Consequences of Missing Teeth

Although tooth loss is typically associated with the elderly, missing teeth can occur in adults for a variety of reasons. Whether you’ve lost a tooth to decay, or injury, tooth loss can rob you of much more than the ability to chew and properly digest food. It can have serious social, psychological and emotional consequences as well. At Dr. Cynthia Wong Orthodontics, we don’t want you to experience the consequences of a toothless grin. This is why we offer a wide variety of restorative and cosmetic options to give you the smile you’ve always dreamed of.

The most obvious effect of missing teeth is aesthetic. When a tooth is lost, the facial muscles begin to sag, making you appear older than you are. Additionally, missing teeth will make it more difficult to chew and may even affect the way you speak. The more teeth a person is missing, the more challenging the task to replace them can become. It can also be costly. It is important to have regular dental visits with us to prolong the life of your teeth. 

If you have missing teeth, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about the services we provide at our office, visit www.drcynthiawong.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Cynthia Wong in Orland Park, IL, call 708-444-8341.

Wisdom Teeth Function

Wisdom teeth are the third and final set of molars that most people get in their late teens or early twenties. During this “age of wisdom” phase, sometimes teeth can be a valuable asset to the mouth when healthy and properly aligned, but more often they are misaligned and require removal. Some might think of wisdom teeth as spare tires, because if you lost your teeth, the wisdom teeth would be extra teeth that come in and function like normal teeth. Here at Dr. Cynthia Wong Orthodontics, Dr. Wong may recommend an extraction depending on their position and stage of development.

So why do we have them? Anthropologists believe wisdom teeth or the third set of molars, were the evolutionary answer to our ancestor’s early diet of coarse, rough food – like leaves, roots, nuts, and meats – which required more chewing power and resulted in excessive wear of the teeth. The modern diet with its softer foods, along with marvels of modern technologies such as forks, spoons, and knives, has made the need for wisdom teeth nonexistent; however, they don’t always need to be removed.

If your wisdom teeth are causing you pain, please give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about the services we provide at our office, visit www.drcynthiawong.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Cynthia Wong in Orland Park, IL, call 708-444-8341.

Benefits of Dentures

At Dr. Cynthia Wong Orthodontics, we recommend dentures to patients who have missing teeth but do not want to undergo an invasive procedure such as dental implants. Dentures are replacements for missing teeth that can be taken out and put back into your mouth. While these mouthpieces might take some getting used to, and will never feel exactly the same as your natural teeth, today’s dentures are natural looking and more comfortable than ever before.

If you’ve lost all of your natural teeth, whether from gum disease, tooth decay, or injury, replacing missing teeth will benefit your appearance and your health. That’s because dentures make it easier to eat and speak better than you ever could without teeth. There are different types of dentures, but they each type offers the same overall benefits. For example, when you lose all of your teeth, facial muscles can sag, making you appear older than you actually are. Dentures can also improve your appearance and smile, because, without support from the denture, facial muscles can sag, making a person look older. If you already have dentures, be sure that you are taking proper care of them.

If you are missing teeth and would like to discuss your treatment options, please give us a call. To learn more about the services we provide at our office, visit www.drcynthiawong.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Cynthia Wong in Orland Park, IL, call 708-444-8341.

Advantages of Traditional Braces

If you have crooked and/or a misaligned bite (an underbite or overbite), there are a variety of treatments that can help straighten teeth, including braces and aligners. At Dr. Cynthia Wong Orthodontics, our treatment options for straightening teeth include traditional braces, clear braces, as well as Invisalign, but in this specific post, we are going to explain the advantages of traditional braces.

The most inexpensive type of braces for adults and children are the traditional, stainless steel versions. Dental braces feature brackets that tend to run along a wire. The wire and brackets that form part of the braces are pressed against the patient’s teeth. This supports slight movements that can help in properly aligning and straightening the teeth. In addition, traditional braces also correct even the most complicated issues in aligning the teeth. They might not be aesthetically pleasing, but traditional braces are not removable, allowing for a reduction in treatment time. If braces are indeed the solution for you, Dr. Cynthia Wong will prescribe an appliance specific for your needs.

If you are searching for a straighter smile, give us a call to discuss your treatment options. To learn more about the services we provide at our office, visit www.drcynthiawong.com for more information. To schedule an appointment with Dr. Cynthia Wong in Orland Park, IL, call 708-444-8341.