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 [...]
Two-Phase orthodontic treatment is a very specialized process that encompasses tooth straightening and physical, facial changes. The major advantage of two-phase treatment is to maximize the opportunity to accomplish the ideal healthy, functional, aesthetic result that will remain stable over time. During Early Treatment or Phase I, the growth relationships of the upper and lower [...]
Although many young children suck their thumbs, the majority stop at an early enough age to avoid permanent dental problems. However, a handful of young children continue to suck their thumbs past the age of five or six. These children need to be identified and treated before their thumbsucking can lead to severe malocclusions. Chronic [...]
I remember when the Tooth Fairy left $ .25 a tooth That was the going price for the Baby Boomers. Securian Dental’s 2008 Tooth Fairy price poll reveals that per-tooth prices jumped 22% this year to an amazing $2.09 per tooth on average. Securian reports that $1 is the most common price tag on [...]
Ask any child with less-than-perfect teeth about the nicknames and teasing… and you’ll no doubt hear a sad story. We hear them every day – Goofy, Bugs Bunny, Fang. That’s rough! There is real substance to such a child’s social pain. One study on childhood harassment found that protruding or misaligned teeth were the single [...]
ST. LOUIS-Because orthodontists can spot subtle problems with jaw growth or teeth while a child still has primary or “baby” teeth present, the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends all children get a check-up with an orthodontic specialist no later than age 7. Some problems are not so subtle and may not be noticed by [...]
Will braces set off the metal detectors in the airport? * The lightweight materials used in braces will not affect metal detectors. You are cleared for take-off. Can braces rust? * Absolutely not! Today’s braces are made of new stronger materials… and will not rust! Can a musical instrument be played while in braces? * [...]
During the Halloween season, the most frequently asked question of people in braces is, “What candy am I allowed to eat at Halloween?” To avoid breaking the braces, steer clear of the following treats, or recipes with these ingredients, as they could lengthen treatment time: • All hard candies • All chewy candies • Caramel [...]
One of today’s popular forms of “body art” is PIERCING. If you are thinking about getting a piercing…. or you already have one…. there are some health risks you should be aware of. Your mouth a lot of bacteria, and infection is a common complication of oral piercing. Just touching your mouth jewelry (tongue barbells [...]
It’s All About the Retainer! Finished with braces? The next step is so important! THE RETAINER…. This appliance keeps your teeth in place (but only if you wear it). Now that you have spent about 2 years in braces, they are removed, and you have an AWESOME SMILE! Wow, you feel so free. No more [...]