It happens that a patient who consults an orthodontist smokes. Unfortunately, getting rid of a bad habit is not easy, and sooner or later a person faces the question: is it possible to smoke with braces? This orthodontic device is used to correct malocclusion and other dental abnormalities, resulting in a beautiful smile and straight, white teeth. It goes without saying that smoking will only have a negative consequence in this matter, however, some patients do not think so and continue to abuse smoking. Let's consider this issue in more detail and try to find out whether it is possible to smoke during orthodontic treatment and how cigarettes can affect the condition of the teeth.
How do cigarettes and orthodontic treatment work together?
As we have already noted, smoking is a very bad habit that negatively affects many systems of the body. Teeth are especially affected by harmful resins that penetrate inside through the oral and nasal cavities. Smoking becomes a particular problem during the period when orthodontic treatment is carried out. The thing is that when installing braces, it is much more difficult to carry out mandatory hygiene procedures, which means that it is unlikely to completely remove harmful substances from the oral cavity and from the teeth.
It is worth noting that when smoking, the rubber bands on braces will acquire an unattractive tint, which will create an unaesthetic appearance of the structure. In addition, smoking provokes accelerated formation of tartar and yellow-brown plaque. Resins settle on the tooth enamel, get under the braces and remain there almost until the structure is removed.
And yet, from nicotine, which is firmly ingrained into the structure, an unpleasant odor gradually begins to form. Unfortunately, it is impossible to eliminate it and you will have to wait until the day the structure is removed to get your jaw in order.
What happens if you smoke with braces on your teeth?
Cigarette smoke contains a high concentration of tars and other chemical elements that negatively affect the condition of the entire body, including harm to the oral cavity. While wearing braces, this negative impact increases, since orthodontic structures complicate the care of teeth and gums.
What happens if you continue to combine smoking and braces:
- Plaque accumulates faster. Smoke components settle on the elements of braces, and it becomes more difficult to get rid of them when brushing your teeth. In areas where the system comes into contact with the enamel, tartar can form.
- Change in tooth color. The smoke gradually stains the enamel yellow, and the areas of the teeth hidden by braces remain unchanged. After removal of the structure, the teeth may have an uneven shade, which will be difficult to eliminate even with the use of professional whitening.
- Bad breath. Over time, tobacco smoke is absorbed by the design of the braces system, and it begins to emit a characteristic odor that is difficult to hide from others.
- Changing the type of braces. The aesthetics of the system may suffer due to smoking, depending on the material from which it is made: plastic products gradually acquire a stable gray tint, ceramic products suffer less, but also change color towards a darker one. Sapphire braces retain their original appearance, but their transparency will only highlight the yellowness of a smoker’s teeth. Nothing will happen to metal braces, but the ligatures and elastics that hold the arch can change color.
On a note!
The factors listed above do not mean that smoking with braces is absolutely contraindicated. But experts believe that combining smoking with treatment leads to a deterioration in oral health. Therefore, after the correction of malocclusion and tooth growth is completed, the patient will have to make efforts to restore the appearance of the enamel.
External changes
If you are a smoker, then you should not install plastic orthodontic structures on your teeth. This can stain the plastic and the material will very quickly take on an unsightly brown tint. Ceramic structures resist staining best. They will retain their color for a long time, however, it is worth remembering that such devices will darken sooner or later.
The only option that will preserve color is sapphire systems. It should be borne in mind that in this case the color of the teeth will be completely visible, therefore, experts recommend installing matte braces. Metal structures are considered the most reliable and resistant to nicotine. The main disadvantage of using such structures is the appearance of white spots on the teeth after removing braces. It will be quite difficult to even out the color later.
Is smoking allowed with braces?
Any orthodontist will tell you with confidence that smoking during braces treatment is possible, but highly undesirable. Caring for the oral cavity due to the orthodontic structure is significantly complicated for any person, and doubly so for a smoker. Smoking does not have a particular effect on the braces themselves, but your teeth can be seriously damaged. Let's look at a few side effects you may notice if you continue to smoke during your adjustment.
- A smoker's teeth themselves have a yellowish, and in some cases, a brownish tint. Moreover, nicotine penetrates deep into tooth enamel and is very difficult to lighten. If you continue to smoke while wearing braces, then after the end of treatment the tooth enamel will acquire a non-uniform shade - at the place where the structure is attached it will be lighter, and dark spots will form around it.
- The braces themselves are practically unaffected, except that the rubber bands on metal ligature models can also become stained, reducing the aesthetics of the structure.
