|
Frequently
Asked Questions /
Orthodontic Terms
Orthodontic Frequently Asked Questions What
age should my child have an orthodontic evaluation? What age should my child have an orthodontic evaluation? 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.
Why is it important to have orthodontic treatment at a young age? 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.
Arch
Wire / Brackets
/ Band
& Loop (B&L) / Elastics
(Rubber Bands)
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.
A Band & Loop is routinely used to hold space for a missing primary (baby) posterior (back) tooth until the permanent tooth can grown in.
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.
These
are used to help modify the growth of the jaws in children. The theory
behind their action is that if you hold a jaw in a specific position long
enough, that it will grow into that position. What you usually get is a
combination of a little jaw growth with a lot of tooth movement. These are
not universally accepted, as they do not always work. 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. A
lower lingual arch is a space maintainer for the lower teeth. It maintains
the molars where they are, it does not move them. This is fabricated by
placing bands on the molars and connecting them to a wire that fits up
against the inside of the lower teeth. It keeps the molars from migrating
forward and prevents them from blocking off the space of teeth that
develop later. This is used when you have the early loss of baby teeth or
when you have lower teeth that are slightly crowded in a growing child and
you do not want to remove any permanent teeth to correct the crowding.
Poor positioning of the teeth. Types of Malocclusion:
The
alignment and spacing of your upper and lower teeth when you bite down.
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.
Vertical overlapping of the upper teeth over the lower.
Horizontal
projection of the upper teeth beyond the lower.
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. Care
of appliance: Brush as usual. Brush the appliance and roof of the mouth
thoroughly. Rinse often to clean any food lodged between the arch and
appliance.
A
plastic or rubber donut piece which the dentist uses to create space
between your teeth for bands.
Braces Care / Appliance Care / Elastics Care / Proper Diet 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 Loose
Bracket / Poking
Wire / Wire
out of Back Brace 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.
Poking Elastic (Rubber Band) Hook 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:
© 2000 Drs. Hyde, Bailey,
Miller & Cremer. All Rights Reserved. Web Site Designed by Dentists4kids.com |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
