Ahava Orthodontics is a leading orthodontic practice in Fort Worth, Texas. Our team of experienced and highly trained orthodontists has been providing top-notch care to adults for over 25 years. We understand that orthodontic problems can be just as common in adults as they are in children and teenagers, which is why we offer a wide range of treatments to help adult patients achieve a healthy, beautiful smile. In this article, we'll be discussing some of the most common orthodontic problems that adults may face and how they can be treated. Whether you're experiencing pain, discomfort, or simply self-conscious about your smile, there are options available to help you achieve the results you desire. Ahava Orthodontics is a leading orthodontic practice in Fort Worth, Texas. Our team of experienced and highly trained orthodontists has been providing top-notch care to adults for over 25 years. We understand that orthodontic problems can be just as common in adults [...]

Temporomandibular joint disorder, or TMJ, is a common condition that affects the jaw joint and can cause a wide range of symptoms, including pain, difficulty opening and closing the mouth, and even headaches and earaches. While there are many different treatment options available for TMJ, orthodontic treatment can be a highly effective way to address the underlying causes of the disorder and help patients achieve lasting relief from their symptoms. At Ahava Orthodontics in Fort Worth, we understand the importance of providing trusted and experienced care to patients who are suffering from TMJ. Our team of experienced orthodontists, led by Dr. Barron, is dedicated to helping patients find the right treatment options for their unique needs and goals. Bite Guards and Splints for Treating TMJ One of the most common orthodontic treatment options for TMJ is the use of custom-made dental appliances, such as bite guards or splints. These appliances are designed to help correct [...]

Sleep apnea is a serious sleep disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. It is characterized by breathing difficulties during sleep, which can lead to a wide range of health problems, including daytime drowsiness, hypertension, and an increased risk of heart disease. While traditional treatment options for sleep apnea include the use of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine or surgery, orthodontic treatment can also be an effective way to address the underlying causes of the disorder. What Are The Symptoms of Sleep Apnea? The most common symptoms of sleep apnea include loud snoring, choking or gasping during sleep, pauses in breathing, and daytime drowsiness. Other symptoms can include morning headaches, difficulty concentrating, and mood swings. If you or a loved one are experiencing these symptoms, it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible. How Do You Diagnose Sleep Apnea? To diagnose sleep apnea, a patient will typically undergo a [...]

Holiday cheer is upon us and as you look forward to celebrating with family and friends over tasty food and warm drinks, it is important to keep your orthodontic health in mind to ensure you stay on track over the holidays. Nothing would spoil Christmas morning quicker than a broken bracket or rogue wire in your mouth! Here are a few tips to incorporate into your routine during the holidays to ensure your orthodontic health stays at its peak: Brushing and flossing daily to remove food particles Using a mouthguard while playing sports with family and friends Avoid hard, sticky, sugary foods We know it isn’t always glamorous leaving the party to double-check your braces or pop your Invisalign back in, but the dedication to your orthodontic progress will be well-worth it! Brush And Floss Regularly To Remove Food Particles Brushing and flossing are important oral hygiene practices that help to remove food particles from the teeth [...]

Orthodontic malocclusions are one of the most common problems affecting orthodontic patients today. Malocclusions are the misalignment of your jaw, preventing your upper and lower jaws from resting in relation to one another as they ideally should. In severe cases, surgery is performed to fix this issue, but for most people, braces and orthodontic treatment will be enough to take care of the misalignment issue.  People with malocclusions might not even realize they’re experiencing any abnormality unless they’ve consulted with an orthodontist. However, if you’re prone to sleep apnea, difficulty chewing food or occasionally speaking, you might be dealing with a malocclusion and not even know it. This can be a tough realization to get past, but thankfully there are a number of treatment options available that can help get your jaw set to perfection. Types Of Malocclusions And How They Affect The Jaw Malocclusions present themselves in three different ways, each of which vary [...]

