Orthodontists Put Their Money Where Their Mouths Are

Want to know what a healthy, beautiful smile can do for you? Look no further than your orthodontist – literally. Nearly 75 percent of orthodontists have had orthodontic treatment according to a recent independent survey conducted on behalf of the American Association of Orthodontists.

The survey findings underscore the importance that orthodontists place on the very procedures that they recommend and treat their patients for. It is estimated that 50 to 75 percent of the population could benefit from orthodontic treatment. Currently, more than four million children and one million adults in North America wear braces.

“We know that orthodontic treatment can improve a patient’s dental health, overall health and facial appearance. For some, it may even improve self esteem,” said William C. Gaylord, DDS, MSD, president of the American Association of Orthodontists. “These results illustrate that we believe in the benefits of our work and that we practice what we preach.”

Additional survey findings included:

* 95 percent of orthodontists believe that they have enhanced the self-esteem of their patients through orthodontics. This is confirmed by numerous anecdotes and testimonials from their patients.

* There were more adult patients being treated by AAO members in 2006 than any other year since tracking began by age in 1989.

* More adult males are seeking treatment. They accounted for 44% of adult patients in 2006, up from 30% of adult patients in 1996.

Few of us are born with that perfect smile, but modern medicine can get pretty close. Three out of 4 children could benefit from orthodontic treatment. Forget your old ideas about orthodontics (“Tinsel Teeth, “”Metal Mouth”). Today there are many styles of braces that can help children actually make a fashion statement as their smiles are being perfected. Best of all, straightening teeth, correcting protruding jaws, improving bites and the other jobs of orthodontics have all become less painful and more successfully done.

Does Your Child Need Braces?

About 50 percent of children can benefit from braces. Though we tend to think of braces as a route to a beautiful smile, orthodontics can also correct talking or chewing problems. Any of the following signs may indicate that your child needs braces.

We recommend the first orthodontic examination between the ages of six and eight or whenever you or your family dentist identifies a problem. A child does not need to be referred to an orthodontist by a general dentist. A parent may call on their own for a free initial consultation.

Temporomandibular Disorder

Millions of Americans suffer from chronic facial and neck pain as well as recurrent headaches. In some cases this pain is due to Temporomandibular Disorder, or TMD.

Your temporomandibular joints, or jaw joints, connect your lower jawbone to your skull. As you may imagine, these joints get quite a lot of use throughout the day as you speak, chew, swallow, and yawn. Pain in and around these joints can be unpleasant and may even restrict movement.

Symptoms of TMD include:

• Pain in the jaw area
• Pain, ringing, or stuffiness in the ears
• Frequent headaches or neck aches
• Clicking or popping sound when the jaw moves
• Swelling on the sides of the face
• Muscle spasms in the jaw area
• A change in the alignment of top and bottom teeth
• Locked jaw or limited opening of the mouth

Should you notice any of these symptoms, let us know! We can help advise you as to whether they indicate the presence of TMD, and what sort of treatment is appropriate for you.

If you don’t have any of these symptoms, let’s keep it that way! There are some simple things you can do at home or work to prevent TMD from occurring in your jaw joints:

• Relax your face – remember the rule: “Lips together, teeth apart”
• Avoid grinding your teeth
• Avoid gum chewing
• Don’t cradle the phone receiver between your head and shoulder – either use a headset or hold the receiver to your ear
• Chew food evenly on both sides of your mouth
• Do not sit with your chin rested on your hand
• Practice good posture — keep your head up, back straight, and shoulders squared

Are you drowsy during the day with no explanation? Do you snore loudly, or wake up breathless in the middle of the night? If so, you may be one of more than twelve million Americans affected by sleep apnea.

What is sleep apnea?

Sleep apnea is a condition in which breathing stops periodically during sleep, as many as 20-30 times per hour. (“Apnea” is the Greek word for “without breath.”) If you suffer from sleep apnea, each time your breathing stops, the resulting lack of oxygen alerts your brain, which temporarily wakes you up to restart proper breathing. Because the time spent awake is so brief, most people with sleep apnea don’t remember it — and many think they are getting a good night’s sleep. However, the constant wake-sleep-wake-sleep cycle precludes the deep sleep that refreshes the body, and sufferers are frequently drowsy during the day.

