces. We have eight baby molars and up to twelve adult molars, depending on whether or not we have and keep our wisdom teeth. Molars are the teeth that do most of the chewing, because those flat surfaces are perfect for grinding and crushing food until it’s ready to be swallowed.

What About Herbivores And Carnivores?

Our teeth are the way they are because we’re omnivores. Herbivores (plant-eaters) and carnivores (meat-eaters) have very different teeth. Herbivores typically have chisel-like incisors and large, flat premolars and molars for chewing plants, while their canines are small, if they have them at all. Carnivores tend to have much bigger canine teeth than we do, but their incisors are much smaller, and while they still have premolars and molars, they are often serrated like knives, built for shredding rather than grinding.

Let’s Straighten Up That Smile!

What do all four types of your teeth have in common? They do their jobs best when they’re properly aligned! If you haven’t come in for an initial consultation with us yet, set one up today! If you already have braces, keep following your instructions so that you can finish on time! And no matter what, help your teeth stay healthy by brushing twice a day, flossing daily, and scheduling your regular dental cleanings! Visit us at Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, California for a free orthodontic exam. Call us at (925) 757-9000.

Your smile is our inspiration.

Top image by Flickr user _zhang used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

AT GORCZYCA ORTHODONTICS, you and your patient experience are our highest priority. We want you and your children to look forward to coming to your next orthodontic appointment and to leave happier than you came.

In addition to clinical excellence and outstanding customer service, we strive to make your orthodontic appointments a great experience and just plain FUN! We know it’s the little things that make you and your kids happy. That’s why we have upgraded our three reception area play stations.

Check Out Our Arcade!

At Gorczyca Orthodontics, we now have 267 Sega Genesis and Atari games in the reception play area. So, pull up a bean bag and have some fun! Some games are classics that even Dad will enjoy playing. Some games will be new to you and your whole family.

Come early to your next appointment and allow time to take the Atari Sega challenge. Have some fun with your kids. Or, have your child bring a friend for a few game matches.

New Patient? We Can Answer Your Questions!

If you are new to Gorczyca Orthodontics, welcome! Find us at 5201 Deer Valley Road, Suite 1A, in Antioch, CA (right behind Deer Valley High School). Visit us for a free orthodontic exam. Find us at www.clubbraces.com to learn more about board certified orthodontist Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca, the excellent quality of our care, the history of Gorczyca Orthodontics, our outstanding customer service, and our amazing team of orthodontic professionals. We can’t wait to see you!

There’s something for everyone at Gorczyca Orthodontics. Come a little early and make yourself at home. We love seeing you, your family, and your smiles. Be our guest, have your teeth straightened and bite corrected, and have some fun at the same time.

We’re looking forward to seeing you. See you soon at Gorczyca Orthodontics! (925) 757-9000

THE CDC REPORTS THAT 1 in 5 children (between ages 5 and 11) in the US have untreated tooth decay. Not only should tooth decay be treated in regular dental appointments, it should be prevented! Tooth decay is 100 percent preventable with effective personal care and regular dental cleanings.

YOU Can Help Little Ones Have Healthier Smiles!

1. Encourage them to brush for two full minutes: Pick a song about two minutes long and sing it to them during brushing time.
2. Set reminders to brush twice a day: Brushing after breakfast and just before bed are the best times for preventing bacteria growth from food.
3. Show them flossing is fun, not harmful: Be gentle at first when doing it for them. A bad experience can stop them from flossing on their own.
4. Be persistent: Don’t let fussy children off the hook. Be motivating! Kids may gladly brush for a sticker or star if you make it an activity.
5. Set their first dental appointment before age 1: Having positive dental experiences early will make dental visits easier and less frightening when older.

We Love Helping Young Smiles

At Gorczyca Orthodontics, we see young patients as early as age 4. Functional shifts in bites may cause asymmetric growth patterns and need to be treated early.

Our initial orthodontic exams are complimentary at no charge. If parents are in need of a pediatric dentist for their child or a family dentist for the whole family, we are happy to refer you to an excellent dentist in our East County dental community.

The American Association of Orthodontists and all orthodontists recommend that every child have an orthodontic examination with an orthodontist by age 7. To find an orthodontist near you, visit www.mylifemysmile.org.

