Four Surprising Facts About Orthodontics

 

Surprising Facts about the Origins of Orthodontics

1.      Straighter Teeth Started in Egypt.

2.      Braces have been around for almost 300 years.

3.      Braces used to have a whole lot more metal.

§  Before the 1970’s, orthodontists hand anchor brackets to teeth by winding wires tightly around each individual tooth

4.      The first book about dentistry was written in 1840.

§  Chapin A. Harris published his first book; “The Dental Art”. It describes practices about soldering knobs on bands to assist tooth rotation as well as applying gold caps to molars to open the dental bite.

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Checklist Before Leaving the Orthodontist

Got my Braces on! What's Next?

Checklist For Every Appointment

There are routine steps that we ask you to take prior to leaving the office.  These steps will minimize discomfort related to irritation from the braces and ensure an optimal response to treatment.  Please make these steps a part of each office visit prior to leaving:

• Using your finger and tongue, check that wire ends do not extend into areas that could poke or pinch the cheek or tongue.
• Make sure you understand what you are to do until your next appointment.  This could include wearing headgear or elastic rubber bands as instructed, activating an expander or following specific hygiene or diet instructions.
• Make sure you have an adequate supply of orthodontic wax, special cleaning aids, rubber bands or other related materials that you may need between appointments.
• Always schedule your next appointment before leaving the office.  Waiting 1-2 weeks after an appointment to schedule your next office visit complicates the scheduling process.  Waiting too long often means we will not have the appointment time that you would like.  Postponing appointments is a common contributor to extending treatment.
• Make sure that your questions about treatment are answered.  Treatment goes better when everyone understands the treatment process.  We encourage parents to accompany their children to their appointments, allowing us the opportunity to update you on the treatment process.

Parents should always feel welcome to come back to the clinical area.  If you have any questions about your child's progress please ask.  Questions such as: "How much longer will my child be in braces?" will be much easier to answer if you are present when the doctor is checking your child's braces.

My Glued in Retainer

In our office,  bonded (glued in) retainers are used for certain hard to hold orthodontic corrections.  These include lower front teeth, spaces between upper front teeth and teeth with weak gum and bone support.  

Bonded retainers are not indestructible!  So we reminder our patients and anyone who might have this type of retainer to be careful chewing on hard and very sticky things.  

              It can be more difficult to brush these the teeth with the retainer on.  Make sure you clean all around and remember to floss.  It will be harder to floss with the retainer but you can always use superfloss or floss threaders to get around the bonded retainer.  

                Every night when you brush your teeth check your retainer.  If any part of the retainer comes loose from your tooth, even if part is still attached, make an appointment at the orthodontist as soon as possible.  These bonded retainers are only for holding teeth where they are and do not straighten teeth.  If your retainer comes loose and teeth move or shift a different active appliance will be required to realign your teeth and there will be a charge.  

           As any other dental appliance regular monitoring of this retainer is necessary; either by your orthodontist or by your primary dentist at regular check ups or cleanings.  After a number of years the dentist or orthodontist can remove this glued in retainer and replace it with a removable retainer that can be worn just at night.  (There is a charge for a new retainer)

               In our office after the removal of your active orthodontic appliances and two years of retention office visits we let our patients go on an as needed basis.  This means that we no require them to come in for visits if their retainers are fitting well and causing no problems.  

             We call this a Post Retention Phase or PRP.  Your teeth are now as stable as they ever will be.  Unfortunately, this does not mean your teeth will never move.  So we request that you wear your retention appliances as long as you would like to keep your teeth straight.  At our patients PRP appointment we give them the option with their bonded retainer to leave it, remove it and get a removable retainer or to remove it and do nothing.  

              If a patient chooses to keep the glues in retainer we just ask that they have their dentist check it once a year to make sure teeth are continuing to stay straight and the teeth are being kept clean.  If a patient removes it and has a removable retainer made we just as them to wear this retainer at night with their other removable retainer.  If a patient chooses to go without any retention appliances we just ask that if at anytime their teeth start to move or shift they see an orthodontist as soon as possible so that they can adjust their teeth so they will not have to have full braces again.  We do not recommend this last option!

Wearing your retainer is the best insurance you have to keeping a healthy and attractive smile!

Sports and Orthodontics

Many of our patients have questions about sports and orthodontics and these are some of them.

Should I wear my retainer while playing sports?
            No, you should not wear any removable appliance when playing sports or swimming.  Please bring your appliance or retainer with you to the sporting event.  Remember when playing sports that you could get bumped in the mouth to wear a mouth guard for the safety of your lips and teeth. Please view our blog on helmets & Mouth guards.

What is the best way to protect my teeth when I'm practicing?
           You should wear a mouth guard anytime that you think that you may get bumped in the mouth. This includes wearing a mouth guard during practices and games.  Even the sports that you wouldn't think about needing a mouth guard can be dangerous.  Remember any type of extreme sport, gymnastic exercise or even horseback riding could benefit from wearing a mouth guard.  I always tell my patients that it is their responsibility to wear something to protect their mouths.

I'm afraid I will lose my retainer when I am playing sports can I leave it in the car?
          You should never leave a retainer in the car.  Retainers are very sensitive to heat, and can distort even on a mild day.  Retainers and orthodontic appliances should be kept in a case when not in the mouth and that case should be kept somewhere that nothing will mess with it and will not be forgotten.  If you have your retainer case make sure it has your first and last name on the case in case you lose it.  Make sure you have your phone number or our phone number on the case so it can be returned to you if you forget it somewhere.

I wear my mouth guard when I play hockey but I still brake brackets, what am I doing wrong?
             It is possible that you are wearing the mouth guard incorrectly or you maybe getting hit  in just the right place to knock brackets off.  Please continue wearing the mouth guard to protect your lips and teeth.  Losing brackets may get annoying but it is always better to brake brackets then teeth.  When you do brake a bracket please call our office to get the bracket replaced as soon as possible so that you are not slowing down your progress in your orthodontics.

I went through braces and have straight teeth but what happens if I get hit in the mouth after braces?
              When playing any sport that you could get hit in the mouth you should wear a mouth guard.  If you do get hit in the mouth and your teeth have moved or feel loose put your retainer in as soon as possible.  This retainer will stabilize  teeth so that they will not move in the wrong direction and also prevent the loss of your teeth.  Then you need to see your orthodontist and or your primary dental provider as soon as you can.