Smile 312 Chicago's Premier Dentist Blog

Did you know that an estimated 75% of orthodontic patients are teenagers? Your teeth are more flexible in your jawbone in your youth, so it’s an ideal time to get braces to straighten them. However, many adults are surprised to discover that their grins have become somewhat overcrowded or overlapped again, sometimes years after completing orthodontics.

Invisalign is an ideal solution for mildly misaligned teeth, but many patients wonder whether it’s feasible to undergo treatment if they’ve already had traditional braces. Continue reading to learn more about why you can safely set your concerns aside!

So, you’ve completed your Invisalign treatment, and you’re looking forward to enjoying the results—congratulations! Your teeth are now beautifully straight, and you may already be feeling your confidence rise. However, your journey isn’t quite over yet. To keep your new smile in place, you’ll need to wear a retainer. If you’re wondering how long you’ll need one, continue reading. You’ll learn more about these critical oral appliances, why they’re important, and how long you’ll need to wear yours to preserve your gorgeous grin.

Purchasing a dental insurance plan may not sound like the easiest thing to do, especially if you’re unfamiliar with the terminology that’s used to explain the details of the policy. Instead of getting overwhelmed and deciding it’s not worth the hassle, keep reading to discover a few basic components that are most important when comparing plans.

If you missed your chance for braces as a teen or your teeth have moved over the years, there’s good news. You are never too old for Invisalign! You can benefit from clear aligners to fix your bite and alignment issues. However, there are a few things you should know if you’re an older adult. Here’s how you can achieve a straight smile with no brackets or wires.

(more…)

Even if you’re ready to begin the process of improving your smile with the help of cosmetic dentistry, you may still have a lot of questions for your dentist. Your consultation is the perfect opportunity to get answers to any queries you may have about your upcoming procedure. Here are a few important things to ask before you sign on the dotted line!

Our teeth are durable, powerful little tools that can chew a wide variety of delicious, nutritious foods. Unfortunately, however, there are some foods that are a bit more difficult to break down than others, and though tasty, can sometimes wreak havoc on them. If you’re concerned about tooth damage, here are a few foods that you should avoid.

Dental sensitivity can be surprising, uncomfortable, and annoying, but does it count as an emergency? Depending on its severity and what causes it, your teeth experiencing a tingling sensation or an irksome twinge in response to stimuli may be an easy problem to solve at home or require an immediate visit to your dentist’s office for treatment. Here are a few of the causes of sensitive teeth and how to tell if you should contact your dentist for an emergency appointment.

Are you experiencing sudden facial aches or swelling? It’s only natural to be concerned if your jaw or cheeks inflate painfully. You’re probably wondering what’s causing it and who you should contact. Is it an emergency? And if it is, should you reach out to your dentist or your doctor?

Although there are many potential causes behind your recent distension, there’s a good chance that it points to an underlying dental issue. Continue reading to learn about 3 possible reasons for your inflammation and who can help!

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) plays a vital role in jaw movement, allowing for actions like biting, chewing, and speaking. While many people don’t think much about these movements until they experience jaw pain, it’s worth noting that migraines might be related to TMJ disorder. The good news is that neither migraines nor TMJ dysfunction have to be chronic problems you just put up with. Read on to learn more about the connection between migraines and TMJ dysfunction.

If you’ve developed a stiff or locked jaw, there’s a chance that you’ve developed TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder) which occurs when the joint that connects your jawbone to your skull becomes irritated or inflamed. While there are several potential causes, chronic gum chewing could be contributing to the problem. If you like to freshen your breath this way, you might want to consider changing your habits. Keep reading to learn more about the connection between chewing gum and mouth pain, and what you can do to address it!