Find us Gorczyca Orthodontics, 5201 Deer Valley Road, Suite 1A, Antioch, California (925) 757-9000. www.clubbraces.com

Here's to your child's happy life and health smile.

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

WHEN UPPER TEETH are behind lower teeth with front tooth crossbite, often there is small upper jaw. A true upper jaw deficiency can be detected early in growing children. As soon as the permanent six year molars come into the mouth, a small upper jaw can be treated by a reverse pull headgear. This type of growth modification treatment with a headgear is best completed by age 15.

Reverse Pull Headgear Can Help A Growing Child's Bite

A reverse pull headgear, also known as a Delaire-type facemask, offers growth stimulation at the maxillary (upper jaw) sutures allowing the upper jaw to be moved forward in a growing child. Headgear treatment is often accompanied with palatal upper jaw expansion, widening the palate to produce a more ideal bite.

Most children with maxillary deficiency, small upper jaw, also have a short face height as well. The slightly downward pull of the elastics of the reverse pull headgear will also help the lower jaw grow downward and backward improving the jaw relationship from a ClassIII bite to a ClassI bite as well as improve facial appearance.

Reverse pull headgears are worn only at home. Twelve to fourteen hours of wear per day is ideal for getting results as quickly as possible.

We'd Love To Answer Your Questions

If you have questions about the need for a reverse pull headgear, call us at Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, California (925) 757-9000. Find us at www.clubbraces.com. To find an orthodontist near you, visit the American Association of Orthodontists at www.mylifemysmile.org.

Don't lose the opportunity to modify growth with a reverse pull headgear. Here's to your beautiful face and smile.

OPEN BITES can be seen in children as early as four years old. When an open bite is first seen with the baby teeth, parents often ask "How early can I close my child's open bite?"

Open bites can be either:

1. A normal transition from baby to permanent teeth
2. Due to an oral habit or thumbsucking
3. Due to a skeletal growth problem

Age 7 Is The Perfect Time To Correct An Open Bite

When an open bite is present with baby teeth, orthodontists usually want to wait until age 7 to correct the open bite.

Correcting an open bite at age 7 usually includes a habit appliance which is cemented to the permanent 6 year molars and braces. This treatment is called Phase I orthodontic treatment and usually takes 18 to 24 months. After Phase I treatment, there is usually a second Phase II orthodontic treatment when all permanent teeth erupt at age 12.

Open bite affects less than four percent of children. Should the open bite persist into teenage years and the opening involve more than just the front teeth, there could be a more complex vertical skeletal growth problem.

We Can Help Your Child's Open Bite!

If you are seeing an open bite in your child, please call us at Gorczyca Orthodontics (925) 757-9000 in Antioch, California for a complimentary consultation. Visit us at www.clubbraces.com. To find an orthodontist near you, visit www.mylifemysmile.org.

Age 7 is the ideal time to start closing an open bite. Close your child's open bite at age 7 before it becomes more complex.

Top image by Flickr user Lucas Possiede used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

WHAT IF SOMEONE HAD done short-term ortho on Jackie O?

The result would have been hideous. An obvious Class II Division 2 skeletal malocclusion, if a dental care provider had straightened Jackie O's tipped in and crowded upper front teeth without surgery or extractions she would have ended up looking like Bart Simpson.

This is something a real orthodontist would never do. Yet, primary providers, uneducated in orthodontic diagnosis and treatment planning, offer short term orthodontic treatment with braces or Invisalign to skeletal Class II patients without correcting the underlying skeletal problem.

Short-term Orthodontic Treatment May Reveal Other Issues

Straightening of severely tipped and crowded upper front teeth in a Class II Division 2 bite actually unmasks the horizontal jaw discrepancy giving these patients a new appearance of "buck teeth" following short-term ortho.

If left without moving the lower jaw forward or upper tooth extraction, non-correction of the underlying skeletal problem leads to many new problems including:

• Poor facial appearance
• Lip incompetence, open lips
• Lip biting
• Speech problems
• Front tooth display at rest
• Increased risk of front tooth trauma
• Lower tooth overeruption
• Upper palate biting
• Impinging deep bite
• Poor bite
• Excessive tooth wear

Correcting Short-term Ortho Mistakes Can Be Costly

Once the severe overjet and overbite is worsened by short term ortho, most patients seek orthodontic correction with an orthodontist. Unfortunately, many of these patients have already paid $4,500 to a provider of short term ortho. Now, a real orthodontist must tell the patient that their orthodontic treatment must be redone correctly for an additional cost of $7,000. This is a very unfortunate and uncomfortable situation.

