Recently Answered Questions
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Query: Hello doctor, As I am planning to undergo orthodontic treatment with invisalign aligners for which my dentist advised me to take cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). I do not understand what they meant by radiolucency. So, it would be great if you can simply explain the term radiolucency. I will be... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Congratulations on your decision to go ahead with invisalign. The report says radiolucency around the tooth root of 36. There is a white cap seen on the third tooth from the left in the lower region, which suggests tooth number 36 has previously undergone root canal ... Read Full »
Can removing retainer for one week after 9.5 years of braces removal cause teeth shifting?
Query: Hello doctor, I lost my retainer and need to get a new one. This will be a week without a retainer. I got my braces removed nine and a half years ago and have worn the retainer every night. I would have missed it once in a blue moon. What are the chances of my teeth shifting even if it is a little? ... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Thank you for your query. Retainers are considered an important part of orthodontic therapy as they hold or retain the teeth in the corrected positions after the treatment. In the meantime, the jaw bone and surrounding tissues get mature enough to hold the teeth the... Read Full »
Query: Hello doctor,I am attaching the X-rays of my teeth. Is orthognathic surgery possible in my case? If not, why? How long does it take for orthodontic treatment to be done? Thank you. Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Hope you are doing well. Based on the photos attached (attachments removed to protect the patient's identity), there is a deficiency in your lower and middle face compared to the forehead area. However, these are X-ray images, and I would like to see the clinical ph... Read Full »
My daughter has an overbite and protruding chin. Can this be corrected with braces?
Query: Hi doctor,My daughter is 14 years old and is concerned about her protruding chin. She also has an overbite. Can braces treatment help in solving this issue? Kindly give your suggestions. Read Full »
Answer: Hi, Welcome to icliniq.com. I understand your concern. Orthodontic treatment is not just about the teeth and their alignment but also dentofacial corrections. The assistance of other methods, along with braces is required to correct her face and teeth alignment. I suggest you share the following p... Read Full »
Query: Hello doctor, I am in the last month of my orthodontic treatment and wanted to check if my teeth are properly aligned before removing the braces. I am not satisfied with the treatment and wanted to check my tooth alignment. How do I cross-check if my teeth are correctly aligned? Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. An important assessment to check the alignment of the teeth is self-assessment. You should check yourself in the mirror and see the various features, such as how your teeth look and how your smile looks now, and compare them with how they used to look before the trea... Read Full »
Query: Hello doctor, Yesterday, the dentist put braces on my lower teeth. Unfortunately, one of my lower teeth hit on my upper teeth. For that, the doctor inserted a bite block. It is understandable, but he only put a bite block on the right side, leaving me to chew on the left side. There are discomfort a... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. I read your query and can understand your concern. No, it is not normal to place bite blocks on only one side of the mouth. At times when only one tooth requires some separation, we should still fix bite blocks on both sides to provide balance and maintain the integ... Read Full »
Query: Hello doctor, I had braces ten years ago. I have been using a retainer after my treatment. Recently I got a new retainer from a dentist, but it does not reach my gums. Will this still be effective at keeping my teeth straight?Thank you. Read Full »
Answer: Hello,Welcome to icliniq.com.Based on your treatment history, your teeth would have settled by now in post-orthodontic changes. After completing treatment, it takes approximately 10 to 12 months for your oral cavity to adjust to new positions and for any changes to come into the best-settled positio... Read Full »
I am in the middle of my orthodontic treatment. Can I drink soda with braces?
Query: Hello doctor,I have braces and am in the middle of my orthodontic treatment. Can I drink soda with braces? Is there any way to drink soda without damaging my teeth?Thank you. Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. There is no strict restriction on consuming soda with braces, but certainly, you can avoid it if possible. Not for orthodontic reasons but for your teeth' health. You are advised to take extra care of the oral cavity during orthodontic treatment for obvious reasons,... Read Full »
Query: Hi doctor, I put on braces last month for my upper teeth. I notice that if I am put on an expander, I will not need extraction. They want to extract four teeth. I want a second opinion. How long does it take for an expander to work? I only have 17 months left on my duty station. Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Hope you are doing well. I thoroughly read your query and understand your concern. Orthodontics has changed a lot since its inception about 120 years ago. Previously, it was a non-extraction protocol that was in the trend, followed by extraction protocols in the 19... Read Full »
Query: Hi doctor, I have been wearing Invisalign for a little over a year and a half. I have always had a big gap, and I made it clear I want to keep my gap but make it smaller. Since ending treatment, I have been given a night retainer. However, during the day, my teeth shift and putting the retainer back... Read Full »
Answer: Hello, Welcome to icliniq.com. Hope you are doing well. I thoroughly read your query and understand your concern. In orthodontic therapy, there are two phases, first is the active phase, wherein all the tooth movements are done, and alignment is achieved based on case requirements. Second is ret... Read Full »