Dr. Erin Gustafson
Dr. Erin Gustafson was born and raised in northeast Texas, relocating to Lubbock to complete her undergraduate degree in Zoology at Texas Tech University.
Read more about Dr. Erin Gustafson
Find Us:
Patient Library
Find helpful information in our digital library.
Archive:
- 2019
- 2018
- 2017
- 2016
- 2015
- 2014
- 2013
Tags
- Welcome (1)
- celebrity smiles (68)
- oral hygiene (15)
- orthodontics (13)
- braces (15)
- gum disease (9)
- clear aligners (2)
- snoring (2)
- sleep apnea (2)
- aging (1)
- orthodontic treatment (11)
- periodontal disease (5)
- cosmetic dentistry (7)
- oral surgery (2)
- oral health (16)
- gum recession (4)
- dental injury (4)
- mouthguard (1)
- dental emergency (2)
- nutrition (6)
- teeth whitening (5)
- pediatric dentistry (11)
- dental exam (1)
- toothache (3)
- tooth pain (3)
- root canal (4)
- bad breath (2)
- osteoporosis (2)
- dental care (1)
- dental implants (11)
- tooth grinding (1)
- baby teeth (1)
- tooth wear (1)
- endodontics (1)
- crowns (4)
- chipped teeth (1)
- topical fluoride (1)
- athletic mouthguards (1)
- palatal expander (1)
- facial pain (3)
- tmd (1)
- tmj (1)
- jaw pain (1)
- frenectomy (1)
- wisdom teeth (3)
- removable dentures (1)
- porcelain veneers (4)
- orthognathic surgery (1)
- jaw surgery (1)
- tooth decay (4)
- trigeminal neuralgia (2)
- bone grafting (2)
- bonding (1)
- fluoride (1)
- retainers (1)
- oral appliance (1)
- night guard (1)
- teeth wear (1)
- sealants (1)
- pediatric care (1)
- sensitive teeth (1)
- veneers (1)
- extractions (1)
- chipped tooth (2)
- impacted teeth (1)
- teeth grinding (1)
- oral cancer (1)
- retainer (2)
- dental cleaning (1)
- antibiotics (1)
- mouthguards (2)
- bone graft (1)
- bone loss (1)
- thumb sucking (1)
- diabetes (1)
- x-rays (1)
- sports drinks (1)
- extraction (1)
Categories:
How Kathy Bates Retains Her Movie-Star Smile
In her decades-long career, renowned actress Kathy Bates has won Golden Globes, Emmys, and many other honors. Bates began acting in her twenties, but didn't achieve national recognition until she won the best actress Oscar for Misery — when she was 42 years old! “I was told early on that because of my physique and my look, I'd probably blossom more in my middle age,” she recently told Dear Doctor magazine. “[That] has certainly been true.” So if there's one lesson we can take from her success, it might be that persistence pays off.
When it comes to her smile, Kathy also recognizes the value of persistence. Now 67, the veteran actress had orthodontic treatment in her 50's to straighten her teeth. Yet she is still conscientious about wearing her retainer. “I wear a retainer every night,” she said. “I got lazy about it once, and then it was very difficult to put the retainer back in. So I was aware that the teeth really do move.”
Indeed they do. In fact, the ability to move teeth is what makes orthodontic treatment work. By applying consistent and gentle forces, the teeth can be shifted into better positions in the smile. That's called the active stage of orthodontic treatment. Once that stage is over, another begins: the retention stage. The purpose of retention is to keep that straightened smile looking as good as it did when the braces came off. And that's where the retainer comes in.
There are several different kinds of retainers, but all have the same purpose: To hold the teeth in their new positions and keep them from shifting back to where they were. We sometimes say teeth have a “memory” — not literally, but in the sense that if left alone, teeth tend to migrate back to their former locations. And if you've worn orthodontic appliances, like braces or aligners, that means right back where you started before treatment.
By holding the teeth in place, retainers help stabilize them in their new positions. They allow new bone and ligaments to re-form and mature around them, and give the gums time to remodel themselves. This process can take months to years to be complete. But you may not need to wear a retainer all the time: Often, removable retainers are worn 24 hours a day at first; later they are worn only at night. We will let you know what's best in your individual situation.
So take a tip from Kathy Bates, star of the hit TV series American Horror Story, and wear your retainer as instructed. That's the best way to keep your straight new smile from changing back to the way it was — and to keep a bad dream from coming true.
If you would like more information about orthodontic retainers, please contact us or schedule an appointment for a consultation. You can learn more about this topic in the Dear Doctor magazine articles “Why Orthodontic Retainers?” and “The Importance of Orthodontic Retainers.” The interview with Kathy Bates appears in the latest issue of Dear Doctor.