What is a Palatal Widening Device and Why Do I Need One?

Palatal Widening Device

One of the most commonly used appliances in our practice is a Palatal Widening Device (AKA: expander). This appliance is a thin bar with a small screw in the middle that can be turned in order to widen the arms of the appliance. We can connect this appliance to the upper first molars, and in some cases if a child needs treatment very early, we can connect this appliance to the upper primary second molars. We teach our patients to take ownership and personal responsibility of their appliance not only by keeping their expander clean, but by teaching them how to “turn” their appliance. Turning the expander moves the arms of the appliance apart to help widen the upper jaw.

This sounds dramatic, however, it is similar to disarticulating a joint.  The roof of our mouth or palate has a suture running up the middle where our jaws connect. Our upper jaw is really plural; we have two upper jaws that fuse together after puberty. Thus, we are able to separate the suture in young children in order to correct certain orthopedic problems.

The orthopedic conditions or problems we are able to correct with a Palatal Widening Device are crossbites of the right or left side, crossbites of both the right and left side, or anterior crossbites (underbites). We like to see the upper teeth on the outside of the lower teeth; when the upper teeth are on the inside of the lower teeth, that is a crossbite. We can also use an expander if a patient is severely crowded and we need to create more space in order to accommodate all of the permanent teeth in the dental arches. The Palatal Widening Device allows us to correct orthopedic conditions for children at early ages before they are finished growing and developing so that patients can avoid corrective jaw surgery to correct any orthopedic conditions as adults.

Not all of our patients need an expander. However, we can determine which patients need this appliance if they are seen at an early enough age (the American Dental Association recommends children be seen by an orthodontist at approximately age seven). If you believe your child may have a crossbite or severe crowding, bring them in to our office for a complimentary exam and allow our doctors to give you the information you need to make an informed decision about your child’s orthodontic care.

Stevie 

www.smileteam4u.com

What to Do in Case of an Emergency

What to Do if You Have an Emergency:

Having braces can sometimes be a stressful experience and even more stressful when something goes "wrong". Smile Team Orthodontics has (what we call) an Emergency Phone for just these situations. Now, what qualifies as an emergency and what can wait until the next office day?

Here are some tips to help you determine when you should call our emergency phone:

•   Wire is Poking - Although, we do all we can to ensure you are completely comfortable before you leave our office, sometimes we can't stop things from happening. As your teeth begin to shift (especially after changing to a new wire) your wire can also shift and stick out of the bracket. This can cause discomfort to your cheek, gums, or even lips.

•   Broken Bracket - When we say "broken bracket" we don't necessarily mean that the bracket is actually broken but that it is off of the tooth. This does not always qualify as an emergency, so don't feel pressured to call our emergency phone just because you have a bracket loose. Though, if it is causing you discomfort we want you to call us right away. If the bracket is not causing discomfort it is okay to call our office on the following business day, so that we may schedule an appointment to replace the bracket.

•   Loose/Broken Appliance - Sometimes, your appliance (such as a Jaw Corrector [Herbst] or Expander) can come loose from your teeth. If this happens you should call our emergency phone so that we can get you in as soon as possible to re-seat it.

•   Rubber Band Hook Has Come Off - Wearing your rubber bands is very important and if one of the hooks comes off it can make it extremely difficult to do so. This is one of the easiest things to fix that can have the most signifiant effect on your treatment. This, also, does not necessarily qualify as an emergency, but we do need you to come in as soon as possible so that we can keep your treatment on schedule.

•   Broken/Lost Retainer - After you get your braces off you are given retainers so that we can maintain the changes we have made. If you are not wearing your retainer your teeth will move and then your retainer will no longer fit. It is extremely important to try and wear your retainers every night as instructed. If you happened to lose or break your retainer call our office as soon as possible so that we may see you to replace the retainer. You definitely do not want to have worn braces for nearly 2 years just to have your teeth move back.

•   Sports/Trauma Related Injuries -  A major cause of tooth loss in people under the age of 35 are sports, accidents, and fights. Just like your skin and bones, teeth are at risk for injury. Any type of trauma to your teeth and jaws can be considered an emergency. If you are in doubt, please, call the emergency phone or our office so that we may look and see if there is any thing to be concerned about. And remember, just like when you wear shin guards, helmets, and other body padding it is extremely important to protect your teeth with the proper mouthguard and Smile Team Orthodontics just so happens to have plenty for you to choose from.

Hopefully, this has helped you understand our procedures for "emergencies" and if you are ever in doubt, just call! We are always happy to help you in any way we can.

Chalice Fraser, RDA
www.smileteam4u.com

Freedom in Christ

As the 4^th of July approaches this summer, most people in our communities will be reflecting on freedom in general, the Revolution that freed our people from foreign rule by Great Britain, and the freedom our military brings us each and every day. It is safe to say that many Americans are patriotic and become emotional when watching fireworks, singing our national anthem, and celebrating our blessed independence. The military has always been a great source of pride to many of us because we have served or have family members who have served or are currently serving. I am personally grateful to my parents, who are Air Force Veterans, and my grandfathers who valiantly served in World War II. I have a direct connection to two men who literally fought on a battlefield for my freedom. Just the thought of what my grandfathers faced in battle stirs emotions that bring such gratitude and humility because of my inability to return their service. How much more gratitude and humility should we feel about the Son of God who won the ultimate battle over sin and death and who intercedes for us even today? Nothing compares to the freedom we have in Christ; not even the freedom we enjoy in our country on a daily basis. We are so blessed and should indeed remember the sacrifices made by our military since the 1700s. However, we should also remember that many of those men and women fought believing this nation was great because of its’ reliance on the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. My grandfather once wrote,

“May the soul of America never become insensitive to the sacrifices of men who without thought of monetary reward gave themselves unreservedly to the defense of their country in a war that was unquestionably the defining event of the 20th century. We're reaching the end of our expectancy. All will be gone in a few years. Will U.S. citizens know a war was fought? And why? As old vets depart, as we must, our concern is that of eyewitnesses to the sacrifices of war. May those who come after us realize that their freedoms are etched in blood. So soon comes the silence of old war veterans gathered in the bivouacs of the dead awaiting the Lord's trumpet call to the final muster. Such is the faith of those who fought and died in defense of a nation they held inseparable from God.”

Jack Conn, 6^th Marine Division, Pacific Theatre, World War II

A nation inseparable from God! Our forefathers fought and died for a nation they held inseparable from the Living God. Our freedom is not the only thing our ancestors granted us; they passed down the Christian tradition that teaches it is for freedom that Christ set us free from the laws of sin and death! Not only is the freedom of a U.S. citizen etched in our soldier's blood, our freedom is etched in the blood of Christ Jesus. This 4^th of July we pray that you experience freedom in Christ, and of course, thank a veteran!

“It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm then and do not be burdened again by the yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1 NIV

“You, my brothers were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge in the sinful nature; rather serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Galatians 5:13-14 NIV

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.” 2 Corinthians 3:17 NIV

Stevie 



www.smileteam4u.com

Snakes!

This is not a subject that I am especially fond of, but due to the recent events at my house, I thought I'd share some information.   My son and husband were in the yard throwing the baseball around and my son looked in our birdhouse to see if we had any baby birds.  Baby birds are not what he found!  We had a nice little snake.  After he and my husband got it out, they realized it was quite large ... about 4ft!  Being that it is illegal to kill snakes in Tennessee, they relocated it to a field near our house.  The next week, at the same tree, there was another one, this time not quite as big, only about 1 1/2ft.  He decided to shimmy up the tree to sun a little bit.  A few days later, there was a small one that had been hit in front of our house. Now, the most recent one was found in our garage.  YUCK!  Once again, my son and husband captured it, put it in a bucket and relocated it.  This one was about 4 ft, also.  It appeared that he had just had him a nice little snack, seeing how he had a lump about midway.  He was relocated as well.

My husband emailed Lisa Powers with Froghaven Farms (www.froghavenfarm.com). She is a Biologist/Herpetologist. She is a Biologist/Herpertologist. She identified the snake as Gray Ratsnake/Pantherophis Siploiddes. She said he is perfectly harmless.  We asked why we had seen so many recently.  Her response was the, due to the mild winter and all of the changes we had been experiencing with the weather the snakes are "out more".  We have seen several more in our neighborhood either dead in the road or slithering across the road.  Every time I see them slither, it gives me the shivers!

I posted the picture on my facebook page.  I have a friend that is very animal friendly.  She told me that if they had round eyes, they were good and if they had "cat eyes" they were NOT good.  I told her I was not going to look dreamily into the eyes to see if they were round or not.  Some other responses I received were: 

"Tastes like chicken."

"Looks like a mouse eater."

"Never coming to your house again, EVER!"

"In my book, a dead snake is a good snake."

"It's a snake, which means it is terrifying.  Period."

A friend of mine's husband teaches Science.  She told me that her husband did his Thesis on snakes and that if he sees one in the road, he will pull over and move it so it doesn't get hit.  

I know that snakes are one of God's creatures and they they have a purpose.  I don't have a problem with them if I don't see them and I do appreciate the job they do ... as long as I don't see them.  I looked up Tennessee snakes.  On the website, tennsnakes.org, they say that "Snakes are important to the environment and help to keep nature in balance."  While I know this is true, I still don't like them very much.   In Tennessee, there are 32 species of snakes.  Only 4 of these are venomous.

They also had a message posted from the TWRA:

In Tennessee, it is illegal to harm, kill, remove from the wild, or possess native snakes taken from the wild without the proper permits.

Please help the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) to protect our native snakes. Do not remove snakes from the wild or release snakes that have been captive into the wild.

Once-captive snakes often don't survive in the wild and can introduce harmful diseases and parasites into the wild.

So, while I hope we don't find any more snakes around our house, I do hope they keep doing their job of eating mice, bugs, and things of that nature.   

-Holly Hughes, RDA
www.smileteam4u.com

See What Our Patients Are Saying About Their Dads!

The dads that brought their kids in for appointments this week were  “Just Loved” by the

Smile Team!

Each dad received a $5 gift card to Just Love Coffee.

This is what the kids had to say about Dad:

“He is fun and he works very hard for our family”

Matthew

“He gives me money!”

Landon

“He makes me happier than anyone in the world.  He’s my best friend, not just my dad.”

Mary

“He makes me smile when he dances with me”

Kaitlyn

“He makes me/ us laugh!”

Jania / Avery

“He’s the best dad ever!”

Jordan

“He’s my #1 fan @ baseball.”

Jordan E.

“Always supportive and hard-working.  I admire him!”

Mickee

“My dad always plays with me. He’s so fun.”

Lou

“ He always supports me and taught me how to ski”

Amy

Happy Father's Day!

-Smile Team Orthodontics
www.smileteam4u.com
https://justlovecoffee.com/

How Long Should You Wear Your Retainers?

Retainer - a fixed or removable appliance worn after the braces are removed. A removable retainer attaches to your upper and/or lower teeth and holds them in their finished positions. (http://www.mylifemysmile.org/)

Most likely, you have had braces or another orthodontic/orthopedic appliance and your orthodontist is trying to maintain the changes he or she made to your teeth. These changes are generally maintained with retainers. There are many types of retainers your orthodontist may use but they all serve a similar purpose: prevent the teeth from shifting. This phase is called retention and will, in many ways, determine the longevity/success of your treatment.

As you probably know, you are changing everyday. Either you are growing or you are aging; your mouth, teeth, and jaws are no exception to this change. Studies show that as you age, your nose and chin get closer together and the overall shape of your face changes. Because of these changes, it is extremely important to wear retainers. Many patients come into our office today who have never had braces but say their teeth are moving and becoming crooked. This is due to the aging process.

                                                            Woman at age 15 and at age 48

So, how long should you wear your retainers? Because of the changes your body goes through, due to aging, you should wear your retainers as instructed by your orthodontist indefinitely. Many times you can miss one and maybe even two nights wearing your retainer but, more than likely, your teeth will shift and your retainers may end up no longer fitting. Studies have shown that the lower teeth tend to move more rapidly and to a greater extent than the upper teeth. This is why, in our office, we place a bonded retainer from the lower cuspid to cuspid. For retention of the upper teeth, we provide you with an invisible retainer. We recommend if you want your teeth to stay precisely where they are, you should wear this every night while you sleep - indefinitely.

Though, retainers come in all shapes, sizes, and colors, they serve a similar purpose and it is extremely important that you follow the instructions given to you by your orthodontist. You have spent months wearing your appliance/braces and it would be a shame for all of that effort to go to waste.

-Chalice Fraser, RDA
www.smileteam4u.com

How to Treat Sores Caused by Braces:

Sores caused by braces or other orthodontic appliances are common, but that does not make them less bothersome. Sores will most likely occur at the beginning of your orthodontic treatment when your braces or appliances are placed.

Before braces, your mouth is accustomed to the shape and organic substance of your teeth and tongue; when a “foreign object” is placed, such as braces, your cheeks, lips, and gums are constantly in contact with abrasive material thus irritation is inevitable. The contact or rubbing between your mouth and your appliances will most likely cause sores. Imagine sweeping the floor, raking leaves, or wearing a new pair of shoes. All of these scenarios can cause blisters to form on your hands or feet. Those blisters are similar to what happens in your mouth. The good news is: these sore will not last! Much like calluses caused by blisters on your hands from raking leaves or sweeping, your mouth forms a callous to protect itself.  These calluses can take up to two months to form, so what should you do in the mean time? Suffer? Absolutely not!

There are many options out there (usually readily available at your local drug store) that will help keep you comfortable and may even speed up the healing process of present sores. The most common remedy is dental wax. Dental wax offers a barrier between the braces or appliance and the rest of your mouth. By taking a small piece, rolling it into a ball, and applying it to the area causing discomfort, you prevent the braces from adding further irritation and begin the healing process. Luckily our office is stocked full of dental wax! A common downfall of dental wax is if the area is extremely wet it will not adhere to the brackets or appliance. Aside from dental wax, there are other possible solutions to help heal mouth sores, ulcers, or canker sores.

Canker sores are the most common type of mouth ulcer and despite what most people think they are not a form of the herpes virus. It is not completely known what causes canker sores but many people have theorized they can be caused by tooth paste or mouth rinses containing sodium lauryl sulfate, hormonal changes, food allergies or intolerances, and vitamin or mineral deficiencies. No matter the cause, canker sores are bothersome and painful, especially if they occur inside your lip near a bracket. Some products that can help heal and alleviate discomfort caused by canker sores are peroxyl or oral cream.

Sometimes it can take two months to get used to your braces or orthodontic appliances. These little tips can make the adjustment process much easier. Just remember, our office is just a phone call away or you can visit our website for other helpful hints.

-Chalice Fraser, R.D.A. 

www.smileteam4u.com