Dangers of DIY Orthodontics

Last February, the American Association of Orthodontists released a study that showed 13% of its members had treated someone who attempted to perform orthodontics on themselves. At Dr. Dipika Shah’s Holmdel office, it is alarming to us that anyone would think this is a good idea and we want to help our patients avoid scams and harmful practices.

DIY orthodontics were popularized by the story of someone who used a 3D printer to manufacture his own aligners while characterizing the standard orthodontic process as dragging out treatment to raise costs. This is not true; moving teeth, which are living tissue, through jaw bones takes time because the jaw bones must be allowed to rebuild themselves. Moving teeth too quickly will leave them loose and could cause them to fall out or move back to their former position.

Other publications encourage much more primitive corrective methods, such as substituting wires with home items. However, tying teeth together instead of connecting them with a bracket-supported wire could strangle the teeth’s blood supply. Furthermore, without a bracket to hold the ties in place, the ties could slide into the wearer’s gum pockets and get stuck there while they rot.

Our office provides a variety of orthodontic and payment options. Please come see us if you are worried about misaligned teeth so we can fix them the safe, effective way.

Dr. Dipika Shah, Master in the Academy of General Dentistry, operates at 723 N Beers St, Suite 2F, Holmdel, New Jersey, 07733-1512. To schedule an appointment, call 732-264-8180 or visit DentistNJ.com and fill out a contact form.

 

Warning Signs of Failing Implants

Holmdel’s Dr. Dipika Shah is renowned for her work on implants and highly recommends this procedure as one of the safest and most effective ways to replace missing teeth. However, it is possible for an implant to need to be replaced. Patients should know the warning signs of an implant that is failing both immediately after placement or after years of wear and tear.

The warning signs of an implant failing in the immediate wake of surgery are continual bleeding and severe pain for more than three days. While there is always some pain associated with recovery from surgery, if an implant was placed on a nerve, the patient’s pain will never diminish, and the implant must be removed. 

A successfully placed implant can fail if the matrix of fused bone and metal at the implant’s base becomes compromised. This usually occurs due to periodontal disease or a traumatic injury. Dentists will monitor the patient’s jaw bone tissue for the first two years following implant placement because the loss of too much bone tissue means the implant needs to be removed. A functioning implant is totally immobile. If you notice an implant moving at all, seek help.

Dr. Dipika Shah, Master in the Academy of General Dentistry, operates at 723 N Beers St, Suite 2F, Holmdel, New Jersey, 07733-1512. To schedule an appointment, call 732-264-8180 or visit DentistNJ.com and fill out a contact form.

 

Guiding Impacted Canines

 At her Holmdel office, Dr. Dipika Shah offers orthodontic work to adults and children for a variety of conditions. sometimes she comes across the failure of canine teeth to erupt. The canine teeth don’t just help us pierce food; they also occupy the points of maximum change of curvature in the jaw arches and are crucial to keeping the other teeth in alignment and your jaw joint healthy. Since teeth which have not erupted by adulthood likely never will, The progress of the canine teeth is one of the most important things for dentists treating children to check.

Guiding canines down into the proper position may require a bit of surgery and a distinctive bit of orthodontic work. An incision will expose the unerupted canine so a bracket may be attached to it. Connecting this bracket with the wire connecting the other brackets will require a chain or a looped bit of wire called a ballista spring. Depending on how far a canine is from its destination, moving it may require a year of orthodontic work. But aesthetically and functionally, guiding an impacted canine is one of the most important orthodontic procedures a child can undergo.

Dr. Dipika Shah, Master in the Academy of General Dentistry, operates at 723 N Beers St, Suite 2F, Holmdel, New Jersey, 07733-1512. To schedule an appointment, call 732-264-8180 or visit DentistNJ.com and fill out a contact form.

Dental Phobia

If the thought of having your teeth cleaned by a dentist frightens you to no end, Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS is here to make you feel as comfortable as possible during a procedure. Dental phobia is different from dental anxiety and fear of the dentist, in the sense that it is much stronger. Someone with dental phobia will avoid dental care at all costs until either a physical problem or the psychological burden of the phobia becomes overwhelming.

The most common causes of dental phobia are bad experiences, a history of abuse, uncaring dentists, humiliation, and post-traumatic stress. Anyone can be affected by dental phobia, regardless of age. Dental phobia not only allows a person’s dental health to suffer, but it may lead to anxiety and depression. Loss of self-esteem over not being able to do something as “simple” as going to the dentist and intense feelings of guilt over not having looked after one’s teeth properly are also very common. Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS is dedicated to making her patient’s as relaxed as achievably possible, this includes keeping them informed every step of the way and providing an individualized treatment plan,very gentle massaging while you getting treated, headphones with entertainment to distract and state of the art equipments to reduce stress. .

If you fear the dentist, you are not alone, please give us a call to learn how we can ease your mind. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.dentistnj.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS in our Holmdel, NJ office, call 732-264-818.

Laser Treatment for Canker Sores

When a canker sore emerges, you might find yourself running to the drugstore for Anbesol or any other numbing agent that will temporarily reduce the pain. You may also find yourself Googling every home remedy you can find to control the situation. Here at the dental practice of Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS we offer laser treatment for aphthous ulcers (canker sores), which promote reduced healing times.

Essentially, a canker sore is a small lesion/ulcer inside the mouth. They can appear almost on the inner surface of the cheeks, and lips; the tongue; the soft palate and the base of the gums. They can be rather painful and can be caused by a stress, dietary deficiencies and triggered by citrus fruits. Laser treatment has several remedial effects on canker sores. Laser treatment stops the progression of mouth sores so that they take a significantly shorter time to heal. It also results in rapid pain relief. Additionally, laser treatment can be preventative. Before a canker sore breakout, the lips will invariably start to tingle. Receiving laser treatment at this early stage will help stop the breakout in its tracks.

If you suffer from canker sores on a regular basis, give us a call so we can help. To learn about the services we provide at our practice, visit www.dentistnj.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Dipika Shah, DDS in our Holmdel, NJ office, call 732-264-818.