Toggle navigation
Aberdeen Dental Associates
11800 Aberdeen St NE Suite #110 Blaine, MN 55449(763) 786-4280
  • blog
  • Twitter
  • Facebook

Request an Appointment

  • Home
  • Staff
  • Office
  • Services
  • New Patients
  • Contact Us
  • Appointment Request
  • Patient Education

My Blog

Posts for: August, 2017

The Case for Moving Just a Few Teeth Orthodontically

By Aberdeen Dental Associates
August 28, 2017
Category: Dental Procedures
Tags: braces   orthodontic treatment  
TheCaseforMovingJustaFewTeethOrthodontically

We often associate orthodontics with moving several teeth on the upper or lower arches (or both) with braces or clear aligners. But not all patients require a major endeavor — sometimes only one or a few teeth need to be moved, and not very far.

A slight gap between the two upper front teeth is one type of situation that only requires minor tooth movement: just a few teeth need to be moved and usually just a millimeter or two. The appliances needed to achieve this are also relatively simple in design: removable retainers or small scale fixed braces with small springs or elastics that place pressure against the teeth. The process may also only take a few months rather than two years as with major tooth movement.

Preparing for the procedure, though, must be undertaken with great care. We need to first determine if moving the teeth even slightly could affect the bite with the opposite teeth. We must also ensure the roots of the teeth intended for movement are in good position for allowing the space to be closed.

We must then consider the other supporting structures for the teeth. It’s important for gums and bone to be healthy — if not, treating any found disease may be necessary first before beginning orthodontics. And, if the gap between the two upper teeth was created by an abnormally large frenum, the small strip of tissue connecting the lip to the upper gum, it may be necessary to remove it before tooth movement can begin to ensure the closed gap stays closed.

Like any other orthodontic treatment, minor tooth movement first requires a thorough examination with x-ray imaging to determine the exact tooth position, bite issues and the surrounding gum and bone health. We can then be reasonably certain if this straightforward procedure is right for you, and could help you obtain a more attractive smile.

If you would like more information on different orthodontic treatment choices, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Minor Tooth Movement.”


0 Comment(s) Permalink

How Kathy Bates Retains Her Movie-Star Smile

By Aberdeen Dental Associates
August 20, 2017
Category: Dental Procedures
Tags: celebrity smiles   orthodontic treatment   retainers  
HowKathyBatesRetainsHerMovie-StarSmile

In her decades-long career, renowned actress Kathy Bates has won Golden Globes, Emmys, and many other honors. Bates began acting in her twenties, but didn't achieve national recognition until she won the best actress Oscar for Misery — when she was 42 years old! “I was told early on that because of my physique and my look, I'd probably blossom more in my middle age,” she recently told Dear Doctor magazine. “[That] has certainly been true.” So if there's one lesson we can take from her success, it might be that persistence pays off.

When it comes to her smile, Kathy also recognizes the value of persistence. Now 67, the veteran actress had orthodontic treatment in her 50's to straighten her teeth. Yet she is still conscientious about wearing her retainer. “I wear a retainer every night,” she said. “I got lazy about it once, and then it was very difficult to put the retainer back in. So I was aware that the teeth really do move.”

Indeed they do. In fact, the ability to move teeth is what makes orthodontic treatment work. By applying consistent and gentle forces, the teeth can be shifted into better positions in the smile. That's called the active stage of orthodontic treatment. Once that stage is over, another begins: the retention stage. The purpose of retention is to keep that straightened smile looking as good as it did when the braces came off. And that's where the retainer comes in.

There are several different kinds of retainers, but all have the same purpose: To hold the teeth in their new positions and keep them from shifting back to where they were. We sometimes say teeth have a “memory” — not literally, but in the sense that if left alone, teeth tend to migrate back to their former locations. And if you've worn orthodontic appliances, like braces or aligners, that means right back where you started before treatment.

By holding the teeth in place, retainers help stabilize them in their new positions. They allow new bone and ligaments to re-form and mature around them, and give the gums time to remodel themselves. This process can take months to years to be complete. But you may not need to wear a retainer all the time: Often, removable retainers are worn 24 hours a day at first; later they are worn only at night. We will let you know what's best in your individual situation.

So take a tip from Kathy Bates, star of the hit TV series American Horror Story, and wear your retainer as instructed. That's the best way to keep your straight new smile from changing back to the way it was — and to keep a bad dream from coming true.

