I was inspired to become an orthodontist after my own positive experience with braces. As a teenager with crooked teeth I was embarrassed to smile, which affected my mood, confidence and the personality I projected. Enhancing my smile with braces gave me more confidence and allowed me to be the person I wanted to be. Having experienced the transformative effects of orthodontics myself, practicing as an orthodontist is especially gratifying for mepracticing in my home town of Kansas City makes it that much more special.
Dr. Ravi is active in a number of professionalsocieties including: the American Association of Orthodontists, the American DentalAssociation, the Missouri Dental Association, the Midwestern Society ofOrthodontists and the Eastern Jackson County Dental Group. To stay on the cuttingedge of the profession, he regularly attends continuing education courses, bothwithin the orthodontic specialty and in other dental disciplines.
Its more important than ever to brush and floss regularly when you have braces so the teeth and gums stayhealthy during orthodontic treatment. All orthodontic patients should continue to see their general dentist for check up visits. Patients who do not keep their teeth clean may require more frequent visits to the dentist for a professional cleaning. Adults who have a history of gum disease should also see their periodontist during orthodontic treatment. Watch the two videos below on the proper care of braces during orthodontic treatment.
What can you eat? Lets talk about what you shouldnt eat! For the first day or so, stick to soft foods. Avoid tough meats, hard breads, and raw vegetables. Before long, youll be able to bite a cucumber again. But youll need to protect your orthodontic appliances when you eat for as long as youre wearing braces.
When you get your braces on, you may feel general soreness in your mouth and teeth may be tender to biting pressures for 3 5 days. Take Tylenol or whatever you normally take for headache or discomfort. The lips, cheeks and tongue may also become irritated for one to two weeks as they toughen and become accustomed to the braces. We will supply wax to put on the braces in irritated areas to lessen discomfort.
To successfully complete orthodontic treatment, the patient must work together with the orthodontist. The teeth and jaws can only move toward their corrected positions if the patient consistently wears the rubber bands or other appliances as prescribed. Lack of cooperation following instructions and damaged appliances lengthen the treatment time so please follow instructions.