 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
See our introduction to Orthodontics Video below:
ORTHODONTIC FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
What
age should my child have an orthodontic evaluation? FIXED AND REMOVABLE APPLIANCES
Band & Loop
(B&L)
Braces Care ORTHODONTIC EMERGENCIES OR PROBLEMS
Loose Bracket ORTHODONTIC FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO)
recommends an orthodontic screening for children by the age of 7 years.
At age 7 the teeth and jaws are developed enough so that the dentist or
orthodontist can see if there will be any serious bite problems in the
future. Most of the time treatment is not necessary at age 7, but it
gives the parents and dentist time to watch the development of the
patient and decide on the best mode of treatment. When you have time on
your side you can plan ahead and prevent the formation of serious
problems. Research has shown that serious orthodontic problems can be more easily corrected when the patient’s skeleton is still growing and flexible. By correcting the skeletal problems at a younger age we can prepare the mouth for the eventual eruption of the permanent teeth. If the permanent teeth have adequate space to erupt they will come in fairly straight. If the teeth erupt fairly straight their tendency to get crooked again after the braces come off is diminished significantly. After the permanent teeth have erupted, usually from age 12-14, complete braces are placed for final alignment and detailing of the bite. Thus the final stage of treatment is quicker and easier on the patient. This phase of treatment usually lasts from 12 - 18 month and is not started until all of the permanent teeth are erupted.
Doing orthodontic treatments in two steps
provides excellent results often allowing the doctor to avoid removal of
permanent teeth and jaw surgery. The treatment done when some of the
baby teeth are still present is called Phase-1. The last part of
treatment after all the permanent teeth have erupted is called Phase-2.
Crowded teeth, thumb sucking, tongue
thrusting, premature loss of baby teeth, a poor breathing airway caused
by enlarged adenoids or tonsils can all contribute to poor tooth
positioning. And then there are the hereditary factors. Extra teeth,
large teeth, missing teeth, wide spacing, small jaws - all can be causes
of crowded teeth.
Tooth movement is a natural response to
light pressure over a period of time. Pressure is applied by using a
variety of orthodontic hardware (appliances), the most common being a
brace or bracket attached to the teeth and connected by an arch wire.
Periodic changing of these arch wires puts pressure on the teeth. At
different stages of treatment your child may wear a headgear, elastics,
a positioner or a retainer. Most orthodontic appointments are scheduled
4 to 6 weeks apart to give the teeth time to move.
When teeth are first moved, discomfort may
result. This usually lasts about 24 to 72 hours. Patients report a
lessening of pain as the treatment progresses. Pain medicines such as
acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) usually help relieve the
pain.
The part of your braces which actually moves
the teeth. The arch wire is attached to the brackets by small elastic
donuts or ligature wires. Arch Wires are changed throughout the
treatment. Each change brings you closer to the ideal tooth position. Brackets are the “Braces” or small attachments that are bonded directly to the tooth surface. The brackets are the part of your braces to which the dentist or assistant attaches the arch wire.
Occasionally, a bracket may come loose and
become an irritation to your mouth. You can remove the loose bracket and
save it in an envelope to bring to the office. Call the office as soon
as possible and make an appointment to re-glue the bracket.
At some time during treatment, it will be
necessary to wear elastics to coordinate the upper and lower teeth and
perfect the bite. Once teeth begin to move in response to elastics, they
move rapidly and comfortably. If elastics (rubber bands) are worn
intermittently, they will continually "shock" the teeth and cause more
soreness. When elastics are worn one day and left off the next,
treatment slows to a standstill or stops. Sore teeth between
appointments usually indicate improper wear of headgear or elastics or
inadequate hygiene. Wear your elastics correctly, attaching them as you
were told. Wear elastics all the time, unless otherwise directed. Take
your elastics off while brushing. Change elastics as directed, usually
once or twice a day.
Often called a “night brace”. The headgear
is used to correct a protrusion of the upper or lower jaw. It works by
inhibiting the upper jaw from growing forward, or the downward growth of
the upper jaw or even by encouraging teeth to move forward, if that is
the case. Poor positioning of the teeth. Types of Malocclusion:
The alignment and spacing of your upper and lower teeth when you bite down. Types of Occlusion:
O rings, also called A-lastics, are little
rings used to attach the arch wire to the brackets. These rings come in
standard gray or clear, but also come in a wide variety of colors to
make braces more fun. A-lastics are changed at every appointment to
maintain good attachment of the arch wire to the bracket, enabling our
patients to enjoy many different color schemes throughout treatment.
FIXED AND REMOVABLE APPLIANCES
An appliance designed to encourage the lower
jaw to grow forward and “catch up” to upper jaw growth.
An appliance which is placed in the roof of the mouth to widen the upper dental arch. The maxilla, or upper dental arch, is joined in the center by a joint, which allows it to be painlessly separated and spread. Temporarily you may see a space develop between the upper two front teeth. This will slowly go away in a few days. Once this has occurred, the two halves knit back together and new bone fills in the space.