- Nicotine and tar contained in cigarettes provoke accelerated formation of plaque and tartar. Considering that cleaning during this period is already difficult, it is easy to imagine how the enamel in difficult areas will suffer.
For these reasons, smoking during bite correction is highly discouraged by orthodontists. If you have the opportunity to get rid of this bad habit or at least reduce the number of cigarettes you smoke, then this would be the best option.
Recommendations for a smoker
If the patient still cannot give up smoking, but at the same time wants to have a beautiful smile, it is necessary to listen to the recommendations of experienced specialists. The first and most important piece of advice is to brush your teeth regularly, and care should be taken very carefully. It will be enough to brush your teeth four times a day. The second tip is the right toothpaste. It is better to purchase a paste that removes plaque well and can penetrate even very hard-to-reach places. The cleaning brush should be of medium hardness.
If you follow all these recommendations, you can achieve quite acceptable results and not give up smoking, although such a bad habit can cause a lot of trouble.
Oral care
To maintain the health of your teeth, you need to clean them thoroughly - this is a truth that does not need proof, which everyone knows. However, with braces installed, this paradigm becomes even more relevant. Let's consider activities that, if carried out in full by a smoker, will minimize the impact of the addiction on the oral cavity.
- Daily brushing of teeth . If you have braces installed, brushing your teeth should be done after every meal. For these purposes, special brushes and paste are used. You can improve the cleaning efficiency by using an irrigator - a special device that pushes out a stream of water under pressure. With its help, it is possible to clean even hard-to-reach areas of the mouth as thoroughly as possible.
- Periodic brushing of teeth . Once every three to five months, with a mandatory visit to the orthodontist, coordinate with him a professional teeth cleaning. This event is designed to rid teeth of tartar and specific plaque.
- Fresh breath . To give your breath a certain freshness, you should use candy candies. The use of chewing gum, for preventive purposes to prevent possible damage to corrective structures, should be excluded.
Smoking with braces: what are the consequences?
Should I quit my bad habit or continue smoking even with braces? Patients undergoing orthodontic treatment often face this choice. Quitting cigarettes is like a disaster for many.
We suggest you familiarize yourself with the causes of a swollen cheek in a child
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At the same time, no one wants to ruin the dentist’s work and throw money away. In addition, healthy teeth are, first of all, an indicator of a respectful attitude towards one’s own health.
Tobacco products and systems
It is initially clear that smoking is an enemy of health. But quitting smoking is very difficult, especially for people with “experience.” Some cannot due to lack of willpower, others do not want to - everyone has their own reasons.
If you decide to undergo orthodontic treatment with braces, you will have to discuss the problem of nicotine addiction with your doctor. A specialist should advise you in all details.
It should be said, in addition to the fact that everyone knows the harmful effects of tobacco on human health, the effect of nicotine and tar in cigarettes can also be exerted on braces.
Incompatibility of tobacco components with the berket system:
- Tobacco changes the color of the components of some braces. Structures can be made of various materials that are differently susceptible to the effects of tobacco smoke and its components.
- Nicotine, tar, formaldehyde, and other harmful elements in cigarettes contribute to rapid wear of auxiliary parts (ligatures, elastic chains, rods, rubber separators, etc.).
- Smoking creates an environment in the oral cavity for the rapid appearance of viscous plaque, which becomes hard, forming tartar.
And when wearing braces, access to some places for cleaning with a toothbrush is difficult. Therefore, problems with oral hygiene may arise and the situation may worsen. - Hot tobacco smoke dries the surface of the teeth, creating microcracks.
Nicotine flushes calcium from the body. All this together makes the teeth brittle, which can later lead to caries and problems when removing the braces. - In addition, bad breath may occur due to the oxidation of some components of the braces system as a result of smoking.
- During long-term smoking, teeth become stained and yellow, and lighter areas remain under braces.
Therefore, after removing the devices, you may find an unpleasant difference in tooth shades. This can be corrected using a whitening procedure, but the desired result is not always obtained, since the teeth have been exposed to tobacco components for a long time. Areas free from braces have had time to change the structure of the tooth surface.
This is interesting: Correcting the bite in adults - how to straighten teeth without braces
Is smoking acceptable while wearing braces?
Smokers who are planning to get braces are always interested in the question “Is it possible to smoke with braces?”
Keep in mind! Of course, any specialist will tell you that smoking in itself is harmful and harms not only your teeth.
Smoking does not have a negative effect on the orthodontic structure itself, just some parts may change color, and the braces themselves may also become stained if they are plastic .
