Orthodontics

The first orthodontist was Dr. Edward H Angle who limited his practice to straightening teeth in the 1880’s. Traditionally, early orthodontists did not want to see the patient until all of the permanent teeth were present in the mouth, about age 12-14. At that point, the orthodontist would extract enough teeth to make it mathematically possible to fit all the remaining teeth in the arch and move them around until they were "straight." In the 1970’s orthodontists realized that by catching developmental problems earlier, they could, by use of appliances, direct the growth of the upper and/or lower arches to accommodate the size of the teeth. That is why your dentist may recommend an orthodontic as early as six or seven of years of age.
The process of orthodontics is possible because of the ability to move teeth bodily through bone by applying physical pressure to the tooth. The bone breaks down on the side away from the pressure and new bone is laid down behind it as it moves. Actually, our teeth remain where they are in our mouths because of continuous orthodontic pressures. The tongue is constantly pushing from the inside, the lips push from the outside. Along with stabilizing positional forces resultant from the bite relationship, the consequences of all the above is that our teeth remain in their same relative positions throughout our adult life.
The newest orthodontic development in the last few years has been "Invisalign." The biggest drawback to traditional orthodontics has always been the discomfort and inconvenience of the brackets and wires that are actually glued to the teeth. Invisalign is a process of moving the teeth by the use of a series of removable clear plastic aligners. This extremely convenient and patient-friendly technology is very popular because, unlike traditional braces, the appliance is invisible and can be removed while brushing and flossing or, unfortunately, any time the patient wishes. Therein lies one of the only disadvantages, the patient must wear the appliances for them to work and the treatment, unlike traditional orthodontics, relies upon patient compliance. Nevertheless, many adult patients embrace with the Invisalign process who would never consider traditional orthodontics.
Your dentist can help you decide if orthodontics is the appropriate treatment for your specific problem.

Periodontal or Gum Disease

If you are over fifty, you may recognize the term "pyorrhea." No, it is NOT an intestinal disorder! If you are older yet, you may be familiar with the condition known as "Trenchmouth." Both of these rather archaic labels refer to a very common health problem in our society: periodontal or gum disease.
Trenchmouth actually refers to gum disease that affected World War I troops as they were trapped in Europe in the trenches of the front lines. Gum disease are among the most common pathological conditions to affect human populations with approximately fifty percent of the population of the US having some type of gum disease at any given time. There are many forms of periodontal disease, but the one that is most destructive is called Chronic Periodontitis.
Basically, periodontitis is caused by plaque and the response stimulated in the tissues by the bacteria in plaque. With time, plaque can spread and grow below the gum line. Poisons produced by the bacteria in plaque set up an inflammatory response in which the body in essence turns on itself. The tissues and bone supporting the teeth are slowly destroyed. Gums separate from the teeth, forming pockets or spaces between the teeth and gums, and bone is lost causing looseness of the teeth and leading to their ultimate loss.
Some symptoms gum disease include: a bad taste in the mouth, bad breath, and bleeding gums. More obvious signs of advanced disease process are exudates, or pus, around the gums, and loosening of the teeth.
Periodontal disease has many associated risk factors. A Journal of Periodontology study shows smoking as the number one related lifestyle factor. Fifty-seven percent of studies have found a strong relationship between periodontal disease and psychological factors such as stress, distress, anxiety, and depression according to the American Academy of Periodontology. Other risk factors include family history, diabetes, poor nutrition, and chronic dry mouth. Recently, research has indicated periodontal disease is directly associated with many systemic conditions including heart disease.
The diagnosis and treatment of periodontal disease is responsibility of the dental professional team. If you suspect you may have a periodontal or gum problem, see you dentist. Along with the dental hygienist, he or she can suggest a treatment regimen specific to your individual needs.