Some people have teeth that come in straight and stay that way. For the rest of us, we need orthodontic treatment like braces or Invisalign to get the healthy, straight smile we want. How to know if you need braces might not be as easy as it sounds. You may need braces if you’re not happy with your smile and feel self-conscious, if you have problems biting or chewing, or if you experience jaw pain.
The best way to find out if you need braces is to schedule a consultation with an orthodontist you trust. At Zombek Orthodontics, we offer consultations to find out if braces or Invisalign are right for you.
So how do you know if you need braces? While some issues will clearly need orthodontic treatment (overbite, underbite, crossbite, gap teeth, crowded teeth, open bite), some are less obvious. Signs include:
If you or your child is experiencing any of these issues, it’s important to see an orthodontist to reduce the chances of more serious issues later on.
If you have an overbite, do you need braces? What about braces for crowded teeth? Why do people get braces?
There are many reasons to get braces. Braces are needed for several oral health problems and health issues. Each one of these can affect your ability to chew or speak, can cause headaches or jaw fatigue, or can cause breathing problems. Here is a brief description of each type of dental issue you can treat with braces.
Sometimes the best way to tell if you need braces is simply to see real-life examples. While every case is unique, it can be helpful to see cases similar to your own prior to meeting with an orthodontist. If you’re wondering why people get braces, here are some of our amazing smile before and afters!
While many parents believe they need to wait until a child has all of their permanent teeth, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends an earlier check-in — by Age 7. Usually, your child won’t need to see an orthodontist earlier than that. However, if your child is suffering from orthodontic problems, it might be a good idea to see an orthodontist early.
In addition to the signs above, here are some specific indicators that your child needs braces:
Generally, the earlier orthodontic problems are identified, the earlier and more easily they can be addressed.
So if you are wondering whether your child would benefit from braces, give Zombek Orthodontics a call. After a thorough exam, we will let you know if any treatment is recommended now or should be considered in the future.
So if you are wondering whether your child would benefit from braces, give Zombek Orthodontics a call. After a thorough exam, we will let you know if any treatment is recommended now or should be considered in the future.
It isn't always easy to figure out if you need braces, but Zombek Orthodontics is here to help! Our examination for new patients can let you know whether you or your child should consider a treatment option with braces or treatment with Invisalign or Invisalign Teen. Treatment plans are personalized for each unique case.
We can answer any questions you may have and start you on the path to the smile of your dreams! Just give us a call to schedule an appointment or start a virtual consult from anywhere. We’ll guide you every step of the way!
Congratulations on getting your braces! You’re on your way to the smile you’ve always dreamed of having! The good news is that your braces will do a lot of the work. However, you will have a few things you need to do to make your braces journey a success. You’ll need to keep up with brushing and flossing, making sure you do it regularly. You’ll also need to watch what you eat while in braces because some foods can damage your braces. That could delay treatment, and no one wants that!
At Zombek Orthodontics, we often get questions about what you can eat and what you can’t while in braces. We have a list of foods to avoid during your treatment, foods you can eat with caution, and foods you can continue to enjoy with braces!
Yes, there are foods you need to avoid eating with braces. The main reason is that these foods can damage your braces and delay your treatment time. No one wants that, right? Many of these foods are considered “junk” foods, so you may find yourself eating healthier with braces!
Here’s what you need to avoid with braces:
Again, this is just temporary. You’ll be back to eating these foods before you know it!
Some foods can be eaten with a certain amount of caution and specific preparation. Some meats, for example, can be eaten in small bites or prepared in certain ways.
It may seem like you’re giving up a lot of different foods, but that’s not the case! There are plenty of delicious foods you can enjoy with braces. From lobster and soft tacos to ice cream and cake, there are endless possibilities!
Once you finish all these great foods, be sure to brush your teeth for at least two minutes. It’s best to do this twice a day and floss at least once a day. However, it would be ideal if you could brush after every meal. You can also use a water flosser and mouthwash for extra cleaning and fluoride protection.
Zombek Orthodontics wants your braces journey to be a success, which is why we will be here for you every step of the way. If you’re in the Weston or Hollywood, FL, areas, you can always contact us if you have questions. It may seem like a lot to remember at first, but you’ll soon get used to avoiding certain foods while enjoying others as your braces work to create the perfect smile. It will be worth it in the end when you look in the mirror and see the smile of your dreams!
You need your teeth cleaned, and you’re looking to get Invisalign treatment. You can go to the same person, right? No, actually. You need a dentist for teeth cleaning and an orthodontist for Invisalign treatment. But wait! Aren’t they the same thing? Once again, no. Knowing the difference is good so you know where to go to get what you need for your oral health.
Take Dr. Zombek at Zombek Orthodontics. He trained for years to be a dentist, so technically, he’s a dentist. But he also continued his education with specialized training to become an orthodontist. That extra training and certification are what prepared him to give you the best options available for you when it comes to braces and Invisalign treatment.
You’ve probably seen those word puzzles, “If all squeaks are squawks, and some squawks are beeps, are all beeps squeaks?” People have the same confusion over dentists vs. orthodontists. Are all dentists orthodontists? Are all orthodontists dentists? The confusion lies in the fact that dentists and orthodontists start with the same training — to be dentists.
A dentist trains in general dentistry at a dental school. Once they graduate from that school, they are ready to work in general dentistry. They are trained to do everything you expect dentists to do: clean teeth, fill cavities, provide fluoride treatments, and install crowns, among other things. They can work with other dentists or open their own practice.
What they can’t do is treat patients with braces or clear aligners. They need extra training for that.
An orthodontist starts the same way as a dentist by training in dental school. Unlike the dentist, the orthodontist’s training doesn’t end with dental school. They have to continue their education in a special certification program. This is where they learn the special field of orthodontics, which includes moving teeth with precision to create beautiful smiles and correct bad bites. They are officially orthodontists once they receive their certifications.
Look at it this way: All cardiologists are doctors, but not all doctors are cardiologists. If you have heart problems, you’ll want to go to a cardiologist, not a general practice doctor. It’s the same with dentists and orthodontists. If you want to keep your teeth clean and your mouth healthy, you want to visit a dentist. If you want to straighten your teeth, you need to see an orthodontist.
You may have heard of another term, “cosmetic dentistry.” What exactly is that? Is a cosmetic dentist an orthodontist, or is a cosmetic dentist a dentist? Like the orthodontist, the cosmetic dentist is in a specialized field. They start with dental school but obtain special certifications to perform services such as veneers or crowns, tooth repair, tooth whitening, and color tooth matching. A few may offer Invisalign training, but that’s usually left to an orthodontist.
Now that you know the difference between a dentist and an orthodontist, when do you visit which one? If you want your teeth cleaned, visit your dentist. What if you have a cavity? Dentist! Who do you need for braces? You need an orthodontist! What other services do you leave to the orthodontist?
As an orthodontist, Dr. Zombek can treat you with braces or Invisalign clear aligners. He can treat adults, and he can treat children with these services. He can install devices that can help correct a bad bite in your mouth or your child’s, from a tongue crib to reposition the tongue away from the teeth before braces to palate expanders that widen the upper jaw and prepare it for straight teeth.
Does this mean you won’t need to see your dentist while getting orthodontic treatment? Not at all! In fact, you need to be diligent with your semi-annual cleanings to ensure you don’t get cavities during treatment. Your dentist will take care of the cavities if you get any, but we hope you will brush and floss regularly to prevent this from happening. Once your braces are off, your dentist will thoroughly clean your teeth so you can see how gorgeous your new smile is!
Has your dentist recommended you see an orthodontist? If you live in the Weston, FL, or the Hollywood, FL, areas, we invite you to visit us and see what we can do for you! Zombek Orthodontics can get you started with our virtual consult tool, which lets you tell us about your case from the comfort of your own home through a computer or mobile device. Then, we’ll bring you in for a thorough evaluation and let you know the best treatment for you. You’ll love your new smile from your orthodontist!
TikTok has become wildly popular as a source of entertaining and informative videos. You could spend the afternoon watching adorable cat videos, grandma dancing to Drake, recipe videos that make you want to run for the kitchen, and silly people doing very, VERY silly things. While most of the videos are fun and even informative, a few videos have offered suggestions on what to do to your teeth to make them look different. Some of these TikTok tooth videos can harm your smile and overall health.
Zombek Orthodontics loves seeing you with a gorgeous smile. What we wouldn’t love is having to see you in our office to repair potentially irreversible damage after you’ve filed down your teeth or bejeweled it or whatever other wild thing you may have done because you saw it on TikTok. Those who encourage these “decorations” don’t realize how dangerous they could be. Don’t be fooled by them calling these ideas “cosmetic dentistry” or “cosmetic orthodontics.” There’s a huge difference between what you see online and cosmetic dentistry and orthodontics done by professionals. Before you decide to listen to a self-proclaimed TikTok orthodontist or doing DIY orthodontic treatment at home, let us show you what we mean.
One of the big TikTok trends that has us shaking our heads is the idea that you should reshape your teeth. People discuss how to reshape your teeth if you don’t like the shape or if you want vampire fangs or wolf teeth or some other shape. Please please don’t file down your teeth.
