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Tag: Orthodontics

Home Posts Tagged "Orthodontics"

Why do I have to wear my retainer for so long?

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When braces are removed, teeth have a tendency to move to their original position. In the first month without your braces, the risk of relapse is high. Relapse means that anything that the braces corrected (spaces, crowding, crooked teeth etc.) can be undone if left unattended. Hence, retainers are made and placed the day after your braces have been removed. Retainers are custom made appliances used to keep your teeth in place after your braces have been removed. Here at Sable and Pepicelli Orthodontists, we use three types of retainers: Hawley, Essix and bonded retainers. Your orthodontist will determine which one or combination of these is best suited to your case. Hawley retainers have your classic ‘plate’ type appearance; they are constructed of rigid acrylic and very durable. Essix retainers are a clear plastic retainer, moulded to the shape of your teeth. Bonded retainers are the ‘wires’ (actually a thin chain) that are glued to the inside of your teeth. Although some people think that the removal of braces means the conclusion of orthodontic treatment, this is incorrect. Retainers will be given to you after your braces are removed to ultimately retain the position of your teeth in the long term; keeping in mind that braces are only removed with the approval of the orthodontist when they are sure that the teeth are in the most ideal position possible. After braces are removed, the teeth need time to stabilise and to maintain their position in the mouth. Your orthodontist will see you every few months once you are in the retention phase of your treatment, and will determine how your retainers should be worn depending on the treatment provided. Retainers are used full-time for the first few months and then gradually reduced as the teeth start to stabilise. They will then be worn in bed at night time only, ideally for the rest of your life, to maintain your beautiful new smile! By Simon Huynh – Orthodontic Therapist

Recipe of the day

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If you’ve just had your braces placed and things are a bit sensitive at the moment, give this YUMMY braces friendly recipe a go- we think it sounds delish! CHEESY MUSHROOM AND PESTO RISONI BAKE INGREDIENTS 300g dried risoni 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 1 small brown onion, halved, thinly sliced 3 garlic cloves, crushed 20g butter 200g Swiss brown mushrooms, sliced 150g button mushrooms, quartered 300ml light thickened cream 1 teaspoon lemon rind, finely grated 80g baby spinach 60g (2/3 cup) pecorino, finely grated 55g (1/4 cup) fresh basil pesto 150g fresh mozzarella, in brine, torn METHOD Step 1- Preheat oven to 200C/180C fan forced. Cook the risoni in a large saucepan of salted boiling water for 8 minutes. Drain. Step 2- Meanwhile, heat 1 tbs of the oil in a large non-stick frying pan over medium-low heat. Add the onion. Cook, stirring, for 4 minutes or until softened. Stir in the garlic for 1 minute until aromatic. Transfer to a bowl. Heat half the butter and half the remaining oil in the pan over high heat. Add half the mushrooms. Season. Cook, stirring, for 3 minutes or until browned. Transfer to a bowl. Repeat with the remaining oil, butter and mushrooms. Step 3- Return the onion and mushroom mixtures to pan. Add the cream and rind. Simmer for 2 minutes. Add the risoni, spinach, 1⁄3 cup pecorino and 1 tbs of the pesto. Season. Remove from heat. Sprinkle with remaining pecorino. Top with mozzarella. Bake for 15 minutes or until cheese melts. Step 4- Preheat oven grill to high. Grill for 2-3 minutes or until golden. Drizzle with remaining pest