What are the signs of sleep apnea?

The following symptoms can indicate the presence of sleep apnea. If you notice one or more of these, give us a call, and we can refer you to a sleep apnea specialist.

• Insomnia or difficulty sleeping
• Loud snoring at night
• Waking up at night short of breath
• Snorting or choking sounds during the night (indicating a restart of breathing)
• Headaches upon waking in the morning
• Falling asleep unintentionally during the day
• Extreme drowsiness throughout the day

Are there different types of sleep apnea?

There are three categories of sleep apnea. The most common is called obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and occurs due to a physical blockage, usually the collapsing of the soft tissue in the back of the throat. Less common is central sleep apnea (CSA), in which breathing stops because the muscles involved don’t receive the proper signal from the brain. And some people suffer from “mixed” or “complex” sleep apnea, which is a combination of obstructive and central.

What are risk factors for sleep apnea?

Obstructive sleep apnea is more common in males than females, and more common in older adults (40 and up) than younger adults and children. However, anyone — regardless of gender or age — can suffer from sleep apnea. Other risk factors include obesity, smoking, drinking, use of sedatives or tranquilizers, high blood pressure, and family history. Central sleep apnea strikes most often in people with heart disorders, neuromuscular disorders, strokes, or brain tumors. It is also more common in males.

Is sleep apnea dangerous?

Sleep apnea is considered a serious medical problem and if left untreated can lead to high blood pressure, increasing the risk of heart failure and stroke. The ongoing state of fatigue caused by sleep apnea can lead to problems at work or school, as well as danger when operating cars or other heavy machinery. Sleep apnea can also cause complications with medication or surgery: sedation by anesthesia can be risky, as can lying flat in bed after an operation. If you know or suspect you suffer from sleep apnea, alert any doctors who prescribe medication or advise surgery.

How is sleep apnea treated?

Treatments range widely and depend on the severity of the problem and the type of apnea. Basic treatment can be behavioral — for instance, patients are instructed to lose weight, stop smoking, or sleep on their sides instead of on their backs. Beyond that, oral devices can be used to position the mouth in such a way that prevents throat blockage. In more severe cases, surgery may be the best option.

What should I do if I suspect that someone in my family suffers from sleep apnea?

Give us a call, and we can refer you to a sleep apnea specialist. The specialist may recommend a “sleep study” to diagnose the precise extent of the problem, and can prescribe appropriate treatment. Depending on your situation, treatment may involve an oral device that we can custom-create for you after you complete a sleep study.

Individuals with missing teeth tend to choose dental implants over other procedures. Implants are not only similar in appearance and touch with natural teeth but they’re also able to retain jawbone structure. While the initial cost may be higher than other methods of tooth replacement, the permanency can make implants a better value in the long run. In this article, we’ll give you five reasons why dental implants are the ideal choice for you and the top implants office to contact if you agree later on. Help on teeth implants sydney is easy to get.

With implant dentistry, aesthetics is one of the more crucial factors to consider. Neglecting the health of your teeth and gums is sure to dim your smiles by more than a notch. Unlike other treatments, teeth implants aren’t easily dislocated they certainly don’t look out of place or ill-fitting. Unlike other tooth loss replacement procedures, wearing implants shall not modify the contours of your jaw, much less your face. Tooth loss can cause shrinkage of the jawbone, which makes the face look older. If you’re seeking for an answer to your dilemma then look no further than the use of implants. When you would like to get more information on cosmetic dentist sydney check out this site.

Patients commonly put in a good word for dental implants because of how simple and comfortable they are to use. Dentures often become loose over time as the jawbone shrinks and the structure of the bite shifts. This can lead to pressure on the gums, which can result in exposed nerves and pain. Tooth implants will fit right into the jawbone so that you will barely notice a difference between the implants and your natural teeth.

Food like corn is not good for people with dentures as it’s hard to chew and could cause unintentional removal or damage. Having permanent implants from an implants dentist can, however, put a permanent end to those worries. With implants, you can eat whatever you want. A palate-covering bridge is another thing you have to bear when wearing dentures. This can make it difficult to taste food fully. The only way to regain your sense of taste is to get rid of this bridge by having implants.