If you would like more information about orthodontic retainers, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can learn more about this topic in the Dear Doctor magazine articles “Why Orthodontic Retainers?” and “The Importance of Orthodontic Retainers.” The interview with Kathy Bates appears in the latest issue of Dear Doctor.


0 Comment(s) Permalink

Regular Flossing not Your Thing? Try an Oral Irrigator

By Aberdeen Dental Associates
August 05, 2017
Category: Oral Health
Tags: oral hygiene   flossing  
RegularFlossingnotYourThingTryanOralIrrigator

One of the keys to a healthy mouth is daily oral hygiene. These tasks have one objective: remove plaque, a thin film of bacteria and leftover food particles, from tooth surfaces. Plaque fosters bacterial growth that can cause diseases like tooth decay or periodontal (gum) disease.

Brushing does an effective job removing plaque from the broad surfaces of teeth. But because plaque can also grow between teeth where your brush can’t reach, you also need to floss.

Unfortunately, flossing is a lot of people’s least favorite hygiene task. It can be time-consuming and requires a little more dexterity than brushing. As a result, it’s common for people to brush but not floss — and potentially miss plaque that could trigger dental disease.

There is an easier alternative to traditional string flossing: an oral irrigator. These countertop appliances deliver a stream of pulsating water at high pressure through a handheld device that looks similar to a power toothbrush. The user directs the water stream through the nozzle tip (which comes in various sizes) between the teeth. The water vibrates plaque loose and then rinses it away.

Besides people with limited dexterity, water flossers are also ideal for individuals wearing braces or other orthodontic hardware. Because of the metal hardware on and around teeth, flossing can be an arduous task. An oral irrigator makes it easier to floss and reduce plaque buildup, a perennial problem for orthodontic patients. In fact, one study of orthodontic patients found that using an irrigator with a tip especially designed for braces removed five times as much plaque as patients using only a manual toothbrush.

Of course, anyone can use an oral irrigator as an alternative to traditional flossing. Your dentist and staff can advise you on what to look for in equipment and provide instruction on how to use it. If traditional flossing isn’t your thing, consider an oral irrigator to get rid of plaque and keep your teeth and gums healthy and attractive.

If you would like more information on oral irrigation to remove daily plaque, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can also learn more about this topic by reading the Dear Doctor magazine article “Cleaning between Your Teeth: How Water Flossing can help.”


0 Comment(s) Permalink


September (2) July (2)
Subscribe to our RSS Feed

Archive:

  • 2019
      • February (2)
        • A New Veneer with Minimal or No Tooth Alteration
        • A Bonded Retainer Might be a Better Choice After Braces
      • January (3)
        • Dental Magic Transforms Smiles
        • 3 Ways Orthodontic Techniques Could Prevent a Poor Bite
        • 4 Things that can Cause Gum Recession and What to do About Them
  • 2018
      • December (3)
        • Porcelain Veneers Might not be the Best Option for Teenagers
        • Even Celebrities Like Jennifer Lawrence Aren't Immune From Bad Breath!
        • Practice the Dental Care Basics to Ensure a Healthy Smile
      • November (3)
        • Conscious Sedation can Help Ease Your Child's Dental Visit Anxiety
        • TMD and Fibromyalgia Could Share Links in Chronic Pain
        • Jamie Foxx Chips a Tooth - This Time by Accident!
      • October (3)
        • Is Traditional Flossing too Difficult? Consider Water Flossing
        • 3 Surprising Sugar Sources Your Baby Might be Consuming
        • What You Should Know About a Home Teeth Whitening Kit
      • September (3)
        • Chrissy Teigen's Teeth-Grinding Troubles
        • Oral Hygiene isn't Easy with Braces - but it's Still Doable
        • Correcting a Poor Bite Improves Dental Health as Well as Smile Appearance
      • August (3)
        • How to Treat the Problem of Teeth that Never Developed
        • Fifth Harmony's Camila Cabello Chips a Tooth, but Concert Still "Worth It"
        • Advances in Dental Health that may be Waiting for us Just around the Corner
      • July (3)
        • Ready for Summer Camp? Be Sure to Pack a Toothbrush
        • Be on the Alert for Gum Disease While Wearing Braces
        • Margot Robbie Knows: A Great Smile Is Worth Protecting
      • June (3)
        • Can an App Help You Brush Your Teeth?
        • What You Can Do to Support Your Child's Dental Development
        • Bone Grafting Might be Necessary Before You Obtain an Implant
      • May (4)
        • A Different Kind of "Chip Shot" for Pro Golfer Danielle Kang
        • Even if a Root Canal Won't Work, This Procedure Could Save your Tooth
        • Your Child Isn't in Danger from X-Rays Thanks to the ALARA Principle
        • Start Early with Your Baby's Dental Care
      • April (2)
        • How Big Bang Theory Actress Mayim Bialik Gets Her Kids to Floss
        • 3 Situations for Seeing a Periodontist
      • March (3)
        • 3 Things Your Dentist Recommends You do if You Have Shingles
        • 3 Things You May Not Know About Orthodontics
        • Vivica's Veneers: the Making of a Hollywood Smile
      • February (2)
        • Retainers Help you Protect Your Newly Aligned Teeth
        • February Focuses on Children's Dental Health
      • January (2)
        • You may Need Orthodontic Work Before Getting a Dental Implant
        • (Don't) Break It Like Beckham
  • 2017
      • December (2)
        • What You can do to Ease that Burning Sensation in Your Mouth
        • Gum Disease can Prevent Your Gums from Protecting Your Teeth
      • November (2)
        • 3 Ways You Can Help Your Child Feel at Home at the Dentist
        • Why Big Bang Theory Actress Mayim Bialik Couldn't Have Braces
      • October (2)
        • Metal Dental Amalgam: Still a Safe and Effective Tooth Filling
        • Bad Breath in Children
      • September (2)
        • FAQs About Pediatric Dentistry
        • Baseball's Francisco Lindor Shines as "Mr. Smile"
      • August (3)
        • The Case for Moving Just a Few Teeth Orthodontically
        • How Kathy Bates Retains Her Movie-Star Smile
        • Regular Flossing not Your Thing? Try an Oral Irrigator
      • July (2)
        • Kathy Bates Plays It Smart With Professional Teeth Whitening
        • Professional Whitening Offers an Effective Way to Restore Your Smile's Luster
      • June (2)
        • Neil Patrick Harris: What the Oscars Host Treasures Most
        • Tooth Troubles for NBA Star Isaiah Thomas
      • May (2)
        • Actress Emma Stone Reveals How Thumb Sucking Affected Her Teeth
        • Consider Clear Aligners Instead of Braces for Your Teen
      • April (2)
        • Noah Galloway's Dentally Dangerous Dancing
        • An Affordable RPD Could be the Answer to Your Missing Teeth Problems
      • March (2)
        • Dr. Travis Stork: If Only I'd Worn A Mouthguard!
        • Sedation, Along with Understanding, can Relieve Your Dental Visit Fears
      • February (3)
        • Master Illusionist Benefits from the Magic of Orthodontics
        • A Root Canal Can Stop Tooth Decay and Save Your Tooth
        • In Today's NFL, Oral Hygiene Takes Center Stage
      • January (2)
        • The Right Treatment for Your Child's Injured Tooth Increases its Survival
        • Ariana Grande Breaks Free - of Her Wisdom Teeth
  • 2016
      • December (2)
        • Those Red Patches on Your Tongue are Nothing to be Alarmed About
        • Spice Up Your Teeth
      • November (3)
        • Answering Your Questions about Your Upcoming Teeth Whitening
        • Any Time, Any Place: Cam Newton's Guide to Flossing
        • Follow These Common Sense Steps When Your Child has a Toothache
      • October (2)
        • Jimmy Fallon Can’t Catch a Break - Except in His Tooth
        • Cleaning Your Oral Appliance Extends its Life and Ensures Good Health
      • September (2)
        • Sofia Vergara: 'Obsessed' With Oral Hygiene
        • 4 Things to Give Your Child a Head Start on Good Oral Health
      • August (2)
        • New Front Teeth for a Teenaged David Duchovny
        • Artificial Sweeteners can Boost your Dental Health
      • July (3)
        • Dr. Travis Stork: Don't Ignore Bleeding Gums
        • Winning the War on Gum Disease Requires Post-Treatment Vigilance
        • America's (Dentists) Got Talent - for Fixing Damaged or Missing Teeth!
      • June (2)
        • There's a Good Reason for Adults to Consider Orthodontics - Better Oral Health
        • Dental Crowns for the King of Magic
      • May (2)
        • Prudent Use of X-Rays in Children Provides the most Benefit at the Lowest Risk
        • A Royal Fix
      • April (2)
        • Local Anesthesia Provides a More Pleasant and Thorough Dental Experience
        • Game, Set, Match: Milos Raonic Says A Mouthguard Helps Him Win
      • March (2)
        • A Root Canal Treatment may be Your Best Chance to Save a Tooth
        • Johnny's Teeth Aren't Rotten Any More
      • February (2)
        • 3 Ways Your Dental Hygienist Improves Your Oral Health
        • Eden Sher and the Lost Retainer
      • January (3)
        • Crown Differences Could Ultimately Affect Your Cost
        • A Toothless Tiger?
        • Is Dental Treatment Safe During Pregnancy?
  • 2015
      • December (2)
        • Actor David Ramsey Discusses Baby Bottle Tooth Decay
        • Treating Dry Mouth is Important for Maintaining Good Oral Health
      • November (2)
        • Actor David Ramsey Says: Don't Forget to Floss!
        • Simple or Surgical? Choosing the Right Kind of Tooth Extraction
      • October (2)
        • No "Glee" in Tooth Grinding
        • Facial Nerve Pain can be Reduced with the Right Treatment Approach
      • September (2)
        • Jason Derulo's Ideal Match
        • You May Need Surgery to Repair the Damage of Gum Recession
      • August (2)
        • Dwight Howard: A Bright NBA Star With a Smile to Match
        • Easing the Pain and Discomfort of Canker Sores
      • July (3)
        • Beyonce Makes Flossing a Family Affair
        • Baby Your Teeth and Gums During Pregnancy
        • Giancarlo Stanton Gets Major-League Mouth Protection
      • June (2)
        • Changing Antibiotic Use Today will Help Ensure Their Effectiveness Tomorrow
        • Tom Hanks' Abscessed Tooth Gets Cast Away
      • May (3)
        • Clicking Jaw: When Should You Be Concerned?
        • Nancy O'Dell on Making Oral Hygiene Fun for Kids
        • Welcome to Our Blog

