TMJ disorder is a broad term used to describe discomfort, distress, or some form of dysfunction in the temporomandibular joints that hinge your jaw. The muscles, connective tissues and cartilage structure of these joints are quite complex, and a minor issue with one or two components can lead to chronic discomfort. Early symptoms include a dull ache in the temples... read more »

Do you know how to protect your mouth as a teen? A teenager often faces multiple risks due to the pressures of their social settings, but environmental factors also play an increased role, especially with their oral health. Due to the last adult teeth erupting above the gum line, malocclusions are more common, and teeth are at a greater risk... read more »

Can orthodontic braces deliver on their promises? With our help, our dedicated team can get you on the path to a straighter smile in no time. With braces, you can set crooked teeth straight once more, and fix your crooked smile. Listed below are some of the perks of braces: - Eating and speaking can often be done with much... read more »

Although cleaning and caring for your braces tends to be a simple task, it is oftentimes overlooked and neglected. Keeping your braces clean is an important part of keeping your braces effective. If they cannot function correctly, your recovery time will increase. Braces will not clean themselves, and your oral hygiene habits are still necessary. This includes brushing your teeth... read more »

Trying to convince your teenager that wearing metal braces is good for them can be difficult. Teenage years are awkward and will be made more awkward with braces that draw attention to themselves. Your family’s dentist, Dr. Jaime Rivera offers an alternative: ceramic coated braces. For the most part, these are still regular braces. However, the wires and brackets are... read more »

If you want a straight and beautiful smile, then you need to keep your braces in tip-top shape. However, there are times when your appliance might break or become altered, for instance, when you break a bracket. When this happens, it’s important to do all you can to improve the situation and treat the problem so you can get back on... read more »

If you are looking into getting a pair of braces to help straighten your smile, Rivera Orthodontics is here to help. There are options available to you, and one of the most popular brands is Invisalign®, clear plastic aligners. The Invisalign brand has become popular because of features it offers that traditional metal braces do not. There are some issues... read more »

At Rivera Orthodontics, Dr. Jaime Rivera and our team are pleased to provide comprehensive orthodontics for our patients in El Paso, Texas. Today we would like to two easy tips to clean your smile properly while wearing braces. Tip 1 Brushing While proper oral health is important for a healthy smile it is even more necessary to ensure a healthy... read more »

Malocclusion, or a misaligned bite or crooked teeth, is a common issue. Some people’s teeth come in crooked, overlapping, or crowded. This can occur when a person’s mouth is too small for their teeth. Individuals may also have gapped teeth. A person may have upper and lower jaws that aren’t the same size or that did not form correctly. This... read more »

Embrace your orthodontic care treatment options. Make the most of your braces and the services they can provide by taking the best of care of both them and your teeth and gums. Depending on your service type, your aligners may be able to be removed, and if so, it is important to clean them so they do not harbor more... read more »