Supporting the Orthodontist

Oral Hygiene and Braces

Orthodontic treatment can be an expensive investment toward your dental health and we at Silver Spring Periodontics strive to secure this investment. Our role as Periodontists working with Orthodontists includes evaluating, diagnosing, and treating gums and relating that to the experience of wearing braces. Oral hygiene and plaque control is key to most periodontal conditions as well as having successful orthodontic experience. Our goal is to educate and demonstrate effective ways to reduce plaque (bacteria) as well as diagnosing any other periodontal conditions that may be crucial to your Orthodontic outcome.

Impacted teeth and braces

As children grow and their teeth come into place some do not erupt into the mouth. Periodontists have a role in gaining access to impacted teeth so orhthodontists can use them in their treatment plan. One of the most common teeth not to erupt is the canine, or “eye” tooth. If impacted, the canine tooth can lye just beneath the gums or even within the jaw bone and appear as “missing”. In order to utilize your natural teeth and put them in alignment with teeth that erupted normally, your Orthodontist may refer to a surgeon such as a Periodontist to expose the tooth. Once exposed, your Orthodontist can begin to position the tooth correctly in the mouth.