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

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

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.

http://www.smileteam4u.com/

615-890-7246

-Chalice Fraser, RDA

www.smileteam4u.com

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 61^st 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

How Far is the East from the West?

In looking up references for silly holidays, I came across this one. April 25 is National East meets West day. Many kinds of sports teams hold annual East vs. West games. Most often, it's held by high school sports teams.It could be any club or organization that holds competitions, and can be geographically separated into any east and west groups. 

These special games usually serve a number of purposes, including:

• For charitable benefits
• Sports booster club
• To honor and/or showcase the best players of the season

On another note, Casting Crowns has a song, "East to West". Many times sitting in church a passage may be read and I think, "Oh, I know that song". When you are listening to songs, do you ever wonder which verse it may reference? The lyrics to the chorus are as follows:

“Jesus, can You show me just how far the east is from the west
'cause I can't bear to see the man I've been come rising up in me again
In the arms of Your mercy I find rest
'cause You know just how far the east is from the west
From one scarred hand to the other”

East and West are referenced in Psalm 103:11-13 (NIV) as follows:

¹¹ For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
   so great is his love for those who fear him;
¹² as far as the east is from the west,
   so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

 ¹³ As a father has compassion on his children,
   so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him

Our heavenly father loves us from the east to the west, unconditionally.  Jesus died on the cross for US!  His hands were stretched from the East to the West—one scarred hand to the other.

Thank you, Jesus!

-Holly

www.smileteam4u.com

The Importance of Caring for Permanent Teeth



As the primary teeth come out (exfoliate), the permanent teeth begin to come into a child’s mouth. This process begins at approximately six or seven years of age. These teeth will continue to come in (erupt) as a child grows and develops into their teenage years. It is imperative that children learn good oral hygiene practices from young ages to maintain their permanent teeth for a lifetime.

Children need to learn how to brush properly (twice daily) with soft bristled tooth brushes, as well as clean in between their teeth (once daily) with floss or another interdental cleaning device. It is best if children brush their teeth with toothpastes that contain fluoride to fight cavities and decalcification (the loss of calcium from bones or teeth). In addition to daily oral hygiene, it is important that children visit the dentist every six months for regular check-ups and cleanings. This way the dentist can monitor any problem areas and apply fluoride treatments to assist in keeping permanent teeth healthy and strong. Many dentists will recommend that children have sealants placed on their permanent first and second molars in order to protect the chewing surfaces from decay. The chewing surfaces of teeth have grooves and pits which attract plaque and bacteria and can develop cavities (caries) quickly if not cleaned properly or protected with properly applied sealants.

Many parents need to monitor the types of food regularly eaten by children in order to keep teeth healthy and cavity-free. The best way to limit the build-up of plaque and calculus is to limit foods and drinks with high sugar quantities. Not only candy and soda, but breads and pasta are carbohydrates that contain large amounts of sugar which break down and stick to the teeth. If these sugars and other substances are not removed from the teeth promptly, they will cause plaque and calculus, which can only be removed by the dental hygienist at your general dentist’s office. Also, staying away from drinks like soda and other dark beverages reduces the risk of staining teeth, which allows children to maintain whiter, brighter smiles.

-Dr. David R. Sain

These tips are found in The Journal of the American Dental Association.

www.smileteam4u.com



The Importance of Caring for Primary Teeth

Have you ever wondered how important primary teeth (baby teeth) are or the best way to care for them? Sometimes people can forget that just because the primary teeth will eventually "fall out", it is still important to take care of them.

Primary teeth (also referred to as baby teeth) are the first set of teeth that come in to a child’s mouth. There are twenty primary teeth, all of which are important for the growth and development of a child. The primary teeth help children chew and speak, as well as maintain space for the permanent teeth to erupt at six or seven years of age. Primary teeth come in to the mouth (erupt) and fall out of the mouth (exfoliate) in a generally predictable series or order to assist the permanent teeth as they erupt into the mouth. If a child loses a primary tooth too early, the space allotted for the incoming permanent tooth may be lost and severe crowding may then be present.

It is extremely important for parents to encourage good oral hygiene practices in children from very young ages.  It is recommended that parents clean their children’s gums by rubbing moist cloths over a child’s gums after each meal. As the teeth begin to erupt, it is appropriate to begin using a tooth brush to clean a child’s teeth and gums. The best tooth brush to use on children who are teething are soft bristled tooth brushes as well as non-abrasive tooth pastes with limited amounts of fluoride. Younger children should be monitored closely so that unsafe amounts of fluoride are not consumed. Once a child learns to spit, the child may begin brushing his own teeth under parental supervision. It is always best to follow the manufacturer’s instructions when using new products (i.e. tooth paste, tooth brushes, mouth rinses, etc.).  As the primary teeth begin to erupt, children may experience discomfort or pain as the teeth are coming through the gums. Some acceptable practices to ease a child’s pain during teething is to rub the gums gently or give the child a teething ring. The Food and Drug Administration does not recommend administering topical anesthetics to children younger than two years of age.

Tooth decay (cavities or caries) can develop in primary teeth. Parents should limit the consumption of sugars, juices, formula, and milk which can cause decay to form. It is best to clean a child’s mouth out after they eat or drink in order to protect against tooth decay. Allowing children to fall asleep with a juice or milk bottle is strongly discouraged so that the sugars from these drinks are not allowed to stay on the teeth for long periods of time and form into plaque and calculus (a hard build up of calcium phosphate and carbonate, with organic matter, deposited on tooth surfaces).

Regular visits to the dentist are encouraged to allow for care and maintenance of primary teeth, while also allowing children to become familiar and comfortable with the dentist. Many times, if a relationship of trust is built between a dentist and a patient, dental anxiety can be minimized.  The American Dental Association recommends bringing children to the dentist after their first tooth erupts or right after their first birthday. These visits will not only allow the dentist to continually check and clean a child’s primary teeth, but it will allow the dentist to evaluate for habits that affect a child’s teeth. These habits include thumb or finger sucking, which can change the way in which the jaw bones grow and can cause orthodontic and orthopedic concerns as the child grows and develops.

-Chalice

These tips are found in The Journal of the American Dental Association.

www.smileteam4u.com