Ladd Dental Group

Benefits of Braces  First off, straight teeth contribute to a nicer smile.  Many studies have shown that an attractive smile boosts self-esteem which is important at any age. For children, the development of a positive self-image can carry forward throughout life and contribute to future success.  For adults, self-esteem is critically important in many professional settings and social situations. As important as appearance can be, the benefit of braces goes beyond just esthetics.  Straight teeth help an individual more effectively bite, chew, and even speak.  It may come as a surprise that straight teeth contribute to healthy teeth and gums.  Straighter teeth are easier to brush, clean, and floss! The ability to take better care of the teeth through oral hygiene also helps prevent future cavities and periodontal disease. This latter problem is of particular concern because over time it can lead to destruction of the bone that holds the teeth in place...

Importance of Routine Dental Care  When I was in my 30s and a dentist told me I needed a few crowns , I decided to skip the expensive devices because of my meager paycheck. Besides, my teeth weren't hurting. Years later, I am paying the price in pain and costlier dental work . One of the damaged teeth that needed a crown distorted my bite, making a minor jaw-joint problem even worse. Unfortunately I'm far from alone. The price of dental care is steep for many people financially, physically and even socially, according to Marko Vujicic, chief economist and vice president of the Health Policy Institute at the American Dental Association. Vujicic said that the  majority of emergency room dental visits  were for infections that could be handled in a dentist's office. Overall, emergency room dental visits cost $1.9 billion yearly, 40 percent of which is public money, according to his institute's analysis of data from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quali...