Filing your teeth causes permanent damage by removing the enamel — the hard outer shell that protects the living inside of your tooth. That shell keeps your teeth from rotting and becoming infected. This could cause the tooth to fall out. Using a nail file on your teeth can also be incredibly painful, both during the process and afterward when the exposed pulp and dentin inside the tooth rots and dies. The tooth will eventually turn brown or black and fall out.
Bottom line, when it comes to teeth filing, don’t try this at home — or anywhere else.
We’ve seen another TikTok dental trend that has us concerned. People are using hot glue or Super Glue to place fake tooth gems on their teeth. They believe adding teeth gems this way looks great for Halloween or gives their smile a little extra “bling.” It may seem like a fun idea, but it won’t seem as much fun when you see the damage it does to your teeth.
The hot glue can scar your tooth, discoloring it. The excessive heat can also damage your tooth, causing it to rot and eventually fall out. It can also cause severe burns to your lips, cheeks, gums, or tongue.
You might think Super Glue would be a better option, but it isn’t. The bond is so strong that it can cause permanent damage to your tooth because it would be difficult — if not impossible — to get off. You could also accidentally get it on the soft tissue in your mouth and damage it to the point that a trip to the dentist or even the emergency room would be your only option to get rid of it. On top of all that, Super Glue is highly toxic. That means you could get very sick from using it.
If you want to “bling” up your smile for Halloween or any other event, talk to a dentist or Dr. Zombek about safe alternatives.
We’ve seen another TikTok orthodontic trend that we find very dangerous. Videos show people doing “at-home braces” or do-it-yourself orthodontics using rubber bands, ponytail holders, or whatever else they decide to fit around their teeth. They claim that doing this will close gaps and move teeth without needing braces or even a visit to an orthodontist. They also suggest that wearing fake braces or “fashion braces” can move your teeth or give them that braces look without worrying about what an orthodontist might say.
They don’t understand that orthodontics is a very detailed-oriented, specific process involving minute calculations to move each tooth a certain way. Otherwise, you can move a tooth to the wrong place, move it too much, or move it too fast. This can cause other dental problems, such as crowded teeth, loose teeth, and even tooth loss. That’s why dental trends from TikTok can be so dangerous.
Zombek Orthodontics gives you a detailed examination on your first visit, complete with 3D digital scans and x-rays using cutting-edge technology. We draw up a very specific plan customized to you. This plan moves your teeth exactly the right way to give you a perfect smile without damaging your teeth, jaws, or gums. You will never get those results from a rubber band or ponytail holder.
If you’re thinking of using homemade braces or fake braces, please talk to us first. You may be surprised at the options we can offer you, and you will definitely be pleased when your teeth don’t fall out from wrapping them in your old hair scrunchie.
You’ve probably heard of those mail-order, at-home orthodontic companies who plaster social media (TikTok included) with ads about how much easier and cheaper it is to use their products. They lead you to believe anyone can use clear aligners.
The truth is, these companies care more about profits than final results. Those final results usually aren’t what people expect. That’s because not everyone is a candidate for clear aligners. Some people need braces and possibly appliances such as a tongue crib or palate expander before braces to get the best results. That’s why it is so important to go to a licensed, professional orthodontist for your clear aligners.
Zombek Orthodontics is Platinum Invisalign Provider in Hollywood, FL, and Weston, FL. That means we provide at least 60 Invisalign treatments every six months, so you know we have the expertise to know whether Invisalign is right for you. Unlike mail-in companies, the most important thing to us is your satisfaction with your new smile.
We can’t neglect one of the grossest trends we’ve seen — using nail polish on teeth to change their color. You should NEVER use nail polish on your teeth. For one thing, it’s highly toxic, so you can get very sick. For another, it can discolor your teeth permanently, which means you would need a cap, crown, or veneer to repair the damage.
There is a product called Chrom Toothpolish that was created by dentists to color teeth. It is non-toxic and temporary and comes in various colors and glitters. It can be removed with normal toothbrushing. However, it is not recommended if you have braces or clear aligners such as Invisalign. The company recommends you check with your dentist or orthodontist before using the product.
If you’re truly looking to get the smile of your dreams, don’t rely on a TikTok trend or other instructions from social media. If you’re in the Hollywood or Weston, FL, areas, come see us by booking an appointment. We will give you a thorough examination and layout options that will achieve the smile you’ve always wanted without any damage or illness. We are definitely your safe bet compared to what you might see on social media. You can stick with TikTok for cute cat videos, but when it comes to gorgeous smiles, we’re the ones you want to see!
This site’s strategy, design, photo & video were created by the marginally-above-average folks @ Clear Partnering Group.