Early orthodontic treatment

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A common misunderstanding is that orthodontic treatment can only commence when all adult teeth have erupted. Early treatment is sometimes required before this, and is aimed at treating functional issues with developing bites and occasionally for psycho-social reasons (e.g. teasing at school due to the appearance of the child’s teeth). Your dentist is usually the first person to detect such problems and may recommend an early referral to an orthodontist for your child to undergo an assessment. Usually early treatment occurs any time after eruption of the front adult teeth and first adult molars (from age 6 onward) up until eruption of the adult teeth (approximately age 12). It is uncommon for treatment to be required earlier than this. Some problems that are best treated early to avoid significant dental issues in the future are listed below: Protrusive upper front teeth: If the upper teeth stick out over the lower teeth to a significant degree, they are more susceptible to trauma. This is particularly so if a patient cannot close their lips over their front teeth or for children engaging in contact sports. Deep bite: Upper teeth cover the lower teeth more than they should, which can cause increased wear to the enamel of the front teeth and sometimes damage to upper gum tissue. Under bite: Lower teeth are forward of the upper teeth. This may be the result of a jaw growth discrepancy and/or tooth problem. Open bite: Upper and lower front teeth do not come together. This is often the result of a finger/thumb sucking habit. Crowding: Jaws are too narrow or teeth are too large causing crowded or misaligned teeth. Spacing: Teeth are too small or jaws are too large causing space between the teeth. Sometimes teeth also fail to develop which can lead to increased spacing of the teeth. Space maintenance: If a baby molar tooth is lost early (e.g. due to decay), it is often necessary to hold the space with a space maintainer for the developing adult tooth to erupt into the arch. Crossbite: Upper teeth are inside the lower teeth, causing wear to the teeth and possible asymmetrical growth of the lower jaw. Malpositioned teeth: Teeth erupting into the wrong position can sometimes cause damage to adjacent teeth as they erupt. It is important to detect this problem early to facilitate treatment to allow for normal dental development. Impacted teeth/delayed eruption: If teeth have not erupted at the usual age or there is a significant delay between corresponding teeth erupting on different sides of the mouth, investigation is required. Teeth can sometimes become ‘stuck’, which is often the result of an extra tooth growing, previous trauma to the baby teeth affecting root development, or incorrect position. If you have concerns that your child may have any of the above issues, it is recommended to speak with your dentist or arrange for a consultation with your local orthodontist. They can then determine if early treatment is required or whether treatment can wait until the child is in the adult dentition. Written by Yvette Ding.

Indirect bonding

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Orthodontists have traditionally placed braces on the teeth one at a time, in a process known as direct bonding.  Although this technique is widely practised, a more efficient and comfortable method, known as indirect bonding, is often used at Sable and Pepicelli Orthodontists. In order to place the braces indirectly, our orthodontic therapist will start by taking impressions of your upper and lower teeth. From these impressions, our laboratory technician creates a set of plaster models. Your orthodontist will then carefully and accurately position the braces on the models, without you even being in the clinic! Once the braces are in place, soft custom trays are placed over the models which allow the braces to then come away from the plaster, within the trays. On the day that you have your braces fitted (usually one to two weeks after the impressions), our orthodontic therapist will clean and prepare your teeth.  Once the teeth are ready, the orthodontist will fit the custom trays containing all of the braces, and then set the glue.  After the glue is set, the custom trays will be removed, and your braces will be on! Lastly, you will have your upper and lower wires inserted, and then you will be ready to begin your orthodontic journey! Written by Sher Fong.

Thumb Sucking

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Children often suck their thumbs, fingers, dummies, blankets or toys, as this provides comfort and security. Most children will stop sucking their thumb or fingers naturally between the ages of 2 to 4 years old.  As children start to interact with others in a social environment, this habit may also stop due to peer pressure.  Some children however, develop a habit that they are unable to break, as it is often a source of comfort during periods of stress, anxiety and worry. If the child continues to suck their thumb or fingers when the adult teeth erupt into the mouth (at around the age of 6 or 7), growth of the jaws can be affected and this can result in significant misalignment of the teeth.  Orthodontic treatment will then be required to correct the problems caused by their sucking habit. Common orthodontic problems caused by prolonged thumb sucking Open bite: the teeth do not meet together at the front. Protrusive bite: the upper front teeth are positioned forward relative to the lower front teeth. These teeth are then at risk of trauma. Crossbite: the upper jaw is narrow compared to the lower jaw due to contraction of the cheek muscles used for the sucking motion. Lisp: it may become difficult to pronounce certain sounds due to the teeth being pushed out of place. Trauma to thumbs and fingers: the thumbs or fingers may become swollen and develop sores or calluses. Methods to stop the thumb sucking habit  Identify and remove the cause(s) of the stress and anxiety for the child Encourage and offer rewards for breaking the habit Tape the thumb or finger at night with sports tape, to bring the habit into the child’s awareness when sleeping Use unpleasant tasting nail paint If all of the above methods are not successful in breaking the habit, then a Thumb Sucking Appliance can be used.  This orthodontic appliance is cemented onto the back teeth and consists of a smooth metal crib positioned on the roof of the mouth, behind the upper front teeth.  This acts as a physical reminder for the child not to suck their thumb. Thumb sucking habits can be difficult for a child to break.  However this problem is better corrected earlier rather than later, and before the adult teeth start erupting into the mouth.  If you are having difficulty getting your child to break the habit, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Written by Jennifer Wu.