If you want to stop mumbling and slurring your words, you need to have your dentures removed and aid the help of an implant dentist. Incoherent speech is one of the common results of wearing imperfect dentures. Ultimately, using dentures will limit your abilities to speaking and reduce you to a silent or mumbling person. A tooth implant is all the more necessary when you often speak in public and you don’t want to become an embarrassment on stage. With implants, you can finally have peace of mind and fully concentrate on making a wonderful speech.

Another thing you should know about dentures is how they fail to work well if they’re applied and cleaned ineffectively even just for a day. But if you choose implants, you’ll be free from daily maintenance routines and the use of adhesives. These implants are cared for with the rest of your teeth, eliminating extra time, money and steps that dentures require.

Once you’re provided with dental implants, all your tooth loss problems will be over. This treatment will allow you to flash a killer smile without having to suffer an irregularly shaped jaw. For more information on the many advantages of implants, contact a dentist in your area who specializes in implant dentistry.

Your dentist may have discussed with you the benefits of having healthy teeth and proper jaw alignment. Crooked and crowded teeth are hard to clean and maintain. This can result in tooth decay, worsen gum disease and lead to tooth loss. Other orthodontic problems can contribute to abnormal wear of tooth surfaces, inefficient chewing function, excessive stress on gum tissue and the bone that supports the teeth, or misalignment of the jaw joints. These can lead to chronic headaches and face or neck pain. Treatment by an orthodontist can be less costly than the additional care required to treat dental problems arising as a result of orthodontic problems. For most people, a beautiful smile is the most obvious benefit of orthodontics. After your braces come off, you’ll feel more self-confidence and social acceptance.

Adults

Orthodontic treatment can be successful at any age, and adults especially appreciate the benefits of a beautiful smile. One of every five patients in orthodontic treatment is over 21. Jaw surgery is more often required for adult orthodontic patients because their jaws are not growing. Adults also may have experienced some breakdown or loss of their teeth and bone that supports the teeth and may require periodontal treatment before, during and/or after orthodontic treatment. Bone loss can also limit the amount and direction of tooth movement that is advisable.

Kids

It’s best for the orthodontist to see children by age 7 to advise if orthodontic treatment is required and the best time for that patient to be treated. The first permanent molars and incisors have usually come in by that time and crossbites, crowding and other problems can be evaluated. When treatment is begun early, the orthodontist can guide the growth of the jaw and guide incoming permanent teeth. Early treatment can also regulate the width of the upper and lower dental arches, gain space for permanent teeth, avoid the need for permanent tooth extractions, reduce likelihood of impacted permanent teeth, correct thumb-sucking, and eliminate abnormal swallowing or speech problems. In other words, early treatment can simplify later treatment.

What Is It?

Invisalign uses a series of invisible, removable, and comfortable aligners that no one can tell you’re wearing. So you can smile more during treatment as well as after. Invisalign is made with 3-D computer imaging technology, and has been proven effective. More than 70% of orthodontists in the US and Canada are certified to treat with Invisalign.

Why Would I Want It?

Not only are the aligners invisible, they are removable, so you can eat and drink what you want while in treatment, plus brushing and flossing are no problem. They are also comfortable, with no metal to cause mouth abrasions during treatment. And no metal and wires usually means you spend less time in your doctor’s office getting adjustments. Invisalign also allows you to view your own virtual treatment plan when you start, so you can see how your straight teeth will look when your treatment is complete.

How Does It Work?

You wear each set of aligners for about 2 weeks, removing them only to eat, drink, brush, and floss. As you replace each aligner with the next in the series, your teeth will move – little by little, week by week – until they have straightened to the final position your orthodontist has prescribed. You’ll visit your orthodontist about once every 6 weeks to ensure that your treatment is progressing as planned. Total treatment time averages 9-15 months and the average number of aligners worn during treatment is between 18 and 30, but both will vary from case to case.

Learn more about Invisalign on their web site at www.invisalign.com

Picture Perfect SMILES!

Dr. Michael A. Hess delivers excellent customer service!