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YOUR DENTAL ARCH IS a catenary curve worth preserving. Once one tooth moves out of position with teeth contacts broken, your teeth will continue to crowd over the course of your lifetime. If left untreated, you will continue to lose your dental arch curve.

Crowding In Lower Front Teeth Is Common

Loss of dental arch form can be partially due to a natural biological process called “mesial drift”. Your teeth naturally move forward to close space where space is available. If not held in place by solid tooth contacts, your teeth will continue to crowd. This is especially true in the lower arch with your lower front teeth.

This Can Be Fixed With Orthodontic Treatment

Limited orthodontic treatment with only six anterior braces can straighten your lower teeth crowding. Your teeth can be moved back into position and held in place with a fixed retainer, a small wire on the inside of your lower front teeth.

This limited case was treated by Board Certified Orthodontist Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca of Antioch, California. It took 20 months to complete. If you have questions about your lower teeth crowding, call us at (925) 757-9000 or visit us at www.clubbraces.com.

Get your dental arch back in shape with limited orthodontic treatment.

DRIFTING TEETH, TEETH MOVING OUT OF POSITION to the side or even further into the mouth, may be a sign of active periodontal disease. If you are an adult and have spaces between your teeth where spaces previously did not exist, you may need to be checked by a periodontist for periodontal disease.

Periodontal Disease Is Acute Inflammation Of Gums

Periodontal disease is characterized by episodes of acute inflammatory attack on bone and gums surrounding teeth. When dental bone is lost, it can lead to mobile teeth which easily move out of position. If your gums have persistent bleeding on gentle probing, you may need treatment by a periodontist for periodontal disease.

Once The Disease Is Under Control, Orthodontic Treatment Can Repair Your Smile

Adults who have had periodontal disease and bone loss can be orthodontically treated to have the dental spaces closed and teeth straightened as long as the disease has been brought under control.

Following your orthodontic treatment, a small wire, a lingual splint, may be placed on the tongue side of your teeth to eliminate tooth mobility and hold your straightened teeth in place where there has been bone loss.

Do You Have Questions? Give Us A Call

To find out more about drifting teeth, visit us at Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, CA. Call us at (925) 757-9000 for a complimentary orthodontic evaluation or visit us at www.clubbraces.com.

Move your drifted teeth back together with orthodontic treatment for a strong and healthy smile.

ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT IS A WORTHWHILE investment in your smile, and your future. However, some patients become a little discouraged by the length of treatment time to completion. That’s why we provide AcceleDent technology to dramatically shorten the time you spend in treatment!

Tiny Vibrations Help Bones & Teeth Move More Quickly

AcceleDent uses SoftPulse Technology—tiny vibrations that help your bones and teeth move more quickly. AcceleDent is a mouthpiece that fits comfortably around your existing orthodontics, and does its work in 20 minutes a day. Some studies have shown that AcceleDent can possibly cut treatment time in half!

How Much Will It Cost?

Whether you are actively in braces or Invisalign, AcceleDent can be added to your orthodontic treatment. It can be included in your overall treatment contract. Presently, at Gorczyca Orthodontics, AcceleDent costs $1,200.

What Effect Will It Have On My Treatment?

With AcceleDent, patients with braces can have their wires changed every 4 weeks instead of every 8 weeks, and Invisalign patients can change their trays every week instead of every two weeks.

The most important factor for AcceleDent effectiveness is consistency of use of 20 minutes per day. Many patients who have added AcceleDent to their orthodontic treatment report that their braces and aligners feel more comfortable in addition to their orthodontic treatment proceeding faster. AcceleDent technology has the potential to give great results for everyone.

Our Patients Love AcceleDent!

Gorczyca Orthodontics has been offering AcceleDent for over a year with great results. Patients love AcceleDent!

If you are interested in learning more about AcceleDent, call us at (925) 757-9000 to schedule a complimentary orthodontic exam in Antioch, CA. For more information, visit us at www.clubbraces.com. Find out if Acceledent is right for you.

Thanks for being our valued orthodontic patient. We appreciate you!

THUMBSUCKING IS A HARD HABIT TO BREAK. A survival instinct at birth, the longer someone sucks their thumb, the harder the habit is to stop.

Dr. Ann Marie Gorczyca, Board Certified Orthodontist says, “People think that only children suck their thumb. I can tell you from experience treating the habit, that this is not the case. Over the course of my 25 year career, I have treated plenty of children to stop thumb sucking. I have also treated high school football players, engaged women getting ready to be married, and people over the age of forty. The longer you wait to stop sucking your thumb, the harder the habit is to break.”

Thumb Sucking Should Be Stopped By Age 7

Thumb sucking cessation is best treated at age 7. Thumb sucking with baby teeth has little or no long term effects on permanent tooth position. Psychologists argue that there is a psychological benefit to thumb sucking at a very early age. But after age 7, thumb sucking will create a malocclusion (bad bite) including flared front teeth, spaced upper teeth, pushed in lower teeth, a narrow upper arch, and front tooth openbite. These are serious bite problems.

An Appliance Can Help Stop Thumbsucking

If caught early, thumb sucking can be treated with a upper jaw habit appliance only. This appliance will stop both the thumb sucking habit and allow the open bite to close naturally.

Orthodontic treatment may also be needed to expand the upper arch and align front teeth after thumb sucking. This is usually done between the ages of 7 to 9 during Phase 1 orthodontic treatment.

Some Tips To Stop Thumbsucking At Home

There are things you can try at home to stop thumb sucking.

1. Place a band aid on the finger as a reminder not to suck the finger.
2. Put the finger into something which does not taste good like hot sauce, vinegar, or mustard as a taste reminder not to suck the finger.
3. Put a smelly sock or a glove on the hand as a smell and touch reminder not to suck the finger.

At any age, your orthodontist can help you stop thumb sucking. To find an orthodontist near you visit www.mylifemysmile.org or visit us at Gorczyca Orthodontics in Antioch, California at www.clubbraces.com. Call us at (925) 757-9000 for a complimentary exam.

Stop thumb sucking! Isn’t time to kick the habit?