The thought of jaw repositioning might seem intimidating if you’re new to the term or if you aren’t sure what exactly it entails, but jaw repositioning could be one of the best things you do for your oral health. Whether you’re experiencing: Pain Sleep apnea Difficulty with speech or chewing TMD (temporomandibular joint disorder) You may find your cure linked to jaw repositioning. You or your child could be experiencing a number of orthodontic issues and not even realize that they are linked to the position of your jaw. When you experience treatment for a misaligned jaw, you open the door to a world free of jaw pain, irritation and an increased sense of self-confidence. What is Jaw Repositioning and Why is it Important? Malocclusions, or misalignments in your jaw, are extremely common, but many people may not even realize they are experiencing a misaligned jaw. To fix these malocclusions, orthodontists use jaw repositioning treatments. [...]

Speech is something most of us just assume happens naturally and effortlessly, but if you’re one of the hundreds of thousands of Americans who are affected by a speech impediment, you know that it’s not as simple as just learning how to speak from your parents as a toddler. Speech can be affected by jaw positioning, misaligned teeth and the tongue’s connection to the roof of the mouth.  Thankfully, orthodontics is about much more than fixing a crooked smile. While that is the physically noticeable benefit of orthodontic treatment, orthodontics also provides the means to correct speech impediments. Many people don’t even realize the connection between orthodontic treatment and speech issues and may miss out on an opportunity to have treatment to correct the issue. Only Some Issues Can Be Fixed Speech issues are commonly found to have their root in how your mouth and your tongue work in harmony, but that isn’t the only function that affects speech. [...]

Many people are tempted to confuse orthodontic treatment with cosmetic dentistry and use both terms as a universal way to describe one or the other treatment. In reality, orthodontic treatment and cosmetic dentistry are two different means of treating oral issues, but orthodontic treatment improves oral functionality and cosmetic dentistry improves the appearance of your smile. Understanding The Purpose Of Both Orthodontic treatment and cosmetic dentistry work together to give you a healthy, attractive smile, but both have different purposes. Orthodontic treatment diagnoses, corrects and prevents crooked bites, but its main purpose is to provide a healthy bite by correcting the positioning of your teeth. Good orthodontic treatment can also secure healthy teeth, gums and jaw joints, which provide for dental health over the course of a lifetime. Cosmetic dentistry, on the other hand, is solely for the purpose of improving the appearance of your smile utilizing dental veneers, teeth whitening, dental implants, and inlays or onlays, which provide structural [...]

Before you get braces, you might be wondering what kind of care your teeth will need to keep them cavity free and clean during your stint with braces. While you have braces on, you might be tempted to think that they will cover any potential decay or cavities, and that’s just the issue. They DO hide tooth decay which makes it all the more difficult to keep your teeth clean. Once your braces are removed you might be unpleasantly surprised to find that your teeth don’t look as shiny and clean as you hoped they would. What’s worse is that you might find out you have cavities and vulnerable spots in those hard to reach places that your braces hid the last year and a half or so. Wires And Brackets Create Extra Obstacles For Brushing Braces work to straighten your teeth by using brackets and wires to gently pull your teeth into their ideal positions. You have to work [...]

Orthodontic treatment may look slightly different for each patient, but the route through orthodontic treatment is relatively similar no matter where you start from. Treatment is broken into a few steps that should make it easier for you to understand the reasoning behind each treatment and about how long the different phases should take. Phase One Pre-BracesPhase Two Braces TreatmentPost-Braces TreatmentWhile the heavy-lifting is done in phase two during braces treatment, all of the phases work together to result in your beautiful smile and to keep it straight and healthy. Phase One: Pre-Braces Before you can have braces put on, you will need to have an appointment for an initial consultation to see exactly which options are available to you. At this appointment you will have X-rays taken of your jaw to determine whether you have any underlying issues such as a trapped tooth or gum disease, which will need to be treated before braces are put on.  After your [...]