Tags

  • celebrity smiles (44)
  • oral hygiene (21)
  • pediatric care (1)
  • tmj disorders (2)
  • tmd (1)
  • tmj (1)
  • abscessed tooth (1)
  • antibiotics (1)
  • athletic mouthguards (1)
  • pregnancy (2)
  • gum disease (4)
  • canker sore (1)
  • braces (8)
  • gum recession (3)
  • cosmetic dentistry (4)
  • facial pain (1)
  • tooth grinding (1)
  • tooth extraction (1)
  • dry mouth (1)
  • pediatric dentistry (10)
  • tooth decay (1)
  • oral health (4)
  • dental implants (5)
  • crowns (4)
  • orthodontics (5)
  • root canal (1)
  • mouthguards (2)
  • anesthesia (1)
  • bonding (1)
  • x-rays (1)
  • chipped teeth (1)
  • periodontal disease (1)
  • artificial sweeteners (1)
  • oral appliance (1)
  • night guard (1)
  • porcelain veneers (3)
  • toothache (1)
  • teeth whitening (4)
  • geographic tongue (1)
  • wisdom teeth (2)
  • root canal treatment (2)
  • sedation dentistry (1)
  • mouthguard (1)
  • partial denture (1)
  • dental emergency (1)
  • dental injury (4)
  • clear aligners (1)
  • thumb sucking (1)
  • flossing (2)
  • orthodontic treatment (10)
  • retainers (2)
  • bad breath (2)
  • fillings (1)
  • burning mouth syndrome (1)
  • veneers (1)
  • shingles (1)
  • periodontist (1)
  • x-ray (1)
  • apioectomy (1)
  • bone graft (1)
  • retainer (1)
  • dental care (1)
  • chipped tooth (2)
  • teeth wear (1)
  • sugar (1)
  • bonded retainer (1)

Categories:

  • None (1)
  • Oral Health (54)
  • Dental Procedures (54)

Our Location

11800 Aberdeen St NE Suite #110
Blaine, MN 55449
(763) 786-4280

Map & directions

Office Hours
Monday:7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday:7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday:7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday:7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday:7:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Saturday:Closed
Sunday:Closed
  • Home
  • Staff
  • Offices
  • Services
  • New Patients
  • Patient Education
  • Contact Us
  • Appointment Request
  • Dentist Website Design Copyright © MH Sub I, LLC dba Officite
  • Disclaimer
  • Patient Privacy
  • Site Map