What to expect at your initial orthodontic consultation

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Your first visit to our orthodontic clinic is nothing to be nervous about! The initial appointment provides an opportunity for you and your family to meet our team, learn about the different types of orthodontic treatment and find out what treatment may be suitable for you. Your first visit will include the following: Assessment and measurements of your teeth, bite and jaw position Record taking (photographs, x-rays and study models as required) A customised treatment plan explaining what treatment (if any) is recommended and why You will then spend time with one of our knowledgeable Treatment Coordinators. Your Treatment Coordinator will show you videos on the recommended treatment, explain what appointments are needed, give you a summary of the payment options and item numbers for your health fund, and answer any questions that you may have. If there are multiple treatment options available to you, we may require a second treatment planning consultation to discuss your options in more detail. If you are ready to schedule an initial consultation for you or your child to be assessed by Dr Pepicelli, Dr Sable or Dr Newby, please contact our practice. Written by Becc Withers.

Why are mouthguards so important?

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We are frequently asked if it is important to wear a mouthguard whilst playing sport. The simple answer to that question is- yes!  It is estimated from the American Dental Association that one third of all dental related injuries are sports related. Mouthguards are often mandatory in contact sports such as football, wrestling and rugby and should also be considered in other incidental sports such as basketball and netball. Mouthguards are typically soft plastics or laminates that prevent oral injuries to the teeth, mouth, cheeks, tongue and jaw.  They can ‘cushion’ a blow that may otherwise result in a broken jaw or tooth injury. Another common question we are asked is what is the best type of mouthguard whilst you have braces. There are two main types of mouthguards on the market: boil-and-bite and custom made mouthguards by your dentist. Custom made mouthguards offer a premium fit, however can be quite costly whilst braces are on as the teeth are constantly moving causing constant issues with fit. For this reason, boil-and-bite mouthguards are often recommended during orthodontic treatment as they can be frequently remoulded to fit around a changing mouth. It is vital to wear mouthguards if you have braces as they can prevent damage to the brackets and they provide a barrier between the braces at soft tissues, therefore reducing the risk of injury. Written by Ashleigh Robinson

Orthodontics for Adults

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  It’s a question we hear frequently at our practice – I want to straighten my teeth, but I’m an adult; am I too old for braces? Whether you’re the parent of a child with braces, the friend of someone who just started, or just want to do something about that crooked front tooth that has bugged you for years, it’s a question you may have pondered. Well the good news is that age is but a number and there is no upper age limit for braces! Our oldest patient is over 70, proving you’re never too old to have that smile you’ve always wanted.   Throughout your lifetime your teeth retain the capacity to move, which is sometimes the very reason some adults come to see us in the first place! Whilst the teeth of adolescents may move slightly faster due to their increased metabolism (yet another reason to envy those younger days), the teeth of adults are easily moved by braces. That’s all fine, but I’m not as young and carefree as I used to be and the visual image of metal brackets stuck to my teeth doesn’t sit well with me. Well, more good news – there are more visually discrete alternatives available. The most common alternative our adult patients choose is ceramic (or ‘clear’) braces. Like conventional metal braces, the brackets are stuck on the outside of the tooth but are made of a ceramic which blends in with your natural tooth colour. The linking arch-wire is still metal but they are far less obvious than metal braces. If the thought of that is still too much, there is also the option of lingual (or ‘inside’) braces, where the brackets are stuck to the inside of the tooth surface. This makes them invisible to everyone but your dental support crew. There are some suitability criteria, but if the sound of lingual braces interests you then by all means ask. If neither of those options sounds appealing, you may have heard of Invisalign, which is also popular among our adult patients who require more minor correction. Invisalign uses a clear, removable, retainer-type appliance to gradually align the teeth without the need to stick brackets to each. With all these options available the choice is clear! So don’t put off until tomorrow – come in and see us and achieve that smile you’ve always wanted.