Patients are being hurt physically, emotionally, and financially by not getting initial diagnosis and treatment by an orthodontist. Once this happens, trust in the primary provider of short-term ortho is gone forever.

Don't be one of these unfortunate patients. Do your research and get information about orthodontists and orthodontic treatment.

If You Have Questions, Contact An Orthodontist

If you have questions regarding short-term orthodontic treatment, seek orthodontic care with a real orthodontist, a dentist who has completed an additional two or three years of full time residency and has had intensive training to become an expert in orthodontics. Find an orthodontist by choosing a member of the American Association of Orthodontists at www.mylifemysmile.org.

The Class II Division 2 smile can be spotted by an orthodontist or maxillofacial oral surgeon from the nose bleed section of the audience. It requires a mandibular advancement surgery or upper tooth extraction for a beautiful and ideal result.

Here are some facts regarding mandibular advancement surgery in the year 2016:

• Can be completed in as little as 13 months
• Wiring shut is not required
• Cost usually covered by medical insurance
• Over night hospital stay usually not needed
• Done within the mouth
• No permanent bruising or scaring
• Increases the airway
• Lessens snoring
• Reduces sleep apnea

If you have questions regarding mandibular advancement jaw surgery, contact an oral surgeon, an expert in face, mouth and jaw surgery. You can find an oral surgeon at the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons at www.aaoms.org.

If you have a Class II Division 2 bite like Jackie O, fix it correctly or do nothing at all.

Thanks for the smiles, Jackie O.

NEW SMILE, NEW YOU. Your Invisalign smile makeover will take years off of your appearance, make you feel young again, and give you a reason to smile.

Invisalign Is An Easy Way To Improve Your Smile

Invisalign is a fast and easy way to correct your bite, tooth position, and smile to prepare your teeth for your gorgeous smile makeover.

Invisalign is a comprehensive orthodontic treatment. Combined with the wearing of orthodontic rubber bands, Invisalign will move your teeth and correct your bite to make your smile ideal.

Invisalign And AcceleDent Can Drastically Reduce Treatment Time

Orthodontic treatment combined with the technology of AcceleDent can cut your Invisalign treatment time in half giving you a fantastic bite and smile in less than two years.

We Can Help With Your Smile Makeover

This case was completed by Board Certified Orthodontist Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca and General Dentist Dr. Jeffrey Haug of Antioch, California. Both doctors are located at the Deer Valley Dental Professional Building, 5201 Deer Valley Road in Antioch, California.

For a complimentary orthodontic consultation and information about your smile makeover, visit us at www.clubbraces.com or call us at (925) 757-9000.

Turn back time with Invisalign and a smile makeover today. Here's to your beautiful and youthful smile.

ONE OUT OF EIGHT PEOPLE in the United States are living with pain related to TMD every day. Thankfully, if diagnosed and treated correctly, relief is just around the corner.

Common Symptoms of TMD

TMD, or temporomandibular joint disorder, is pain and discomfort caused by problems with the jaw, jaw joint, and surrounding facial muscles that control chewing and moving the jaw.

Common TMD symptoms include:

• Jaw muscle stiffness; limited movement or locking of the jaw
• Painful clicking, popping, or grating in the jaw joint
• Chronic headaches/migraines
• Pain in the neck and shoulders
• Earaches or ringing ears

TMD Has Multiple Causes

Adding to TMD’s complexity, there can be multiple causes. While an autoimmune disease or various forms of arthritis can affect your temporomandibular joint, some lesser known causes of TMD include bruxism (teeth grinding/clenching), bad bite, and stress.

Depending on your symptoms, various treatments and orthodontic solutions are available such as:

• Muscle relaxation techniques/stress management
• Physical therapy
• Medication
• Surgery

Dr. Gorczyca has additional training in the treatment of temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD). At Gorczyca Orthodontics, we are frequently able to reduce TMD pain by use of the TMD splint adjusted especially for you. Pain levels are usually able to be reduced in a few weeks from levels described as 4 or higher down to a 1 or often 0 or no pain at all.