But caring for the brace system will be much more difficult. Because brushing teeth with braces is difficult due to the many locks and rubber bands.
And people often complain that after removing braces, their teeth acquire a yellowish tint.
One of the problems is also bad breath; many non-smoking people do not tolerate the smell of cigarettes, and if your dentist is one of these people, then it will be unpleasant for him to work.
And it will be uncomfortable for both the patient and the doctor.
Under no circumstances should you hide the fact of smoking from your dentist; he will not judge you, but will only be able to help you protect your teeth.
Is it possible to smoke with metal braces?
Metal braces are more durable than systems made from other materials and require less time for their wearers to straighten their teeth. They are not stained by tobacco smoke or food. Only ligatures (rubber bands in the fastening) can change the color.
However, in smokers, tooth enamel is subject to increased plaque formation. Nicotine resins get clogged into microcracks in the enamel that may appear when installing metal braces. Stubborn nicotine pigment can be difficult to remove even with professional whitening. The color of the teeth becomes yellow-brown, but under the tight-fitting fastenings of metal braces, the color of the enamel remains the same and after removing the system, the entire dentition will be covered in white spots.
It should be remembered that by continuing to smoke, wearers of braces expose their health to an additional threat, but by giving up smoking, there will be nothing special to worry about.
Design Features
Braces - contrary to the generally accepted manner of calling the entire structure this way, these are clasps that are attached using a light-curing composite material to the middle of the crown of the teeth (each of them has its own clasp).
The lock looks like a small box, which consists of: a base (a small layer) with grooves (space for inserting an orthodontic arch into it) and wings (curved parts on the sides that clamp the orthodontic arch), the immobility of the locks and the correct position of the teeth is ensured by the orthodontic arch, together with braces, forming a non-removable correction instrument called a bracket system, installed on the outside or inside of the teeth.
Sometimes orthodontic rings, cheek locks, metal springs, and elastic chains are added to it for additional support. Also, the bracket system can be either ligature or self-ligature, that is, it fixes the arch in the braces using an elastic band (more pressure and fastenings) or without its help (less discomfort, fewer possible injuries). This makes a big difference in price.
There are completely different materials for making braces, and this also affects the price.
What to do?
So, what to do if braces and smoking are incompatible, but there is no opportunity or strength to get rid of the addiction right now? It is necessary to at least minimize the harm caused. To do this, try to follow a few simple rules:
- Pay attention to keeping your teeth and entire mouth clean. In addition to regular regular home cleanings, professional procedures will help you with this (at least once every two to one and a half months you need to have cleanings done in a good dental clinic). If you can’t pay for expensive procedures, try doing the same yourself - buy an irrigator. This device, which works using jets of water, cleans the oral cavity three to four times better than a regular toothbrush.
- You need to smoke as little as possible while wearing braces: the smaller the number of cigarettes you smoke in one day, the less impact your teeth and overall health will have.
- Regularly brush your teeth and tongue with toothpaste and sanitize with rinses (available in pharmacies and supermarkets), such as chlorhexidine.
Teeth and braces should be cleaned at least three to four times a day, but not more often. You should not brush your teeth every hour or half an hour: you will do more harm to them, as you will quickly erase the enamel.
- In order to reach areas near the braces and their fastenings during cleaning, you need to purchase a special brush that can bend and is shaped like a dish brush. With the help of such a brush, you can regularly clean all hard-to-reach areas of your teeth until you remove the braces.
- To always be sure of clean and fresh breath, you will have to use lozenges, sprays and other means to freshen the mouth.
So, for those who wear braces, it is not advisable to smoke a lot, since the teeth will become covered with plaque even faster, and after removing the braces, they will generally become uneven in color. To prevent this, you need to regularly and thoroughly brush your teeth and smoke less.
Is it possible to smoke with braces?
It is not advisable to smoke with braces - a specialist will definitely inform patients about this, but not everyone is ready to give up nicotine for the sake of a beautiful smile. Therefore, there is no categorical ban on smoking during orthodontic treatment. But the patient must understand that his addiction will add additional hassle to him in caring for his oral cavity.
We invite you to familiarize yourself with Relining a removable denture: what it is and how to do it, a direct method for relining a clasp and plate denture
Question-Answer: Rhinoplasty
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21.12.2018
Hello. I would like to make an appointment for a rhinoplasty consultation on January 3rd or 5th. Is it possible to make an appointment on these days and what documents do you need to bring with you (tests, CT results, etc.)? Thank you!
