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Posts for tag: retainer

Margot Robbie Knows: A Great Smile Is Worth Protecting

By M L King Dental Center
November 01, 2018
Category: Oral Health
Tags: celebrity smiles   retainer  
MargotRobbieKnowsAGreatSmileIsWorthProtecting

On the big screen, Australian-born actress Margot Robbie may be best known for playing devil-may-care anti-heroes—like Suicide Squad member Harley Quinn and notorious figure skater Tonya Harding. But recently, a discussion of her role in Peter Rabbit proved that in real life, she’s making healthier choices. When asked whether it was hard to voice a character with a speech impediment, she revealed that she wears retainers in her mouth at night, which gives her a noticeable lisp.

“I actually have two retainers,” she explained, “one for my bottom teeth which is for grinding my teeth, and one for my top teeth which is just so my teeth don't move.”

Clearly Robbie is serious about protecting her dazzling smile. And she has good reasons for wearing both of those retainers. So first, let’s talk about retainers for teeth grinding.

Also called bruxism, teeth grinding affects around 10 percent of adults at one time or another, and is often associated with stress. If you wake up with headaches, sore teeth or irritated gums, or your sleeping partner complains of grinding noises at night, you may be suffering from nighttime teeth grinding without even being aware of it.

A type of retainer called an occlusal guard is frequently recommended to alleviate the symptoms of bruxism. Typically made of plastic, this appliance fits comfortably over your teeth and prevents them from being damaged when they rub against each other. In combination with stress reduction techniques and other conservative treatments, it’s often the best way to manage teeth grinding.

Orthodontic retainers are also well-established treatment devices. While appliances like braces or aligners cause teeth to move into better positions, retainers are designed to keep teeth from moving—helping them to stay in those positions. After active orthodontic treatment, a period of retention is needed to allow the bite to stabilize. Otherwise, the teeth can drift right back to their old locations, undoing the time and effort of orthodontic treatment.

So Robbie has the right idea there too. However, for those who don’t relish the idea of wearing a plastic appliance, it’s often possible to bond a wire retainer to the back surfaces of the teeth, where it’s invisible. No matter which kind you choose, wearing a retainer can help keep your smile looking great for many years to come.

If you have questions about teeth grinding or orthodontic retainers, please contact our office or schedule a consultation. You can read more in the Dear Doctor magazine articles “Teeth Grinding” and “The Importance of Orthodontic Retainers.”

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An Orthodontic Retainer: Insurance Well Spent for Keeping Your New Smile

By M L King Dental Center
October 08, 2017
Category: Dental Procedures
Tags: retainer  
AnOrthodonticRetainerInsuranceWellSpentforKeepingYourNewSmile

You’ve invested a lot of time and money in orthodontic treatment to improve your smile. If you’re not careful, though, your teeth could actually move back to their old positions. The reason why is related to the same natural tooth-moving mechanism we use to straighten teeth in the first place.

Teeth are held in place by an elastic, fibrous tissue called the periodontal ligament lying between the teeth and the jawbone and attaching to both with tiny collagen fibers. The periodontal ligament allows for incremental tooth movement in response to pressure generated around the teeth, as when we chew (or while wearing braces).

Unfortunately, this process can work in reverse. Out of a kind of “muscle memory,” the teeth can revert to the older positions once there’s no more pressure from the removed braces. You could eventually be right back where you started.

To avoid this, we have to employ measures to hold or “retain” the teeth in their new positions for some time after the braces come off. That’s why we have you wear a dental appliance called a retainer, which maintains tooth position to prevent a relapse. Depending on what’s best for your situation, this could be a removable retainer or one that’s fixed to the teeth.

Patients typically wear a retainer around the clock in the immediate period after braces, and then eventually taper off to just nighttime wear. Younger patients must wear one for several months until the new teeth positions become more secure and the chances of a rebound diminish. For older patients who’ve matured past the jaw development stage, though, wearing a retainer may be a permanent necessity to protect their smile.

Retainer wear can be an annoyance, but it’s an absolute necessity. Think of it as insurance on your investment in a new, more attractive smile.

If you would like more information on improving your smile through orthodontics, 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 “The Importance of Orthodontic Retainers.”

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Archive:

  • 2019
      • February (1)
        • Local Anesthesia Takes the Pain Out of Most Dental Work
      • January (3)
        • 3 Ways Orthodontic Techniques Could Prevent a Poor Bite
        • Game, Set, Match: Milos Raonic Says A Mouthguard Helps Him Win
        • Moderate Fluoride Use Packs the Biggest Punch for Decay Prevention
  • 2018
      • December (4)
        • Don't Wait - Seek Out Treatment for Gum Recession Now
        • Adult Tooth Root Resorption is a Serious Issue that Requires Prompt Action
        • Crazy Little Thing Called... Hyperdontia?
        • Your Child's Impacted Front Teeth can be Saved - but Don't Wait too Long
      • November (3)
        • Orthodontists Anticipate Future Facial Growth When Treating Poor Bites
        • Moderate Your Child's Juice Drinking to Lower Tooth Decay Risk
        • Margot Robbie Knows: A Great Smile Is Worth Protecting
      • October (3)
        • Eat the Right Kind of Carbs to Protect Yourself from Gum Disease
        • New Dental Advances Promise Better Outcomes for Treating Decay
        • Dental Implants can also Support Other Traditional Restorations
      • September (3)
        • Steely Dan Founder's Death Highlights Importance of Early Cancer Detection
        • Why Smoking and Dental Implants Don't Mix
        • Protect Your Teeth During Football Season
      • August (3)
        • World Cup Soccer Coach-Dentist Saves the Day!
        • No "Glee" in Tooth Grinding
        • Pros and Cons for Flossing Before Brushing and Vice-Versa
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        • Safety is a Priority When Imaging Children's Teeth with X-Rays
        • Your Dental Care Efforts are Just as Important as Your Dentist's
        • How Big Bang Theory Actress Mayim Bialik Gets Her Kids to Floss
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        • 3 Reasons for Blood Pressure Checks During Dental Visits
        • June Is National Safety Month: Be Prepared for Dental Emergencies
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        • Dental Injury Is Just a Temporary Setback for Basketball Star Kevin Love
        • The Timely Use of a Palatal Expander Could Help Correct a Cross-Bite
        • 3 Situations for Seeing a Periodontist
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        • 3 Things You Need to Know about Easing Anxiety Over Dental Visits
        • A Different Kind of "Chip Shot" for Pro Golfer Danielle Kang
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        • Answers to Common Questions About Root Canal Treatments
        • Bone Loss: the Hidden Consequence of Your Missing Teeth
        • Teeth Whitening: Know Your Options
      • February (1)
        • How Teeth Whitening Brings Out Tara Lipinski's Winning Smile
      • January (3)
        • Why You Should Still Floss with an Implant-Supported Bridge
        • Boost Your Overall Health by Reducing Gum Inflammation
        • Your Health Could Affect the Longevity of a Dental Implant
  • 2017
      • December (2)
        • Any Time, Any Place: Cam Newton's Guide to Flossing
        • Change Your Smile for the Better with Porcelain Veneers
      • November (2)
        • The 21st Century Promises Better Dental Diagnostics with Cone Beam Imaging
        • FAQ: Interceptive Orthodontics for Children
      • October (3)
        • Beyonce Makes Flossing a Family Affair
        • We can Rid You of that Lump in Your Mouth you Keep Biting
        • An Orthodontic Retainer: Insurance Well Spent for Keeping Your New Smile
      • September (2)
        • The Secret to Preventing Gum Disease - Control Bacterial Plaque
        • Johnny's Teeth Aren't Rotten Any More
      • August (2)
        • If at All Possible, Primary Teeth are Worth Saving
        • Ariana Grande Breaks Free - of Her Wisdom Teeth
      • July (2)
        • Good Bone Health Essential for Obtaining 'Teeth in One Day' Implants
        • A Royal Fix
      • June (2)
        • Screw or Cement: Which is Best for Attaching Your Implant Crown?
        • (Don't) Break It Like Beckham
      • May (2)
        • Pediatric Dentists Specialize in Dental Care for Children and Teens
        • In Today's NFL, Oral Hygiene Takes Center Stage
      • April (2)
        • Tips on Encouraging Healthy Snacking While Your Child's at School
        • Expert Advice: Vivica A. Fox on Kissing and Oral health
      • March (3)
        • A Root Canal Can Stop Tooth Decay and Save Your Tooth
        • Nancy O'Dell on Making Oral Hygiene Fun for Kids
        • Factors Besides Oral Hygiene that Influence Your Risk for Tooth Decay
      • February (2)
        • Noah Galloway's Dentally Dangerous Dancing
        • Try Conservative Measures to Treating TMD Before More Aggressive Options
      • January (2)
        • Life Is Sometimes a Grind for Brooke Shields
        • Watch Out for Re-Infection After a Root Canal Treatment
  • 2016
      • December (2)
        • Dwight Howard: A Bright NBA Star With a Smile to Match
        • 3 Questions You Should Ask Before Undergoing Adult Orthodontics
      • November (2)
        • Chrissy Teigen's Teeth-Grinding Troubles
        • New Understanding of Bacteria Promises Better Approaches to Oral Care
      • October (2)
        • Eden Sher and the Lost Retainer
        • Cleft Repair can Restore a Smile, Change a Life
      • September (3)
        • America's (Dentists) Got Talent - for Fixing Damaged or Missing Teeth!
        • Encourage Your Child to Stop Thumb Sucking by Age 4
        • Spice Up Your Teeth
      • August (2)
        • Antibiotics Could Help Ensure your Implant Surgery is Successful
        • Sofia Vergara: 'Obsessed' With Oral Hygiene
      • July (2)
        • We may Still be Able to Save Your Tooth with a Root Canal Alternative
        • Actor David Ramsey Says: Don't Forget to Floss!
      • June (2)
        • Dental Offices Hold to the Highest Standards to Protect Patients from Infection
        • Actor David Ramsey Discusses Baby Bottle Tooth Decay
      • May (2)
        • Prudent Use of X-Rays in Children Provides the most Benefit at the Lowest Risk
        • A Toothless Tiger?
      • April (2)
        • Local Anesthesia Provides a More Pleasant and Thorough Dental Experience
        • Dental Magic Transforms Smiles
      • March (2)
        • Three Reasons why Your Six Year Old Should Undergo an Orthodontic Check
        • Neil Patrick Harris: What the Oscars Host Treasures Most
      • February (3)
        • Keep a Watchful Eye on Your Child's Teeth Grinding Habit
        • New Front Teeth for a Teenaged David Duchovny
        • Support Your Child's Teeth Development with Proper Hygiene and Dental Care
      • January (2)
        • Master Illusionist Benefits from the Magic of Orthodontics
        • Removing Teeth Could Improve an Orthodontic Outcome
  • 2015
      • December (2)
        • Tom Hanks' Abscessed Tooth Gets Cast Away
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1099 Martin Luther King Jr Drive Southwest
Atlanta, GA 30314
(404) 752-7777

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(404) 752-7777

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