Once your TMD pain symptoms have been resolved, often your bite may need improved through orthodontic treatment with braces or Invisalign.

Don’t Suffer Needlessly!

If you are experiencing symptoms of TMD or have any questions, make an appointment to come visit us. We’re here to help relieve your pain and regain your quality of life!

Call us at (925) 757-9000 for a complimentary orthodontic evaluation if you have questions about temporomandibular dysfunction (TMD) or your bite. At Gorczyca Orthodontics, we can help you make TMD pain a thing of the past.

Thank you for your continued trust in our practice!

Top image by Flickr user web4camguy used under Creative Commons Attribution-Sharealike 4.0 license. Image cropped and modified from original.

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.

WHEN YOUR FOUR-YEAR-OLD says “Cheese!” at her birthday party, take time to notice if her bite is right.

Most children see a pediatric dentist by age two. By age four, your child may be referred to an orthodontist for severe tooth and bite problems.

There are four childhood conditions treated by an orthodontist as early as age four.

1. Crowded Baby Teeth

Baby teeth should have spacing between them. Overlapped baby teeth are a sign of severe crowding. The permanent front teeth are larger than the baby teeth they replace and need adequate space.

2. Crossbite of Baby Teeth

Crossbite occurs when upper teeth fit inside the lower teeth. If your four year old is experiencing difficulty chewing or bites her cheeks, she may have a crossbite. A crossbite can cause grinding and wearing down of baby teeth. Long term, a crossbite will create an abnormal growth pattern.

3. Lower Jaw Shift with Baby Teeth

Baby teeth out of position can create interference tooth hitting and produce a lower jaw shift. Tooth interference with jaw shifting will wear down teeth and create an abnormal growth pattern.

4. Narrow Upper Jaw with Baby Teeth

A narrow upper jaw indicates narrow nasal passages. This can create open-mouth breathing and sleep problems. Lack of sleep can significantly contribute to difficulty learning at school.

Correction of these early bite problems is of great health benefit to your four year old child. Early treatment by an orthodontist will minimize the need for more extensive orthodontic treatment at a later age.

To Find An Orthodontist Near You...

To find an orthodontist near you, visit the American Association of Orthodontists at mylifemysmile.org. To find a pediatric dentist nearby, you can visit the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD) at mychildrensteeth.org.

This patient was treated by Orthodontist Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca of Gorczyca Orthodontics, in Antioch, California. For a free consultation call (925) 757-9000.

Make sure your child’s bite is healthy when saying “Cheese!” and that she enjoys eating her birthday cake at age four, or any age.

LIKE COGS ON A WHEEL, teeth are made to fit together. With a good bite (occlusion), you can eat your food with the fewest chewing strokes possible. Your food is mashed by your teeth and when soft enough to swallow, you swallow it. This is how you eat.

If your upper and lower back teeth have spaces between them when you bite, you take longer to chew your food.

A Misaligned Bite Can Create Numerous Problems

This bite is called a Class II malocclusion (mal=bad, occlusion=bite). The upper teeth here are 5 millimeters forward of where they should meet the lower teeth giving the appearance of open black spaces. Teeth that only meet at the tips (cusps) wear flat. Tooth wear will create tooth sensitivity to heat and cold.

When upper and lower midlines are not centered, your bite is not healthy. It is a sign that your bite is off.

Effective Orthodontic Treatment Is About More Than Straight Teeth

Front teeth may look straight, but you may still have a destructive unhealthy bite. This is why orthodontics is more than six straight front teeth. It is important to be examined and treated by an orthodontist for the healthiest bite possible.

Orthodontic Rubber Bands Help Us Correct Malocclusion

Front to back bite correction is made with orthodontic rubber bands. These rubber bands move upper and lower teeth towards each other 1 millimeter per month and make the tooth tips fit properly. You need to wear your rubber bands 24 hours per day, 7 days per week to complete your orthodontic treatment as fast as possible.

This treatment took 23 months. Two years is often the treatment time needed for a healthy bite result produced by an orthodontist.

This Case Was Treated At Gorczyca Orthodontics

This case was treated by Board Certified Orthodontist, Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca of Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch California. Visit us at www.clubbraces.com or call us at (925) 757-9000 for a complimentary exam to find out if your bite is right.

Keep the cogs on your chewing wheel running. Turn your bite into a high performance chewing machine.