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19.12.2018
Good afternoon, doctor! Please tell me, is it possible to make an appointment with you for a consultation at the beginning of February? When can I have surgery after taking Roukutan? And is it possible to do 2 operations at a time - rhinoplasty and breast augmentation? One more question, if the consultation is in February, how long should I wait for the planned operation?
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15.08.2018
Hello. Is it possible to remove a wisdom tooth a month before rhinoplasty (the removal is difficult and requires surgery)? Or is this not very good and it’s better to wait?
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13.04.2018
Good afternoon! I had a consultation about rhinoseptoplasty on June 20, 2017. Now I’m determined to have the operation. I understand that almost a year has passed, and a number of questions have arisen in connection with this: 1. Is a repeat consultation necessary? Would you like to discuss the details again, look at the modeling, or is this before the operation and this is how everything happens? Read completely
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10.04.2018
Good night! My question is: how many days or weeks before rhinoseptoplasty surgery should I stop drinking alcohol? And how long after surgery can you not use it?
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12.03.2018
Hello. On December 12, an operation was performed on the nasal septum - septoplasty and a polyp was removed. How soon can the next operation be performed to remove the hump - rhinoplasty?
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20.02.2018
Alexander Viktorovich, hello. Please tell me, is it possible to do rhinoplasty with enlarged lips? Does this in any way affect the results of the operation? And how long should it take after lip augmentation before rhinoplasty can be done (if this is important)? Thanks in advance.
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18.01.2018
Hello! In February I plan to operate on a hallux valgus deformity. I want to know if I can have rhinoplasty this same month, or is this a big burden on the body?
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15.01.2018
Good afternoon. My name is Katerina. I've been thinking about rhinoplasty for a long time. I live in St. Petersburg. Please tell us in a little more detail how the preparation takes place and how long does the preparation and rehabilitation period take? What is included in the cost of the operation? Tests? Hospital?
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14.12.2017
If I perform 2 operations at the same time, will I still only be in the clinic for one day? And if I don’t come alone, can a loved one be with me in the hospital? In the ward. I start taking tests according to the list, if everything is fine, I immediately write to you to arrange a date for the consultation/operation. In Moscow, is it possible to get all the tests done in one day?
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14.12.2017
Can a neurologist's conclusion be from my attending physician (psychotherapist)? Is it necessary to stay in Moscow for 10 days after surgery in case of rhinoseptoplasty? Can I leave earlier? What are the possible complications? Does rhinoseptoplasty include plastic surgery of the wings of the nose?
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10.12.2017
Hello. Is it possible to perform rhinoseptoplasty and blepharoplasty of the upper eyelid in one operation? I am from Minsk. Do you accept RB tests? How long will I need to stay in the clinic?
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10.12.2017
Hello, Alexander Viktorovich! The other day I had a consultation with you, I am selecting a date for rhinoseptoplasty in January. Tell me, on what days of the week do you conduct operations?
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03.12.2017
Hello! I would like to have rhinoplasty done in February, I have been looking at it for a long time, evaluating it, I liked the work, I want to please myself. What is the best way to coordinate the time of consultation and the time of taking all tests? Is it possible that after the holidays I will do all this and the operation will be scheduled for February? Or is everything better in December? Can you tell me how busy it is? I think that during the consultation I will be convinced of my choice. I really hope so.
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17.10.2017
Do I need to remove nipple piercings during surgery? Will it interfere with rhinoplasty?
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11.09.2017
Good evening. Thank you for the quick response. How should I make an appointment? I plan to have rhinoplasty at the end of October - November. I would like to clarify, 210 thousand rubles. for rhinoplasty - is this the final amount? I don't want to find myself in an awkward position.
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22.03.2017
Hello! Please tell me a CT scan of the nose, as indicated on the website, in 2 projections, the CT specialist asks if this is an X-ray, since CT is a three-dimensional image. I am preparing for surgery, scheduled for 04/19/17. Thank you!
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10.02.2017
Alexander Viktorovich, good evening! I had mammoplasty with you in the spring, and we talked with you about rhinoplasty. You recommended taking pictures, since I already had one operation. I will definitely come to you for a consultation with the CT results as soon as possible. Read completely
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25.01.2017
Hello, Alexander! I want to do rhinoplasty with you. I recently finished taking the drug Roaccutane, treated my face for acne, and took it for a year. The doctor said that plastic surgery can be done after 6 months. I wanted you to confirm this, I really trust you!
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11.12.2016
Hello! I had non-surgical rhinoplasty about 6 months ago, but it did not give the desired result. Tell me, can I have surgical rhinoplasty in the near future? Or can the introduction of fillers somehow cause harm?
