Wisdom teeth (AKA-third molars) are usually the last teeth to erupt into the mouth. Wisdom teeth typically erupt during adulthood, between the ages of 17 and 25. Most people have four wisdom teeth, but sometimes they have more or less. In fact, 35% of the population never develop wisdom teeth.

Wisdom teeth use to be called the “teeth of wisdom” in the Seventeenth Century. Wisdom teeth got their name because a person is considered to be “wiser” when they enter adulthood. Wisdom teeth use to have a purpose, but now they just serve as a burden for many. Before the Twentieth Century, adults use to lose their teeth early in life. Wisdom teeth were considered to be a “back-up” tooth, these teeth would fill-in for others that fell-out. Due to recent advancements in dental health care people are retaining their teeth longer so this is no longer an issue.

Wisdom teeth are infamous for causing problems. They are well-known for causing pain and the onset is unpredictable. Poorly aligned wisdom teeth (and teeth in general) are more difficult to clean, can damage adjacent teeth and cause defects to jaw structure that supports the teeth. This damage can compromise the long-term health and stability of the teeth, in turn negatively affecting your bite. For this reason (and many others) it is important to maintain regular check-ups with your dentist and/or with The Brace Place, so that a professional is continually evaluating your bite.

Feel free to ask our office if you have any questions regarding your wisdom teeth and how it may affect your orthodontic treatment…we will be happy to help!

Smile, it’s 2012!  This is the year to wear your braces proudly and correctly. It’s also time to take even better care of your teeth and gums so that they will stay healthy.  Here’s what The Brace Place recommends for smart New Year’s braces resolutions:

• Limit your sweets.
  Sugary foods can weaken the enamel of your teeth and cause cavities.  If you do eat sweets, brush your teeth right after eating to prevent bacteria from lingering.  Hard and sticky foods like candy can also get trapped in braces and trigger cavities.

• Go easy on sugary beverages.
  Use a straw when drinking sodas, juices and other beverages so the liquid does not come into as much contact with your teeth.  This can help prevent cavities.

• Brush twice and floss teeth once a day.
  You don’t want to risk food or bacteria getting stuck in or between your teeth. Brushing teeth right after a soft drink can reduce tooth erosion from acid.

• Visit your dentist.
  If it’s been over 6 months, a checkup is important…particularly when you are wearing braces.

• Regularly check braces for bent or loose wires and brackets.
  Let us know if there is a problem, and we can schedule an appointment to make repairs.

May your New Year be a terrific one for wearing your braces, and for enjoying life!

If you hear a grinding sound while a family member sleeps, it’s most likely their teeth rubbing against each other.  The cause is typically a dental disorder called bruxism that is often brought on by stress. It can wear down teeth, loosen fillings and cause a loss of enamel if not treated.  A possible solution is to have a night guard made. The night guard will provide a cushion between upper and lower teeth, protecting the teeth from the potential side effects of grinding.

We recommend custom-made night guards be made for the patient once the braces are removed and the teeth are in their new position.  Please contact our office or your general dentist’s office if anyone in your family has bruxism to see what type of night guard they recommend for you.  Night guards can  reduce potential damage to teeth and their adjacent supporting structures.  In addition, he or she will sleep more comfortably…and so will you.

Braces originated with the early Romans, who were thought to wrap metal wires around their teeth in order to straighten them.  After some very—ouch—primitive methods in the Middle Ages, efforts to correct teeth and fill gaps were somewhat improved upon by George Washington’s time.  In later life, he wore partial dentures (ivory, notwood), fastened by metal wires around any original teeth that remained so as to keep them intact and straight.

The wire crib, invented in 1819, set modern orthodontics in motion.  It looked much like today’s braces and was used for the next 100 years.  Then came the 20^th century, when loops, hooks and other components were made of gold, platinum, wood and other materials.  The loops wrapped around each tooth; the high cost of gold kept most folks from having their teeth corrected.

When more affordable stainless steel was introduced as a braces material in the early 1960s, orthodontists immediately got on board, still wrapping loops around teeth.  The 1970’s saw orthodontists using dental adhesive to keep the brackets bonded on, as well as often-uncomfortable tie wires and elastic ligatures to maintain tightness…hence the ‘tin grin’ that even drove Marcia crazy on “The Brady Bunch”!   Self-ligating braces also appeared in the early 1970s; designed like a trap door, each bracket held the wires in place.

In 1975, the first invisible braces were invented, with the bonded brackets on the inside to stay hidden.  This inspired two MBA students to create the Invisalign® system of removable braces in 2000.

Today’s braces are more sophisticated than ever.  Some are shaped by computers to create exact treatment plans.  Others use heat-activated nickel-titanium wires developed by NASA, which have proven superior in helping teeth move in the right direction.  At The Brace Place, you’ll find many options, including metal braces that are used because of their versatility, as well as clear braces and Invisalign.  So smile… considering how far we’ve come in braces advancements, it’s good to be living in times like these!

Image Source: Fauchard, Pierre. The Surgical Dentist. Pound Ridge, NY: Milford House, 1969.

