Have you heard of "gap bands"?

The use of elastics in dentistry is not a new development. One of the earliest applications of elastics in dentistry was to extract teeth in patients with bleeding disorders. The practitioner simply placed a rubber band around the tooth to be extracted; because of the shape of the teeth, the rubber band slowly worked its way up or down the sides of the tooth roots, and the tooth just fell out in about 4-6 weeks. This use of elastics was intentional and considered a safe and effective procedure for extractions at that time.

For more than a century, similar examples of this type of elastics use have also appeared in the orthodontic literature, but in a negative sense. Such articles show the possible consequences of using these same principles to close a space ("gap") between the teeth. If placed around tooth by a patient without the supervision of an orthodontist, severe problems could result. The rubber band slides into the soft tissue, it is difficult if not impossible to retrieve it, and it continues along the distal surface of the roots, destroying the periodontal attachment and producing inflammation. As this happens, the teeth extrude, the crowns fan out as the roots are pulled together, the teeth become increasingly mobile, and could fall out.

This situation is made more difficult because elastics usually can not be seen on radiographs. As a result, consideration of the symptoms might not result in a definitive diagnosis. In the absence of the patient's or parent's acknowledgement of the use of rubber bands, trauma is usually suspected, and palliative periodontal therapy and splinting are usually performed. Alas, if the cause of the symptoms is a submerged rubber band, the teeth will continue to loosen and most likely be lost. Subsequent repair and replacement of the missing teeth and bone can require dental procedures that are complex and expensive.

Because of this known risk, orthodontists and other dentists generally consider the uncontrolled movement of the teeth using just elastics to be below the standard of care. Having attachments on the teeth with secured wire between them is the simple remedy.

A recent search using the words "gap bands" and related terms produced millions of hits. Although the term "gap bands" is newly minted, it is clearly commonly used around the world. Judging by the available videos, it is also clear that the topic is of considerable interest to many minors and adults. Please contact any one of our Sondhi-Biggs-Hansen Orthodontics team members to discuss appropriate approaches for treatment for a GAP between the teeth.

Palatal Expander

Have you ever heard of a Palatal Expander? The palatal expansion appliance is used to widen the upper jaw. This assists in developing space for crowded teeth in the upper jaw, and also widens the upper jaw when a growth discrepancy is present between the upper and lower jaws. The palatal expander is a fixed orthodontic appliance, and is cemented to the teeth. The expansion is accomplished by turning a small key, which is a part of the appliance. The key is turned by the parents. The expander is only worn for a period of approximately 3 months to allow bone to fill in to the expanded area, following which the expander may be removed and replaced with a retainer. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact any one of our Sondhi-Biggs-Hansen Orthodontic team members!

Invisalign Care

 

Many people know that Invisalign is a great alternative to braces if you don't like the look and feel of traditional metal braces. What few people realize is that just like traditional braces, Invisalign requires proper care to work effectively. Good oral hygiene is highly important when you are wearing removable appliances in your mouth. It is likely that your aligners will build up plaque if not treated properly. When wearing your Invisalign aligners, ask yourself the following questions:

1.) Can I eat with my aligners on?  These aligners are removable and should be taken out when you eat.
2.) Am I allowed to drink anything other than water with my aligners on? Though it's not necessary for you to take out your aligners while you drink, think about how sticky soda is. If you take out your aligners when drinking a soda, aligners will not be exposed to the soda..
3.) Do I brush before putting the aligners on? The aligners should be kept clean on the inside and the outside. Brushing your teeth before wearing them keeps the inside clean, as well as brushing them.

These are all very simple steps to help you build good oral habits. If you have any questions please feel free to contact any one of our Sondhi-Biggs-Hansen Orthodontics team members!

--Sondhi-Biggs-Hansen Orthodontics

Taking Care of Your Child's Smile

Did you know that as soon as a baby’s primary teeth break through the gums, they need attention and care?  Following, are some important guidelines for taking care of the teeth:

Primary (baby) teeth

·         The American Dental Association (ADA) recommends bringing your infant to the dentist soon after the first tooth erupts, and no later than the child’s first birthday.  Your dentist can check for tooth decay, discuss other conditions and habits that may affect the teeth, as well as show you how to clean your infant’s teeth properly.

