Orthodontics 101

by: Christine Zafra

Stress is something that cannot be avoided. It is an “everyday” circumstance and may arise at any given situation. Though the link of stress and heart attack is established, there is another disease that is recently connected to it: periodontitis. Although the connection’s foundation is still hazy, researchers are doing their best to further develop the study.

They are currently looking into periodontitis as a disease linked with heart ailments. One of the theories states that inflamed gums do produce infected blood in the blood stream, making the other organs receive the said blood, and perhaps, cause damage to it.

Photo taken from http://a.abcnews.com

by: Christine Zafra

Brushing your teeth twice or thrice a day can help minimize, if not eliminate, dental cavities. Also, eating a healthy diet can aid a person in having oral diseases such as periodontitis and others. However, little do we know that a person’s genes generally play a big role in the formation of dental cavities. Researchers from the University of Pittsburgh conducted a study amongst identical twins and found out that there are certain genes that are responsible in tooth decay. Now, how can this be? They said that the connection relies on the food preferences of the people and the production of saliva (an anti-cavity enzyme). You don’t have to worry though, because there is also a gene that fights cavities.

Photo taken from http://www.lifespan.org

by: Christine Zafra

A new drug has been made to reverse the effect of fat lips after dental extraction. True, it is very awkward to talk after you have had your tooth extracted as you may feel that your lip has gotten fatter. How about a drug that could reverse the effect? Sounds good?

Well, OraVerse is the right drug for you. It actually allows your blood vessels to hasten the blood travel by removing the anesthetic drug in an hour or so (normally, the anesthesia wears out more or less 3 hours from the initial injection). This drug is also safe as it has been approved by the FDA.

Photo taken from http://www.dixieddc.com

Braces are often associated with a teenager’s rite of passage but today, more and more people are getting braces as adults, sometimes along with their teenage children. Orthodontic treatment for adults are more complicated than teens; the latter has jaw bones that are easier to correct while adults have already had their mature teeth and dental problems for decades. In some serious cases, some patients have to go through jaw surgery along with their orthodontic treatment. The most popular kind of braces for adults are called fixed braces. No matter what your age is, this type of braces needs 9 to 30 months before results are achieved. Adults will also have to wear retainers longer than teenagers do.

If you’re wearing braces, your diet is definitely going to change so you don’t damage any of the brackets on your mouth. The most obvious type of food to stay away from are the hard, sticky ones like gum, chocolate bars, and candy. Besides getting stuck in between the bars, they can also cause tooth decay. Some other food to avoid eating regularly are hard steak, corn on the cob, bagels, raw hard vegetables, hard tacos, and potato chips. It might be difficult to remove them out of your diet but if you damage your braces, you are basically prolonging your treatment time. If you’d like fast braces treatment, follow a diet of softer food to make sure that your teeth and braces stay in prime condition during treatment.

It is common to see children with crooked, uneven teeth, and also a large number using braces. What could be the factor behind the increasing incidence in the use of braces to correct unaligned children’s teeth? The primary reason for this is that it is easier to treat teeth problems during childhood rather than when they reach adulthood. Responses to treatment during this phase are better and quicker and added to that occurrence of complications is minimal. Some children like the idea of using braces as they are seen as status symbol. Dentists assess the children’s dental condition to determine if braces are really needed.

An overbite comes about when the upper front teeth stick out over the lower front teeth. More often the lower incisors are hidden from view. Overbite is brought about by the uneven growth of the front teeth or the bone that supports the teeth develops faster. Overbite is also referred to as a deep bite. Overbite should be attended to because it can lead to some problems of the jaw, wearing of the lower front teeth due to constant contact and gum tissue problems resulting from constant biting of the lower front teeth of the upper palate. This problem can be corrected at any age but earlier treatment is advised since the jaw is easier to maneuver.

Crossbite can happen either in the front teeth or teeth located on the sides of the mouth. This disorder can take place with a single tooth or several teeth. The early correction of crossbite should be done because it could cause abrasion of the teeth, gum disease, uneven jaw development and difficulty in chewing. A single crossbite can be corrected with the use of braces to move it to the correct position. At times, retainers are used. For multiple teeth crossbite, braces will be used to expand the arch. The orthodontist should decide on the correct therapy that will depend on the type and seriousness of the crossbite.

When we say that malocclusion interferes with eating and speaking, orthodontics is then considered as a restorative issue. But, because a malocclusion may also hold up a person’s confidence of giving a radiant smile, it might also be considered a cosmetic issue. Orthodontic treatment can be done for any age group as long as you feel you need it and the dentist agrees with you. The process involves repositioning of the teeth and its underlying roots to provide a better support for the tooth’s crown. Orthodontic treatment can also make you look better due to the reshaping of the jaws, neck and lips.

The dentist or the orthodontist will tell you if you need orthodontic treatment. Certain diagnostic tools will show the areas needing correction and the dentist will provide you with a treatment plan. Some signs that may show the need for the treatment are:
Overbite – or buck teeth, the front teeth sticks out too much
Underbite – the lower teeth are far recessed creating a “bulldog” appearance
Crossbite – the upper teeth bites on the inside of the lower teeth. This might cause a premature wear of the teeth.
Open bite – there is space between the bite surface of the upper and lower teeth.
Misplaced midline – center of upper teeth and lower teeth is not aligned
Spacing – presence of gaps between the teeth resulting from missing teeth.