Jiffy Jam Delights

These buttery cookies melt in your mouth like a soft shortbread. As “drop” treats, they mix and bake very quickly. Try filling some from each batch with a variety of jams – they’ll look like colorful jewels.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup margarine, softened
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
• Topping:
• Jam of your choice (works better than jelly because it is thicker), about 1 cup
• -You can use several different jams to make different flavored cookies

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake for 9 minutes.
2. In a large bowl, combine margarine, sugar, salt, egg and vanilla, using an electric mixer and blending until smooth. Mix in flour.
3. Drop from tablespoons onto greased cookie sheet (the texture is almost like modeling dough). Dip a teaspoon into a small cup of water and use the backside of the tip to make a dent in the center of each cookie; dip the spoon every time in the water, to keep it from sticking to the dough. Fill each dent with about 1 teaspoon of jam. Bake for 9 minutes at 350 degrees; the cookies will be quite light-colored with just a little brown around the edges. Makes about two dozen. Store in a covered container.

• Excerpted from The Braces Cookbook: Recipes You (and Your Orthodontist) Will Love by Pamela Waterman and Brenda Waterman, www.MetalMouthMedia.net  ©2011

Soft Christmas Cookies

These soft cookies will be perfect to leave for Santa and nibble on throughout the night for any orthodontic braced child. Soft, warm and sweet they can also be decorated after allowing them to cool completely and still taste great!

Ingredients:

• 3 ¾ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup margarine, softened
• 1 ½ cups white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 2 ½ teaspoons vanilla extract 

Directions:

1. Sift flour, baking powder, and salt together, set aside. In a large bowl, cream together the margarine and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs one at a time, then stir in the vanilla. Gradually blend in the sifted ingredients until fully absorbed. Cover dough, and chill for 2 hours.
2. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Grease cookie sheets. On a clean floured surface, roll out small portions of chilled dough to 1/4 inch thickness. Cut out shapes using cookie cutters.
3. Bake 6 to 8 minutes in the preheated oven, or until edges are barely brown. Remove from cookie sheets to cool on wire racks.

Other braces-friendly foods include soft candies, peanut butter, pudding, meatloaf and soft pretzels.  You can always make soft substitutes to foods, like adding ground meats or serving foods like lasagna instead of pizza.  On the other hand, try to avoid sweets like caramels, nuts, gum and taffy. It is okay to eat sweets….just not too many at this or any other time of the year.  Don’t forget to brush and floss after eating.

We at The Brace Place wish you and your family happy moments that will stick in your memory, but not in your braces.

Some folks believe braces have special powers beyond aligning teeth and enhancing smiles.  Then there are those who think braces can interfere with romance and even metal detectors. In order to avoid getting your wires crossed, let’s look at these myths and truths about braces:

• Myth: Two people wearing braces can lock them if they kiss.
• Fact: Today’s smaller braces are so sleek, it’s almost impossible for them to become entangled.  But it can happen, just like in the movies.  So think before you smooch, or you may truly be inseparable all the way to the orthodontist!

• Myth: It is hard to play amusical instrument with braces.
• Fact: Depending on the instrument that you play there may be an adjustmentperiod when you first have your braces placed, however, most patients quickly adapt and you should be back to playing like normal in a short period of time.

• Myth: Your chance of being struck by lightning increases with braces.
• Fact: Your odds of lightning hitting you remain the same, with braces or without braces.  Though braces contain metal (an electric conductor), the amount is not large enough to increase your probability of being struck by a bolt of lightning.

• Myth: Braces rust while you are in orthodontic treatment.
• Fact: Your braces cannot rust because they are made from titanium alloy—a super strong material that will not rust.  In fact, they’ll look good as new every day, no matter how long you wear them.

• Myth: Braces set-off metal detectors in airport security.
• Fact: Since braces are made from lightweight materials, there is no interference.  In other words, you’ll always pass through airports with flying colors.

The Brace Place can help you discover more facts and fiction about braces.  In addition to lots of good advice, we’ll give you a worry-free experience.  Now go enjoy the next thunderstorm!

To maintain your correction, your orthodontist will work with you to accomplish the following:

• After the braces are removed you will need to return to your family dentist for an examination and cleaning (it is important to maintain proper oral hygiene by brushing at least twice a day and flossing at least once a day). Also, you will need to keep regularly scheduled appointments with your general dentist to evaluate your readiness for removal of your wisdom teeth.
• Your orthodontist will provide you with a retainer for each treated arch.
• Your orthodontist will supervise the wear and care of your retainers once the braces are removed and at follow-up appointments.
• Also remember to take your retainers out when you eat/drink and when you brush/floss.
• Clean your retainers daily with a toothbrush and mild soap and/or toothpaste.
• Keep your retainers in your retainer case when you are not wearing them; retainers are frequently thrown away on accident and pets love to chew on them.
• If you lose your retainers, break your retainers or feel that the retainers are not fitting properly then call your orthodontist immediately. Remember – your teeth will shift if your retainers are not worn properly.

Always wear your retainers as instructed and remember that even with perfect retainer wear your teeth do make adaptive changes to the function of the tongue, lips and supporting structures of the mouth. These changes are natural. Working together, you will achieve the maximum benefits from your investment of time, money and effort.