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11.12.2016
Hello. Tell me, I need to have the tip of my nose and nostrils corrected, how much does it cost? And how many days in advance are appointments for consultation and surgery required? Thank you.
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25.11.2016
Hello, Alexander Viktorovich! I have another question about rhinoplasty. I need to get braces, and I need to remove my wisdom teeth, one of which lies horizontally in the gum. And also while wearing braces, I need to install an implant on the bottom six. Read completely
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29.10.2016
Hello, I would like to have revision rhinoplasty. The first was March 10, 2020. Almost 9 months have passed. Do I need to wait a year? I really wouldn’t like to wait a year and do it in January. If possible, how much will the cost be? Thanks for the answer.
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24.10.2016
Hello, Dear Alexander Viktorovich. I really like your works, they are beautiful. The fact is that, wanting to make an appointment with you for a consultation (and possibly for rhinoplasty), I began to collect tests. And an MRI of the nose showed a deviated septum of 4 mm to the right, a ridge on it of 2 mm in the same direction, and cysts in the maxillary sinuses of 33 mm and 29 mm. Read completely
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20.09.2016
Alexander, good afternoon! I would be very grateful if you spend some time with me. I already had a consultation with you about septorhinoplasty of the nose. In the summer I underwent a full examination: I had an MRI, CT scan and rhinoscopy of the nose. Based on the results of the research, I was diagnosed with a Thornwald cyst. Read completely
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25.06.2016
Hello, can I make an appointment for rhinoplasty at the beginning of September? What tests do I need to provide and how long before surgery should I be at the clinic? Thank you waiting for an answer.
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20.06.2016
Hello! I want to have rhinoplasty and get braces in 2-3 weeks, won’t one interfere with the other? What do you recommend? Thank you in advance for your response!
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01.06.2016
Good afternoon Is it possible to have rhinoplasty after the procedure for correcting nasolacrimal grooves? If yes, after how long? How much does the correction procedure cost? Thank you.
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23.04.2016
Please tell me how long does rhinoplasty take? And how much will it cost? Thank you.
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18.03.2016
Hello, Alexander Viktorovich! I had mammoplasty with you on January 13, 2020. I made an appointment with you for a consultation on April 19 and for rhinoplasty surgery on April 20. I would like to clarify, can rhinoplasty surgery be performed 3 months after mammoplasty surgery?
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20.01.2016
Good afternoon At the end of December I had breast surgery. Please tell me, after what period of time can rhinoplasty be done? Thanks for the answer!
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07.12.2015
Hello. I'm going to have rhinoplasty with you. I always get very nervous when I go to the doctors, my pulse becomes high due to nervousness, I have vegetative-vascular dystonia. Is it possible to get some kind of injection before rhinoplasty to make it less scary? Read completely
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04.12.2015
Good afternoon, Alexander Viktorovich! How to prepare for rhinoplasty if you are prone to herpes? Maybe you can recommend a course of Acyclovir or another drug? How long after the last manifestation of herpes can surgery be performed?
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30.11.2015
Alexander Viktorovich, hello! Please tell me how the days after surgery (rhinoplasty) are counted: from the day of the operation or from the next day? For example, surgery on the 21st, dressing on the 3rd day - is it on the 23rd or 24th? Essential for trip planning.
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25.11.2015
Hello, Alexander Viktorovich. I heard that before rhinoplasty, all teeth must be perfectly healed and ultrasonic cleaning done. Is it so?
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26.09.2015
Hello. Tell me, how long after rhinoplasty can be done after straightening the septum and removing the cyst in the left nostril? Is it possible to intervene immediately a month after the first operation?
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28.06.2015
Good afternoon I would like to know: I want to have rhinoplasty, how soon can I do it if I had breast augmentation surgery a month ago?
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19.06.2015
Hello. Is it possible to do rhinoplasty if the wisdom tooth is in the gum and lies horizontally, but is slightly visible on the surface? There is discomfort in the gums because of this. Do I need to remove the tooth first?
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13.06.2015
Dear Alexander, good afternoon! There is an opinion that it is not recommended to do any operations in the summer due to the heat. I would like to hear your opinion on when it would really be better to have rhinoplasty with minimal risk of complications - in summer or autumn? Read completely
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06.06.2015
Hello. I recommend that you first get your teeth in order, remove the necessary ones and install an implant, and then you can do rhinoplasty.
Sincerely, plastic surgeon Alexander Grudko.
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25.11.2016