An appliance used to expand the lower arch without interfering with tongue posture or movement.
This appliance maintains the position of the maxillary molars without using any other teeth. The plastic button on the palate provides stability.
At the completion of the active phase of orthodontic treatment, braces are removed and removable appliances called retainers are placed. To retain means to hold. Teeth must be retained or held in their new positions while the tissues, meaning the bone, elastic membranes around the roots, the gums, tongue and lips have adapted themselves to the new tooth positions. Teeth can move if they are not retained. It is extremely important to wear your retainers as directed! You will be shown the proper care of your braces when your orthodontic treatment begins. Proper cleansing of your mouth is necessary every time you eat. Teeth with braces are harder to clean, and trap food very easily. If food is left lodged on the brackets and wires, it can cause unsightly etching of the enamel on your teeth. Your most important job is to keep your mouth clean. If food is allowed to collect, the symptoms of gum disease will show in your mouth. The gums will swell and bleed and the pressure from the disease will slow down tooth movement. BRUSHING: You should brush your teeth 4-5 times per day.
Look in a mirror to see if you have missed any places. Your teeth, brackets and wires should be free of any food particles and plaque. Note: If your gums bleed when brushing, do not avoid brushing, but rather continue stimulating the area with the bristles. Be sure to angle your toothbrush so that the area under your gum line is cleaned. After 3 or 4 days of proper brushing, the bleeding should stop and your gums should be healthy again. FLOSSING: Use a special floss threader to floss with your braces on. Be sure to floss at least once per day.
FLUORIDE RINSE OR GEL: May be
recommended for preventive measures. Clean the retainer by brushing with toothpaste. If you are wearing a lower fixed retainer be extra careful to brush the wire and the inside of the lower teeth. Always bring your retainer to each appointment. Avoid flipping the retainer with your tongue, this can cause damage to your teeth. Place the retainer in the plastic case when it is re-moved from your mouth. Never wrap the retainer in a paper napkin or tissue, someone may throw it away. Don't put it in your pocket or you may break or lose it. Excessive heat will warp and ruin the retainer.
If elastics (rubber bands) are worn
intermittently, they will continually "shock" the teeth and cause more
soreness. Sore teeth between appointments usually indicate improper wear
of headgear or elastics or inadequate hygiene. Wear your elastics
correctly, attaching them as you were told. Wear elastics all the time,
unless otherwise directed. Take your elastics off while brushing. Change
elastics as directed, usually once or twice a day.
ORTHODONTIC EMERGENCIES OR PROBLEMS
Please feel free to contact the office if
you are experiencing any discomfort or if you have any questions. Below
are a few simple steps that might help if you are unable to contact us
or if you need a “quick fix”.
Occasionally, a glued bracket may come
loose. You can remove the loose bracket and save it in an envelope to
bring to the office or leave it where it is, if it is not causing any
irritation. Call the office as soon as possible in order for us to allow
time to re-glue the bracket.
If a wire is poking your gums or cheek there
are several things you can try until you can get to the office for an
appointment. First try a ball of wax on the wire that is causing the
irritation. You may also try using a nail clipper or cuticle cutter to
cut the extra piece of wire that is sticking out. Sometimes, a poking
wire can be safely turned down so that it no longer causes discomfort.
To do this you may use a pencil eraser, or some other smooth object, and
tuck the offending wire back out of the way.
Please be careful to avoid hard or sticky
foods that may bend the wire or cause it to come out of the back brace.
If this does happen, you may use needle nose pliers or tweezers to put
the wire back into the hole in the back brace. If you are unable to do
this, you may clip the wire to ease the discomfort. Please call the
office as soon as possible to schedule an appointment to replace the
wire.
Some brackets have small hooks on them for
elastic wear. These hooks can occasionally become irritating to the lips
or cheeks. If this happens, you may either use a pencil eraser to
carefully push the hook in, or you can place a ball of wax on the hook
to make the area feel smooth. You may be experiencing some discomfort after beginning treatment or at the change of wires or adjusting of appliances. This is normal and should diminish within 24-72 hours. A few suggestions to help with the discomfort:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Home
| Meet the Doctors
| Office Policies |
First Visit |
Orthodontics | Frequently Asked Questions
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
A
plastic or rubber donut piece which the dentist uses to create space
between your teeth for bands. 
A
Band & Loop is a fixed appliance routinely used to hold space for a
missing primary (baby) posterior (back) tooth until the permanent tooth
can grown in.
This
appliance provides continual, gradual pressure in as many as four
directions, to move molars, expand or contract arches or assist in
eliminating finger or thumb habits.
A
universally used retainer with many applications; to remove teeth, close
spaces, maintain alignment during or after treatment.
Brush
back and forth across……between the wires and gums on the upper and
lower to loosen any food particles. 
