Irmo Smiles, in Irmo SC, is pleased to provide a full range of dental care services and dental treatments. Our dentistry services include: children's, cosmetic, family, general, laser, orthodontic, preventive, restorative and sedation dentistry.
Experience has shown that the optimum time to begin addressing bite issues and crowded or crooked teeth is when children are young, often before permanent teeth start coming in. Correction now can make room for incoming teeth and prevent far more extensive treatment later, saving you time and money. Correction is also easier when the child is young and the jaw bone is less dense.
Halloween is just around the corner, and although candy consumption is almost unavoidable this time of year, the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) wants parents and children to know that there are both good and bad candy options, both of which may find their way into children's trick-or-treat bags this fall. 
How many hours a day will I wear the aligners? 
Your child's first visit to the dentist should happen before his or her first birthday. The general rule is six months after eruption of the first tooth. Taking your child to the dentist at a young age is the best way to prevent problems such as tooth decay, and can help parents learn how to clean their child's teeth and identify his or her fluoride needs. After all, decay can occur as soon as teeth appear. Bringing your child to the dentist early often leads to a lifetime of good oral care habits and acclimates your child to the dental office, thereby reducing anxiety and fear, which will make for plenty of stress-free visits in the future. 
Invisalign and braces both use similar principles to move the teeth slowly into a more ideal position for a more pleasing appearance and better functionality. Invisalign uses clear aligners that fit over the entire arch of your teeth, rather than brackets fastened to your teeth, and uses timing as well as controlled forces to dictate which teeth move when. Your doctor will create a plan for this that is specific to your needs and goals. The shape of the aligners is custom designed for the current shape and position of your teeth and the desired result. You wear each set for about two weeks before progressing to the next, gradually shifting to the final position. The average number of aligners for a full treatment plan falls between 18 and 30, but the number varies from case to case.
With the American population living longer, seniors' oral health has become an important issue, as has the widespread problem of elder abuse. Every year more than 2.5 million older Americans may be victims of elder abuse, and in some cases dentists serve as the first line of defense, according to a report in the May/June 2005 issue of General Dentistry, the clinical, peer-reviewed journal of the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD).