August 27, 2006

Lingual braces: A new esthetic challenge

Against more esthetic requirements from teenage and adult patients, comes up the necessity of giving a solution to crooked teeth. This way, orthodontists make new braces design: lingual braces, which allow getting results as good as with the braces placed outside the teeth.

Among the different models in the market, the most used worldwide are Dr. Craven Kurz’ 7th generation (G7) and the Scuzzo-Takemoto-Bracket (STB),d eveloped by the Ormco. With this new design they can reduce most of the first disturbances fro talking that patients had. For instance for deep bites, G7 braces are the most suitable.

With these new braces dentists are able to treat all kinds of malocclusions, including surgical patients or with periodontal diseases, refrained canines, open bites, overbites class II and III; and of course they can de used for the same purposes of the regular braces, with the same results.

Dentists do not have to acquire special instruments, except for some pliers of distal cut and the Weinghart pliers of long handle, that are very useful to work in the inner side of the mouth.
It’s also very important to point out a careful oral hygiene to avoid gingival inflammation, something, that with any other dental technique makes difficult the tooth movement.

There is no limitations for the use of this dental techniques, as always the dental practitioner is well trained to realize it. And, as in any other treatment, the treatment planning and objectives must be individualized for each patient, taking into account not only the malocclusion, but also the presence of cavities, plaque and rule out the presence of any oral disease.

As a conclusion, dentist comment that the number of patients demanding these braces is increasing, and living them excellent results and the plus of a more esthetic and natural look.

Read More!

August 10, 2006

Senior dental health

As we grow old our dental need get more specialized. Since our dental needs might be different from the ones we used to have it’s vital to regularly visit our dentist. Although many senior people wear dentures, teeth loss is not necessarily related to the aging process, but also with dental diseases that can be prevented.

Many old people might be taking medication that could interact negatively with dental anesthesia. For this reason it0s important to keep your dentist informed about any change or update on your clinical history to avoid any damaging interaction with your medication or any health change. Likewise, many medications may reduce saliva production, resulting in a dry mouth, which can produce cavities or the loss of dental pieces over time.

The right use of fake teeth

The fact of using fake teeth doesn’t mean to forget about your oral health. Actually, oral health is imperative if you use complete or partial dentures, since this will allow you feeling more comfort and fitting when using them.

Daily use of fake teeth

The following techniques explain better how to effectively remove plaque and food rests from dentures and mouth:

Rinsing: Rinse your mouth completely with water to eliminate loose pieces of food.

Brushing: Use a special toothbrush that fits that adjusts to your dentures’ shape for a slow brushing but no so roughly fro not damaging the plastic pieces or double the metallic bands. It’s desirable to use specific toothpastes to clean fake teeth instead of the regular ones because these could be to rough for the material. Never use bleaching products on them because they could change the color of the fake teeth or the metallic pieces.

Soaking: Unless your dentist recommends you the contrary, take off your fake teeth at night to give rest to your gums. You must keep your dentures humid if you are not wearing them in your mouth. On the contrary they might loose their shape. Soak them in a dentures cleaning solution during the recommended period if you soak them for more time the metallic bands might get stained). Never soak them in hot water because they could get deformed.

Reinsertion: Handle the fake teeth with over a folded towel or a bowl filled with water to the middle, because even a slight fall could break the base of the dentures or any of the dental pieces. Before reinserting the dentures, brush your gums and palate with a smooth toothbrush in order to eliminate plaque and stimulate circulation.

Read More!

August 07, 2006

Kids going to the dentist

To take your children to the dentist you should not wait until he or she presents any pain or disturbance. The relationship child-dentist has to start in good conditions for not creating in his/her mind frightening ideas about visiting this professional.

It’ not convenient at all to inspire fear on the kid by commenting misfortunate experiences about dental visits. Talk in normal and simple terms; do not make a drama of it. Avoid telling your children about your bad experiences with the dentist.

Do not threaten your child with taking her/him to the dentist as punishment. On the contrary, try to make him/her feel confident and happy about visiting a good friend. When your kid arrives to the dentist’s office, leave him alone; allow him to answer the questions when he is requested to.

