The benefits of early treatment are the creation of an environment that promotes unimpeded optimal eruption of the permanent dentition and more balanced chewing/biting and facial growth. This will consequently provide better chewing function, more pleasant dental and facial esthetics and make any needed further correction in a second phase of care more comfortable and timely.
The following is a list of potential benefits of Phase I early orthodontic treatment:
- Reduce of the need to extract permanent teeth through improvement of the width of the dental arches and preserving or gaining space for erupting permanent teeth
- Influence jaw growth in a positive manner thus reducing or eliminating the need for jaw surgery;
- Lower the risk of trauma to protruded front teeth;
- Correct harmful oral habits improve esthetics and self-esteem;
- Simplify and shorten treatment time for definitive orthodontic treatment (phase II);
- Increase stability of final treatment results;
- Reduce likelihood of impacted permanent teeth;
- Improve speech development;
- Guide permanent teeth into more favorable positions; and
- Improve compliance before the busy teenage years.
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Wednesday, March 21, 2012
What kind of dental problems need early (Phase I) orthodontic treatment?
Problems that should be addressed through Phase I orthodontic treatment between ages 8-12 to avoid serious problems later include lack of space for eruption of all permanent teeth, crossbites (when one or some upper teeth fail to cover opposing lower teeth), and facial growth imbalances that cause severe overbites and underbites.
Some of the most direct results of interceptive treatment are:
- Reducing the need for tooth removal by creating room for crowded erupting teeth and reserving space for unerupted teeth;
- Creating facial symmetry by directing jaw growth;
- Reducing the risk of trauma to protruding front teeth;
- Reducing the risk of premature tooth wear and chipping of the teeth; and
- Elimination of habits that create bad bites.
It is important to note that after Phase I most patients typically will have 16 new teeth that will be erupting within the next couple of years. The way these teeth erupt will play an important role in determining the need or not of a second phase of treatment (Phase II).
Some of the most direct results of interceptive treatment are:
- Reducing the need for tooth removal by creating room for crowded erupting teeth and reserving space for unerupted teeth;
- Creating facial symmetry by directing jaw growth;
- Reducing the risk of trauma to protruding front teeth;
- Reducing the risk of premature tooth wear and chipping of the teeth; and
- Elimination of habits that create bad bites.
It is important to note that after Phase I most patients typically will have 16 new teeth that will be erupting within the next couple of years. The way these teeth erupt will play an important role in determining the need or not of a second phase of treatment (Phase II).
Thursday, February 2, 2012
What is “two-phase” orthodontic treatment?
Two-phase orthodontic treatment consists of two separate times a child receives orthodontic treatment. A first phase of treatment is done while the child still has some baby teeth. A second phase takes place when a child has most or all of their permanent teeth. Braces may or may not be used in the first phase of treatment, but are always used in the second phase.
Common reasons for initiating a first phase (Phase I) of treatment are:
- Preventing a problem from developing (preventive treatment);
- Interception of a developing problem before it becomes worse and harder to treat later (interceptive treatment);
- Guidance of the growth of the jaw bones that support the teeth (growth modification).
In my office I recommend a first phase of treatment when I determine that a child’s problem, if left alone, will create an unhealthy environment for the growth and development of his or her teeth, gums, jaws and face. This kind of treatment is timed to predictable stages of dental development to provide the greatest potential for improvement and correction of a child’s bad bite or to take advantage of a child’s growth and development for treatment purposes.
Common reasons for initiating a first phase (Phase I) of treatment are:
- Preventing a problem from developing (preventive treatment);
- Interception of a developing problem before it becomes worse and harder to treat later (interceptive treatment);
- Guidance of the growth of the jaw bones that support the teeth (growth modification).
In my office I recommend a first phase of treatment when I determine that a child’s problem, if left alone, will create an unhealthy environment for the growth and development of his or her teeth, gums, jaws and face. This kind of treatment is timed to predictable stages of dental development to provide the greatest potential for improvement and correction of a child’s bad bite or to take advantage of a child’s growth and development for treatment purposes.
Friday, January 13, 2012
Health problems linked to periodontal disease – part 2
Here are some more of the general health consequences an untreated bad bite can lead to as the cause of gum and/or periodontal disease.