·         Starting with the first tooth erupting, start brushing twice a day with a toothbrush designed for children.  For children younger than 3, only a smear of fluoride toothpaste the size of a grain of rice is necessary.  For children 3-6 years old, use only a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste. 

·         Toothpaste containing fluoride is important since it helps rebuild weakened tooth enamel from the outside, and can reverse the beginnings of tooth decay.  However, always encourage rinsing and spitting the toothpaste out, since swallowing it can affect the color of the developing permanent teeth that have not erupted yet.

Permanent (adult) teeth

·         The permanent teeth start coming in around the age of 6 or 7, and continue into early adulthood.  Permanent teeth should be brushed twice a day for two minutes with a fluoride toothpaste.  A routine of flossing between the teeth once daily with floss or an interdental cleaner is recommended.

·         Regular dental check-ups are essential for good oral health since this allows the dentist to identify and treat problems such as tooth decay.  Professional cleanings and fluoride applications to keep the teeth strong are also done during these check-ups.

We hope you find this helpful. Caring for our patients’ oral health is just another example of why Sondhi-Biggs-Hansen Orthodontics is “Smiles Above the Rest”.

Do I "have" to be...

 

We are sometimes asked if patients "have" to be referred by their dentist in order to schedule a consultation in our office. It is always helpful for us to have information from your dentist when we see you for an Orthodontic Consultation. However, if you have questions about Orthodontic treatment for yourself or your child, you can certainly schedule a consultation in our office. A referral isn't absolutely necessary. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact any one of our Sondhi-Biggs-Hansen Orthodontics team members.

Camp, Vacation, Orthodontist... Oh My!!

Summer can be a busy time, and sometimes the start back to school comes too quickly.  It can be difficult to get everything done. We've modified our schedule to accommodate as many patients as possible for new patient consultations. We have openings available, but call soon, because time is running out!

Traditional vs. Digital

 

Digital Dental Radiographs (commonly referred to as “x-rays”) vs. Traditional Dental X-Rays

As you may be aware, Sondhi-Biggs-Hansen Orthodontics takes pride in staying up-to-date by using the most advanced technology available for the comfort, convenience and safety of our patients.  One of those technologies is digital x-rays.  We have all seen stories in the news regarding the dangers of radiation exposure with traditional x-rays, and while many patients maintain an aversion to dental x-rays due to these types of stories, many are surprised to learn that the amount of radiation present in a full set of traditional dental x-rays only accounts for about 1 percent of their annual radiation exposure.  Digital x-rays, on the other hand, release radiation levels that are 80-90 percent lower than that! 

Other advantages to digital x-rays are less waiting time, shorter appointments, and the production of a nearly instantaneous image, which provides a better understanding of treatment for both the patient and the doctor.  Digital x-rays are also environmentally friendly.  Since digital x-rays are captured electronically, there is no need to develop the x-ray, which eliminates the disposal of harmful waste and chemicals into the environment.  Digital x-rays can also be shared easily with other medical/dental professionals.

X-rays are necessary in orthodontic treatment for many reasons.  Although you may have just had a full set of x-rays taken at your dentist’s office, our x-rays are looking for things other than decay and the overall health of the teeth.  We are looking for tumors or other pathologies, possibly noticed for the first time.  Although this is rare, it has been known to save lives!  These x-rays are also used to diagnose orthodontic problems, such as the form and position of the teeth.  We are interested in missing, extra, impacted or misplaced teeth, as well as short, long or misshaped roots.  Problems with the jaws include bones that are too big, too small, off center, too far apart, too close together or misshapen.  As you can tell, these x-rays are essential to determining where problems exist and the best way to correct them.

Not only are digital x-rays safer for our patients than traditional x-rays, please rest assured that Sondhi-Biggs-Hansen Orthodontics invested in digital x-rays 10+ years ago!  Providing digital x-rays and concern for our patients is another example of why we are “Smiles Above the Rest”!

If you have any questions about any of the recommendations made for your treatment in our office, please don’t hesitate to ask the doctors or any of our staff members.