Congratulations on having your braces removed! Now is the time to help your beautiful smile stay that way for a lifetime!

• Mouth guards will help to move soft tissue away from the teeth in order to prevent laceration and bruising of the lips and cheeks.
• If you wear braces, not only will your mouth guard protect you from being bruised or cut by your braces, it may help prevent injury to another player due to contact with your braces.
• Mouth guards help to keep the lower jaw from getting jammed into the upper jaw, providing a level of protection against jaw fracture in this case.

Types of Mouth Guards:

1. Stock Mouth Guards
2. Boil-and-Bite Mouth Guards
3. Custom Mouth Guards

Stock mouth guards are available at most sporting good stores…and for free at The Brace Place if you ask Dr. Ballou nicely! They usually come in limited sizes (small, medium and large). Stock mouth guards are ready to be used without any further preparation, simply remove them from the package and place in your mouth. These type of mouth guards are bulky and lack any retention, so they need to be held in place by constantly biting down. The stock mouth guard commonly interferes with speech and breathing, making it the least acceptable and least protective mouth guard. However, this type of mouthguard is the only one that brace-wearers can wear.

Boil-and-bite mouth guards are the most commonly used mouthguard on the market. These mouth guards are immersed in boiling water and formed in the mouth by using finger, tongue and biting pressure. Available in limited sizes, this mouth guard often lacks proper extensions. Care should be taken by the public when bombarded with clever marketing schemes, claims and promotions in sporting goods stores by stock and boil-and-bite mouth guard companies. Stock and boil-and-bite mouth guards do not provide the expected care and injury prevention that a properly fabricated custom mouth guard does.

Once your child is finished with braces please speak with Dr. Ballou about creating a custom fitted mouth guard for the athlete in your family. Custom mouth guards can only be created by your dentist or orthodontist, they cannot be purchased in a store. Custom mouth guards allow for proper tooth and gum adaptation and are the most superior mouth guard available. They fulfill all the criteria for adaptation, retention, comfort and protection. They interfere the least with speaking and have virtually no effect on breathing. Young mouths will need to have new custom mouth guards created periodically as they do breakdown over time.

A visit to a college blog will quickly tell you that braces can be the cause of worry and insecurity for the college-bound student. First year college students write about wanting to create a great first impression and they worry that braces will make them look too young. They also worry about when they’re going to visit their orthodontist and how they should take care of their braces while away from home.

Some of the responses on the blog were not much different than what your orthodontist would say, i.e., braces are not that unusual in college and wearing them probably won’t affect your social life at all. We recommend that you just embrace braces (confidence is very attractive), follow a few recommendations on how to take care of your braces and teeth, and before you know it the braces will be off and you’ll have that beautiful smile.

Here are just a few tips on how to care for your teeth and braces while away from home:

• Speak to your dentist and orthodontist about your college break schedule and how often they wish to see you. You’ll also want to ask what to do in case of emergencies while you’re away.
• Some items to take with you will be travel toothbrushes for brushing after meals and special floss for braces. If your braces are Invisalign you’ll have a different set of basic tips, as your braces are removable for eating and cleaning.
• Take a nice care package of healthy snacks with you to school. No matter what type of braces you are wearing, you’ll want to limit candy, sodas and juices.
• If your braces are metal braces or clear ones, you need to be watchful of frequent snacking. You’ll also want to avoid foods that are hard, chewy or sticky as they can harm your braces.
• In addition to brushing and flossing you may want to use a water oral hygiene device that helps to remove food particles that the toothbrush may not reach.

Have a great time in college, study hard and know that you’re on your way to the beautiful smile you’ve always wanted.

1. General Soreness: It is common to feel sore or uncomfortable after getting braces on. Pain generally peaks during the first 24 hours and gradually decreases over the next week. Discomfort can be relieved by over-the-counter pain relievers (i.e. Tylenol, Ibuprofen). Follow the dosage recommendations and any other precautions listed on the bottle.  The cheeks will adapt to the braces rubbing against them, a pea-sized ball of wax can be placed on the affecting area for comfort. As time goes on the inside of your cheeks will toughen-up and adapt to the braces.

2. Loose Bracket/Broken Bracket: Loose brackets are a normal part of orthodontic treatment and can come loose for a variety of reasons. Wax can be placed on the broken bracket if it is causing any discomfort. Please call the office during regular patient hours to re-schedule your appointment for the first available appointment to have the bracket removed.

3. Poking Wire: Try the following if a wire is causing you discomfort:

• clip the end of the wire with nail clippers
• place wax on the end of the wire
• push the wire down with a pencil eraser

If you are still having issues, you can call the office during regular patient hours to re-schedule your appointment for the first available appointment to have the poking wire fixed.

4. Spacer(s) Fell Out: Spacers are the rubber bands that we put BETWEEN your teeth (not around the braces). If you have lost any of your spacers then you will need to make an appointment to have the spacers replaced before your next appointment. If you do not come in to get the spacers placed again, the doctor will not be able to perform the procedure that is planned for your next appointment.

5. Broken Retainer: You should schedule an appointment as soon as possible to have the broken retainer repaired/replaced.