Pregnant women that have periodontal disease are seven times more likely to have a baby that is born prematurely or too small. Physicians ponder over the possible relationship between premature births and low birth weight babies with periodontal disease in the mother. The reasoning is that toxins given off by the bacteria have a bad effect on the baby and might trigger premature birth.
S. mutans is a bacteria that lives in the dental plaque. It is known that it causes cavities and churns out acids that erode teeth. Sometimes S. mutans can enter the bloodstream and travel to the heart halves causing dangerous endocarditis. Straight teeth collect less dental plaque.
Lastly, a study from Sweden concluded that exposure to inflammation early in life increases the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease by a fourfold factor. One of the major sources of infections detected by this study was periodontal disease.
In conclusion, while we can’t say that straight teeth and good oral health can prevent certain types of cancer or Alzheimer’s disease, we can say that the constant inflammation resulting from the association between crooked teeth and periodontal disease may lead to severe consequences later in life.
Pregnant women that have periodontal disease are seven times more likely to have a baby that is born prematurely or too small. Physicians ponder over the possible relationship between premature births and low birth weight babies with periodontal disease in the mother. The reasoning is that toxins given off by the bacteria have a bad effect on the baby and might trigger premature birth.
S. mutans is a bacteria that lives in the dental plaque. It is known that it causes cavities and churns out acids that erode teeth. Sometimes S. mutans can enter the bloodstream and travel to the heart halves causing dangerous endocarditis. Straight teeth collect less dental plaque.
Lastly, a study from Sweden concluded that exposure to inflammation early in life increases the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease by a fourfold factor. One of the major sources of infections detected by this study was periodontal disease.
In conclusion, while we can’t say that straight teeth and good oral health can prevent certain types of cancer or Alzheimer’s disease, we can say that the constant inflammation resulting from the association between crooked teeth and periodontal disease may lead to severe consequences later in life.
Monday, December 5, 2011
Health problems linked to periodontal disease - Part 1
If your teeth are not aligned properly in your mouth it is harder to exercise proper oral hygiene. Left untreated, a bad bite can lead to periodontal disease.
Gum disease - which can be secondary to having crooked teeth - isn’t just a problem for your oral health. When your mouth is full of harmful bacteria fighting it out with your immune system, your whole body is affected, just as it would be if you had a bad infection anywhere else in your body.
While inflammation is your body’s normal reaction to fight off infection, when inflammation in your mouth goes on for a long time, it can lead to inflammation throughout your body – and that’s a well-known risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (a.k.a “heart disease”) and even having a stroke.
Studies have shown that preventing inflammation to begin with is the best way to reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke. That means good dental hygiene is key. In order to exercise the best oral hygiene possible, your teeth and bite must be aligned properly.
It might sound far-fetched to associate crooked teeth, poor oral hygiene, periodontal disease and certain types of cancer. There is, however, a correlation between a history of periodontal disease and several cancers, including a 36% increased risk of lung cancer, a 49% increased risk of lung cancer, and a 54% increased risk of pancreatic cancer. Peridontal disease has also been associated with colon cancer and some types of blood cancer.
Gum disease - which can be secondary to having crooked teeth - isn’t just a problem for your oral health. When your mouth is full of harmful bacteria fighting it out with your immune system, your whole body is affected, just as it would be if you had a bad infection anywhere else in your body.
While inflammation is your body’s normal reaction to fight off infection, when inflammation in your mouth goes on for a long time, it can lead to inflammation throughout your body – and that’s a well-known risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (a.k.a “heart disease”) and even having a stroke.
Studies have shown that preventing inflammation to begin with is the best way to reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke. That means good dental hygiene is key. In order to exercise the best oral hygiene possible, your teeth and bite must be aligned properly.
It might sound far-fetched to associate crooked teeth, poor oral hygiene, periodontal disease and certain types of cancer. There is, however, a correlation between a history of periodontal disease and several cancers, including a 36% increased risk of lung cancer, a 49% increased risk of lung cancer, and a 54% increased risk of pancreatic cancer. Peridontal disease has also been associated with colon cancer and some types of blood cancer.
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