Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Dental Care for Man’s Best Friend?



Dental care for our canine friends is becoming a more popular topic as doggy day spas and daycares are established throughout our neighborhoods. It is important to maintain our pups’ teeth so they may maintain long, healthy lives with the ability to eat and chew successfully. Many people believe that giving their dog one bone per day allows them to keep their teeth clean and free from decay; however the latest research shows that dogs need their teeth brushed consistently, in tandem with chewing bones, to stave off periodontal disease and decay.

There are a few ways to evaluate your pooches’ teeth to see if their dental health is being maintained or if it shows room for improvement. The first sign of poor dental care is bad breath. If your dog has bad breath, it may be time to start looking into a tooth brush and chicken flavored toothpaste at your local pet store. Second, your dogs’ gums should be pink (just like ours!) and not red, white, or swollen. A sign that your dog may have the beginning signs of periodontal disease is excessive drooling, tumors, cysts, and loose teeth.

Food can build up on dogs’ teeth just like in our mouths. Food will stick to the teeth, turn into plaque, and eventually turn into calculus, which can only be removed by your veterinarian while your dog is under sedation. There are various pet stores that stock dental kits for dogs and they come in various flavors, in a range of prices, so that dental care is affordable for all pet owners. It is important not to use human toothpaste or mouth rinses on dogs because this can be damaging to dogs’ stomachs and intestines, which is the last thing we want to do! It is also important to use dog food and treats that are dentally friendly and promote clean, healthy teeth.

Now, there have been a few cases where show dogs have had braces in order to give them beautiful bites and smiles to achieve their “Best in Show” awards; however this is not common. These appointments, just like dental cleanings at your local veterinarian’s office, are done under sedation so that no harm comes to your dog, the orthodontist, or veterinarian. We encourage our puppy owners to begin the practice of caring for your dog’s teeth early and often, just like your children’s teeth, because our dogs are part of the family! They deserve clean, healthy teeth and gums because they do such a good job of loving us every day, whether or not we deserve that unconditional love.  

More information can be found at ASPCA websites.

-Stevie, CDA


www.smileteam4u.com

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Why Are Rubber Band Elastics So Important?



Rubber band elastics are often used in orthodontics to move teeth, a selected tooth, or an entire arch of teeth. In many cases, rubber bands are the primary method used to align the upper arch (of teeth) with the lower arch (of teeth). Typically, the upper arch wires are used to straighten the upper teeth and the lower arch wires are used to straighten the lower teeth. But rubber bands are usually the primary method in aligning the entire upper arch in relation to the entire lower arch.

For example, when the upper arch is too far forward for the lower arch, rubber bands can be worn from the lower back teeth to the upper front teeth. The force provided by the rubber bands will move the upper teeth back and the lower teeth forward, thereby aligning the two arches properly.



Studies have shown that teeth have not failed to move when rubber bands are worn consistently. Your treatment progress usually depends upon how well you wear your rubber bands. If you do not, you will likely have to wear your braces longer and the result may not be as good as it could have otherwise been. Consistency is the key!  If you wear your rubber bands for three days as you have been instructed and then miss a day, it is very likely that your teeth will move back to their original position with no progress being made.

You should expect some discomfort for the first two or three days when you begin to wear your rubber bands. This will get better as your teeth begin to move. If you are not consistent with wearing the rubber bands you will likely have to go through this adjustment period all over again. Your orthodontist would not have asked you to wear rubber bands unless it was absolutely necessary for your treatment. So, it is imperative that you wear them as prescribed by your orthodontist.

You should only remove your rubber bands to eat and brush your teeth, unless you have been specifically instructed to do otherwise. You should replace old rubber bands at least once a day.  At Smile Team Orthodontics we really want our patients and/or parents to understand our recommendations, so, if you have any questions concerning your (or your child's) rubber bands, please, feel free to ask.

