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Tired of the Gap Between Your Teeth?

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We have all heard the song, “All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth.” As many of us know, there is nothing worse than having lost your baby front teeth and waiting (with a big gap in your smile!) for your adult teeth to come in. However, some people find it is just as frustrating to have both of their front teeth, but still have a big gap in between them. Below are some very famous women who display their gap with pride. (Jessica Hart, Natalie Cole, Anna Paquin, and Lauren Hutton.

Famous Woman Displaying Gap Between Teeth

Why does this happen? If you want to find out, go to the nearest mirror. Grab your upper lip between your thumb and forefinger on both sides and pull it up (warning: you may feel a little silly doing this). If you look above your front teeth, exactly in the middle of your gums, you will see a small flap of tissue that connects your gums to the inside of your lip. Believe it or not, this little flap actually has a name—it has called a freneulum (or frenum for short), and it can be the reason you have a gap in your front teeth. Read more

woman jogging

Handling Out of Town Emergencies…

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It is almost that time of year again…summer vacation. We know that we have posted this blog before but we also feel that it serves as a valuable reminder about what to do when you have an orthodontic emergency home or away on vacation. The video contains good information all patients and parents should know.

Everyone at Papandreas Orthodontics hopes you enjoy your summer.

Timing is Everything In Orthodontics When Treating Children…

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Dr. Samuel Papandreas specializes in the movement of teeth and correction of adverse jaw growth problems. Evaluating and diagnosing each individual patient’s dental development, presents a slightly different challenge for an orthodontist. There are many factors at work and different approaches that can be used.

In severe situations, permanent tooth removals may be required to create the necessary space for others. However, no one enjoys having their teeth extracted and we try to avoid this option whenever possible. Fortunately, there is another way. By using a child’s natural growth spurts, a savvy orthodontist can avoid the need for tooth extractions if he evaluates a patient at an early age.
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Don’t Rush Mother Nature When Moving Teeth…

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We have all heard the saying “patience is a virtue”. However, as human beings… we want, what we want, when we want it. Unfortunately, most things worth having do not come easily without time and effort and when it comes to a successful orthodontic result, you can’t rush “Mother Nature.”

Understanding the physiology of the human body explains why gentle forces are used to move teeth. (read more about tooth movement). When braces put pressure on teeth, it causes cells known as osteoclasts to break down the bone in the path of the tooth movement, similar to a ship moving through sand. At the same time, other cells called osteoblasts are at work on the other side of the tooth. Their job is to make new bone to fill in the space left behind the teeth, like sand filling in behind the ship as it moves, changing direction.
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There Are Many Benefits of Straight Teeth in North Royalton OH…

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Benefits of a beautiful smileThere are many reasons why people want straight teeth. Not the least of these is the fact that crooked teeth are not the most attractive feature. While a nicely aligned smile can be the part of your looks that pulls everything else together, a crooked smile can draw attention away from an otherwise striking appearance. A great smile is vital to your self-confidence, which in turn can improve your outlook on life in general.

However, the benefits of straight teeth do not end with just your appearance.
• Crooked teeth can interfere with proper chewing, a problem which is with you at every meal if not confronted.
• Good oral hygiene (such as regular brushing and flossing) can be much more difficult and ineffective with crooked teeth. When your teeth are not straight and evenly spaced, there is a much higher likelihood that there will be hard-to-reach spaces that do not receive the proper treatment from your daily cleaning routine. As a result, unwanted plaque and tartar can build up unnoticed. Over time, this can lead to such serious consequences as tooth decay, gum disease, or even tooth loss. Since no one enjoys spending time in the dentist’s chair having root canals, fillings, and oral surgery, it is important to stay on top of your oral hygiene.
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In North Royalton OH…Are Your Food Choices As Healthy As You Think?

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Sugar in Foods TodayThe average American diet is loaded with sugar and a disturbing amount of it is of the processed variety. This does not bode well for our overall health, but of particular concern is the effect large amounts of sugar have on teeth causing tooth decay. Our goal at Papandreas Orthodontics is to create beautiful healthy smiles that last a lifetime. It would be a shame if all that time devoted to straightening teeth goes to waste because of a sweet tooth that destroys strong healthy teeth.

In order to fight the common sugar addiction, keeping track of the foods you eat every day would be enlightening. You may be surprised at how many foods commonly considered “healthy” are dangerously loaded with sugar. Here are examples of 7 foods to avoid, as well as some suggestions to keep your sweet tooth happy and all your teeth well to preserve your beautiful smile. Read more

girl smiling with flowers in hair

An Orthodontic Train Ride To Straighten Teeth In North Royalton OH…

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A glowing smile is a destination much sought after by our patients at Papandreas Orthodontics, and luckily they don’t have to make the journey on their own. With the right travel plan and a talented orthodontist conducting, braces are the ticket to perfect teeth. Thinking of braces in terms of a train ride can help to explain how they work, lessen anxiety about how braces function, and illustrate the importance of staying on the right track.

The brackets of the braces are the equivalent of the cars of a train, and the track that they follow is the archwire. Once the brackets are placed on the teeth and the archwire is properly adjusted to create a path to great teeth, all that remains for our train is fuel to move in the right direction.

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What actress chose to straighten her teeth with Invisalign before getting married?

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Any day is a great day to flash a beautiful smile. You don’t have to be a movie star to have your teeth straightened before a special occasion in North Royalton or Strongsville OH. Everyone wants to look good for their prom, senior pictures, graduation, applying for a job or like Kathryn Heigl… getting married.

That’s right! Kathryn Heigl never worried about her teeth not being straight until she decided to get married. What was the easiest and least emotionally traumatic solution for someone who is in the spotlight and can’t be seen wearing braces… Invisalign! At Papandreas Orthodontics, we offer teens and adults the braceless alternative to having the beautiful smile you always wanted. Read more

A Question of Missing Teeth…

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Missing lateral teeth before and after replacmentsMissing permanent teeth or premature loss of baby teeth is one reason why the American Association of Orthodontics (AAO) recommends an orthodontic consultation for children beginning at age 7. The upper lateral incisors, second premolars and third molars (wisdom teeth) are the teeth most likely to fail to develop or erupt. Heredity is considered a major factor when permanent teeth are congenitally missing.

To determine whether or not teeth are actually missing, x-rays must be taken and carefully evaluated by Dr. Sam Papandreas. At times, a tooth may not actually be missing, but hidden underneath the gums and in poor position, preventing normal eruption and requiring orthodontic treatment to bring the tooth into alignment.
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Thumbs Down on Thumb Sucking!

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Children are born with a natural sucking reflex that often evolves into a comfort behavior. It is not at all unusual for an infant or child to find a thumb or finger to calm them when tired or upset as a coping mechanism. Ultrasound scans have revealed that thumb sucking can start before birth, as early as 15 weeks from conception. Even though a sucking reflex disappears at about four months of age, some infants will continue to suck their thumb or fingers as a voluntary habit to soothe them. It helps provide a sense of security and relaxes children as they fall asleep. Thumb sucking can be one of the most comforting aspects of childhood. Read more