You can achieve straight teeth, an improved bite, and a beautiful smile through orthodontic treatment with braces. The device has metal brackets that pass around the backside of the teeth, and a wire is inserted through them. These bands and the wire collectively shift your teeth into the right position.
A bad bite may interrupt the alignment treatment by damaging the brackets. Such an incident can occur when your upper teeth grind against the lower ones as you bite, causing breakage of the brackets. Bite blocks can help to prevent damage and improve the alignment of the teeth.
Bite blocks can be used to help with orthodontic treatment.
Aside from causing band disruption, a bad bite can delay your braces treatment. This issue is common in individuals with deep bites, crossbites, or crowded teeth due to the improper alignment of the jaws and teeth. Fortunately, orthodontic specialists can recommend bite blocks, ramps, or turbos to correct the issue.
Dental blocks can restrict contact between your lower and upper teeth during orthodontic treatment. Their presence prevents you from completely biting down. These tiny devices protect brackets, helping to correct overbite or underbite. Miami orthodontics uses these additional devices to speed up tooth alignment treatment and improve the bite.
These orthodontic appliances are made of acrylic plastic, which can resist pressure from chewing. They are different colors and may be available in your shade. If you don’t want other people to notice the ramps, use blocks of the same color as your teeth. Orthodontic specialists can place dental implants on the back or front teeth.
The flat or mounded blocks are placed on the molars’ chewing surfaces, while the triangular or L-shaped blocks fit on the inner part of the front teeth. These orthodontic appliances can be spring-loaded, increasing the pressure on the teeth. The device can be removable or fixed. The removable ramps are fashioned from soft materials such as acrylic or gel.
Wearing them eases tension in your jaw muscles. Bite blocks make teeth alignment with braces more efficient, resulting in a faster result and a perfect smile.
Importance of Bite Blocks
For tooth alignment procedures, Alquiza orthodontics employs dental blocks and braces. These tiny devices maintain the braces in good working condition, allowing them to function effectively. They restrict the contact between your upper and lower teeth, preventing damage to the braces and delays in the teeth-straightening or aligning process.
Misaligned teeth can cause your jaw and temporomandibular joint to receive excessive pressure while chewing or clenching. This condition can result in painful chewing, gum diseases, and enamel wear. Fortunately, bite blocks can relieve the pressure when fitted to the teeth. Besides straightening teeth, orthodontic treatment also corrects improper bites.
Orthodontist specialists may also have dental turbos recommended for an underbite or overbite. They are also helpful in the rectification of overcrowded teeth and mouth breathing. Besides, some orthodontic specialists may use only bite turbos to correct crossbites in children.
Time Spent Wearing Bite Blocks
The duration of your orthodontic treatment determines how long you can use the dental blocks. It would help if you used the orthodontic appliances until your teeth are well aligned, and the bite improves. The corrective procedure may take up to a year. However, some cases may require less treatment time. It is best to follow a specialist’s instructions on dental bites.
Getting used to the dental blocks fitted over your teeth may take some time. Consequently, you may find it challenging to chew food during the first week. Consuming soft foods is ideal as you adapt to dental blocks. You can also cut food into tiny bits for easy chewing. Besides, you can opt for braces-friendly foods.
Cleaning Your Bite Blocks
Keeping your bite blocks clean is necessary. It keeps food particles and bacteria from becoming stuck in your teeth. You can brush your teeth after meals and use a water flosser for braces. The tips below will help you clean your teeth properly:
- After using the ramps, rinse them with water to remove debris or saliva.
- Scrub the blocks with water and mild soap to eliminate bacteria that might accumulate on them during the night.
- Thoroughly rinse the blocks with water after scrubbing.
- Use a clean towel to dry the dental bites.
- Then, store the bite blocks in a case with a cover to prevent dust from getting to them.
- Issues associated with bites and blocks
- You may experience problems with dental bites placed on your teeth. Below are the common concerns with these orthodontic appliances and how to resolve them.
Soreness: You may experience discomfort after wearing your braces and bite blocks. The orthodontic appliances force the jaw to work harder to bite properly. You can take over-the-counter pain relievers to ease the discomfort and pain. However, you can consult Miami orthodontics if the soreness persists.
Chewing problems: You may find it challenging to chew food when your bite blocks are newly placed. The presence of these orthodontic appliances alters the functioning of your jaw muscles. It will take some days before you can chew properly. However, consuming soft and non-chew foods will be a good idea during this period.
As your teeth get used to the blocks, you can chew food. However, cutting your food into smaller pieces that will be less vigorous and won’t make you uncomfortable is best.
Speech impairment: Bite blocks fitted over your teeth can cause difficulty speaking. This problem arises when the dental turbines inhibit the movement of the tongue. You can correct this issue by practicing how to speak, starting with simple words and then sentences. Over time, your speech will improve.
Worn dental blocks: Your bite blocks may fail to prevent contact between the upper and lower teeth if their material wears down. One of the blocks may also need to be found. A Doral orthodontist can replace your braces if they are no longer functioning effectively. However, it is normal if you bite only one block without discomfort.
When properly used, bite blocks can make orthodontic treatment with braces more effective and faster. Following your orthodontist’s instructions can help you achieve the best results with bite blocks.