Try not to show yourself in panic if your child cries at the consult, remember that that’s a normal reaction before gaining confidence. Do not cheat on your kid telling him what they are going or what they are not going to do to him. Do not embarrass him in the presence of other people or other kids of his age because of his behavior at the dentist’s office.

But above all you should not forget that of a good dental health many depends times the good physical and mental state of our children, since many oral problems are health problems too and should be treated like that. A neglected mouth represents a serious danger for the health an even to the life of the child.

Read More!

August 06, 2006

Baby’s first tooth

Once the first baby tooth appears you must start taking care of your baby’s oral health, so in this way he will have healthy teeth in the future. From the moment you notice that your child’s first tooth is coming up, you should clean it introducing a piece of dressing wrapped up on your index finger in his mouth after he had had milk or any food, and also clean his tongue. This has the purpose of creating a good dental care habit and protecting the baby’s teeth once they start appearing. It’s a point of start for dental protection.

The chronology of dental eruption, mostly known as “baby teeth” is as follows:
  • 5 to 7 months: Lower incisors or cutting teeth.
  • 8 months: Medium upper incisors.
  • 14 months: Lateral lower incisors.
  • 14 to 18: First molars.
  • 20 months: Canines
  • 30 months: Second molars

The first teeth is conformed by 20 dental pieces until the child turns 6 years, when the first permanent molar will recently appear, that’s’ why is also known as the “6 year molar”. It will have different characteristics from the baby teeth, such as bigger size and volume than the temporary ones, and never comes out. Likewise, it’s very important for the development of the maxillomandibular (upper and lower jaws) and for the perfect alignment of the definite teeth.

With the coming out of the baby teeth, the child might present some disorders like intense drooling and gums itching, which make the child take anything he finds into his mouth. For this, you should keep his toys very clean.

With the appearance of the first tooth the child presents an irritated and restless conduct, as well as diarrhea, vomits or temperature. When you notice these symptoms do not wait much time and take him to the pediatric dentist. Always remember that kids dehydrate quickly; so if he got an infection for something he took to his mouth, it could be the beginning of a terrible gastroenteritis (stomach inflammation).

Suggestions on baby dental care
It might he an inherited habit brushing your teeth when getting up in the morning to then have breakfast and stay with the mouth full of rests of food, which contribute to form germens that produce cavities.

It’s recommendable for the child when he get up to have an antiseptic mouth and throat wash for 2 minutes. The teeth brushing should be done after eating because in this way the mouth will be free food rests and will have a better breathe.

After lunch is also recommended a second teeth brushing, but in case there is not time for it, the child can get a quick mouth wash to remove the rest foods. However, after dinner dental hygiene must be done more carefully with the help of a dental floss.

To make the cleaning effective and preventive is necessary in first place to realize a correct and daily brushing of the dental surfaces touching the cheeks and the interior part of the lips, as well of the surfaces next to the palate and the tongue.

For this, it’s necessary the use of a short toothbrush, with smooth and even hair. As for the dental toothpaste, choose the ones with fluoride with a soft and tasty flavor for your child. And don’t forget the periodic visits to the pediatric dentist, or at least once a year.

Read More!

August 02, 2006

Elastics and elastomer chains

Dentists use elastics (rubbers) to complement the displacement of teeth. They are classified as follows:

Elastics type 1: they are placed on the arc for closing spaces an helping the elastomer chains.

Elastics type 2: they are used for the lower molars to upper canine tooth.

Elastics type 3: they are used from the upper molars to lower canine tooth
Elastics can be used in vertical direction to close the frontal open bites or to descend dental pieces that are moved outside.
Elastomer chains are used to close spaces; they are places o e ach braces, generally from molar to molar. There is also placed a chain link on each brace.

Coil Spring

These springs are placed inside an arc, just 2 mm more from the space they should be put on. They are used to separate pieces or to keep the space for the piece that should be placed there.
Bottoms Bottom-shaped metallic pieces used to displace outside teeth get adhered as well as braces. The dentist makes traction with elastics and later places a brace to align the piece. Mostly there are included pieces like the canines, on which there must be made fenestration; a space like a “little window” to place the bottom right there, or the dentist might put surgical cement on the wound to avoid cicatrisation. Nowadays is demonstrated than better than a fenestration is better leave flaps for lateral and top reposition.

Read More!

Share this post