-Dr. David R. Sain



www.smileteam4u.com

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

When Should Your Child Be Seen By An Orthodontist?

model with full braces

As an orthodontic assistant, I get asked this question frequently. The best answer I can give is: the sooner, the better. According to the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), it is recommended that a child be seen by an orthodontist no later than age seven. Now, to many people, seven may seem a bit young. Most children at this age have several primary (baby) teeth remaining, so why would a child with so many primary teeth need to be considered for braces? Honestly, that is a great question. Early detection of possible dental or jaw problems or conditions can lead to early treatment, which will hopefully eliminate any future problems as the permanent teeth begin to erupt (come through the gums).
          Usually, an initial examination consists of a series of pictures and x-rays and (at our office), is at no charge to the patient. These pictures and x-rays are known as Diagnostic Records and allow the orthodontist to evaluate the patient’s occlusion (how the upper and lower teeth fit together), facial growth, eruption and exfoliation of teeth, as well as to catch any potential problems such as: crossbites, crowding, underbite, or an overbite. These records may reveal the need for early interceptive treatment or no treatment at all.

patient with crossbite

         Sometimes, an orthodontist may recommend two phases of treatment. An “early phase,” consisting of an expander or another orthodontic appliance can help eliminate an orthodontic or orthopedic problem, which can only be corrected without corrective jaw surgery once a child has finished growing and developing. The early phase of treatment can allow a patient to continue developing before finishing with full braces around ages 12-14. An early phase of treatment can also allow for less total treatment time, minimize future problems, and eliminate the need to remove permanent teeth due to lack of space.

palatal expander for crossbite

        Many times, the orthodontist may see no need for early treatment but will recommend “keeping an eye on the patient” as they continue to develop. However, it is not recommended to go without seeing an orthodontist until all the permanent teeth have erupted, even though this may seem more realistic.
       Early visits to your orthodontist can help prevent unforeseen problems down the road and will allow the patient and orthodontist to establish and build a relationship so when treatment is recommended, it is a smooth and enjoyable process. If you have any questions, or would like to set up an initial examination, please visit our website or call our office.
615-890-7246

-Chalice Fraser, RDA






www.smileteam4u.com

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

National Day of Prayer


"When there is a lack of honor in government, the morals of the whole people are poisoned. There is no such thing as a no-man's land between honesty and dishonesty. Our strength lies in spiritual concepts. It lies in public sensitiveness to evil. Our greatest danger is not from invasion by foreign armies. Our dangers are that we may commit suicide from within by complaisance with evil, or by public tolerance of scandalous behavior." President Herbert Hoover

The National Day of Prayer began in 1775 when the Continental Congress called for prayer to direct the founding of our great nation. In 1952 President Harry S. Truman signed into law an annual observance of a National Day of Prayer. In 1988 President Ronald Reagan amended the previous law to declare the first Thursday each May would be the designated National Day of Prayer. Our government did not found a state religion, but many of our nation’s leaders have valued the importance of praying as a nation, for our nation. Two of our presidents, Gerald Ford and George H.W. Bush, called for two National Days of Prayer during the same year, indicating their encouragement of such gatherings on a routine basis.

Tomorrow is the 61st annual observance of the National Day of Prayer. There will be gatherings all across our land, at various times throughout the day, praying for our nation, our leaders, our military, our citizens, and our land. Be encouraged to take some time out of your day to be intentional and meet fellow believers in Christ at the flagpole. Let us be intentional about setting aside time to intercede for our nation. We are not only enabled to meet and pray for our nation, but for personal repentance as well. Change begins in the heart of each individual; without personal repentance, our nation will not preserve the Judeo-Christian heritage on which it was founded. Our nation is in great danger of losing sensitivity to evil; that it why this year we encourage our communities to partake in the local National Day of Prayer events and intercede for our people as we navigate through the current times and the upcoming elections.

May the Lord bless you and keep you this National Day of Prayer.

Find more information at: www.nationaldayofprayer.org


www.smileteam4u.com