Did my wisdom teeth make my other teeth crooked?

I often have parents of patients ask about wisdom teeth and when they should be removed.  One concern people have is that the wisdom teeth are going to come in and ruin the orthodontic result.  While the wisdom teeth get a lot of blame for the recurrence of crowding in the dental arches, how much of it is really warranted?  Do the wisdom teeth really cause that crowding?  And if not, what does?

Usually the wisdom teeth start to come in (if there is enough room for them) in the late teenage years or early 20s.  Research done at the University of Iowa has shown that as these teeth erupt, they do not put enough force on the adjacent teeth to cause crowding to occur.  Pressure sensors were placed between the teeth to measure the pressure on the teeth with and without wisdom teeth being present, and there was no difference.  Other studies have shown that crowding in the adult teeth will occur with or without wisdom teeth ever being present, and whether they are extracted or not.

So if wisdom teeth aren't to blame, then what causes the teeth to crowd up in these cases?  Orthodontists have a few ideas.  One is that as the lower front teeth wear a bit on the edges, the upper teeth exert a bit more pressure on them pushing them back toward the tongue.  Another possibility is a small amount of late jaw growth which puts a bit of extra pressure against the backs of the upper front teeth.  Also, as we get older there are natural, yet undesirable changes that tend to occur.  One such change is a narrowing of the lower arch as the canines tip in slightly.  This takes away some of the space for the lower incisors causing them to shift.

So what can be done to prevent this relapse from happening?  Although there are valid reasons for removing the wisdom teeth if there is not room for them, preventing the teeth from crowding up shouldn't really be one of them.  The secret to keeping our teeth straight long-term is really no secret.  The answer is long-term retainer wear.  Permanent, bonded retainers are a great way to do this (and will be addressed in a future post) but removable retainers will work just as well, assuming they are worn as directed.  I think the main reason that patients see shifting when they are in their late teens and early twenties is not due to wisdom teeth coming in.  I think it's because they have stopped wearing their retainers and one of the other factors mentioned is in play.  Wear your retainers and your teeth won't move, and you will preserve that beautiful smile for as long as you like.

What is the purpose of an orthodontic "supervision" appointment?

We know that moms and dads have busy schedules. Leaving work, picking up their children from school and taking them to the orthodontist is no small task. Sometimes the appointments are very short and seemingly meaningless. One of these appointments is the observation or supervision visit. These appointments are usually less than 15 minutes and many wonder if they are necessary at all. Supervision or observation appointments are very important, however!

Observation or supervision visits are scheduled for orthodontic patients who are either not yet quite ready for braces or have had an interceptive phase of treatment and are waiting for their remaining permanent teeth to come in. The orthodontist may take a progress x-ray at this appointment to help him evaluate your child’s dental development. There are three things that I look for when your son or daughter is in my chair.

First, if the patient has had an interceptive phase of treatment, it is important to check the condition of the retainers. The Phase 1 retainers that we use on the lower teeth are often bonded directly to the teeth.  Sometimes the bonding material wears thin with normal eating or the bonding material comes loose from the tooth surface. If a retainer comes loose or is lost, the teeth can move and the result of the initial treatment compromised. It only takes a couple of minutes to add cement to an intact retainer. If teeth have shifted due to a broken bonded retainer oftentimes braces must be put back on in order to restraighten the teeth. On the upper teeth we normally use a removable plastic-and-wire "Hawley" retainer.  These retainers may need periodic adjustment and tightening if they become loose fitting.  As well, the new permanent teeth that are erupting are a different size and shape than the baby teeth that were lost.  We can trim the plastic on the retainer to accomodate these new erupting teeth and keep the retainer fitting well to preserve the correction we gained.

The second objective of this appointment is to evaluate the loss of primary teeth and the eruption of the permanent replacements. Losing primary teeth on time and in the right order can help the permanent teeth come in straighter. If I notice that a baby tooth is not falling out on time, or I identify in an x-ray that the permanent teeth are headed in the wrong direction, I usually recommend that a patient see their family dentist to get the offending baby tooth removed. Evaluating the loss of primary teeth and the eruption of permanent ones doesn’t take much time, but ignoring developing problems can add months or years to a patient’s orthodontic treatment.

The third objective of an observation appointment is to advise the family about the timing of the next phase of treatment. My philosophy is that I will begin no treatment before a patient is ready. This might mean waiting a few months or even years. If we start too early, your son or daughter may have the braces on longer than necessary. If we wait too long, we might miss the opportunity to keep treatment as short as possible, or miss a growth spurt needed to correct a bite problem.

Having your orthodontist follow your child’s development will help them receive the care they need when they need it. Although they are short and sometimes seem like a wasted trip, your orthodontist knows exactly what to look for at an observation or recall appointment and will make sure that your child is progressing towards an excellent orthodontic result. Next time your son or daughter has an observation visit with your orthodontist, make sure and ask for an explanation of the things he was looking for and what was found. I think you’ll find that these short, to-the-point appointments are as important as any you’ll have.

When Clear Braces are Better than Invisalign

Many people who want straight teeth never go through with treatment because they just don’t like the way braces look. In 1998, Align Technology introduced Invisalign tooth positioning aligners. Up until that time, the only cosmetic alternatives to silver braces on the teeth were clear (ceramic) or lingual (inside) braces. Why do orthodontists still use braces when Invisalign seems so much better?

Align Technology’s introduction of Invisalign changed orthodontics forever. First, for appropriate cases, Invisalign does provide the esthetic alternative to braces that many patients are seeking. Second, because Align bypassed professional providers and marketed directly to the public (think Little Purple Pill and Viagra), they created a demand for their product and an expectation that teeth can now be straightened without wires and brackets glued to the teeth. Third, because the Invisalign system seems so much easier to use than conventional braces, more than 300,000 non-specialist dentists are now also offering orthodontic services in their practices. Although these changes have encouraged more patients to seek treatment, Invisalign is not a replacement for braces in all cases.

First, although clear aligners are appropriate for many orthodontic problems, they are still biomechanically inferior to conventional braces in many situations. Because it is more difficult for plastic shells to create some of the forces required for complex tooth movements most orthodontists still prefer to use brackets and wires for moderate to severe cases.

Second, by taking Invisalign directly to the public without explaining its limitations, Align makes orthodontists give disappointing news to overly optimistic prospective patients. In my practice only a small percentage of patients who come in hoping for Invisalign actually have problems that qualify for aligner therapy. The others would be treated to a better result with braces.

Third, because Invisalign appears easier to use than braces, dentists with little or no orthodontic training are now also offering orthodontic services to their patients. Since most of us trust the advice of our family dentist, rarely do we question when he recommends a new service. The results obtained by any doctor however are determined by his skills and experience. Eliminating brackets and wires does not eliminate the need for accurate diagnosis, treatment planning, and case management. Invisalign is simply a tool. Just because I can buy the same golf clubs as Tiger Woods does not mean that I can shoot the same scores as he does!

I use Invisalign in my orthodontic office. It is effective for mild to moderate crowding and alignment cases. It is especially good for patients who have had previous orthodontic treatment but did not wear their retainers and have experienced some relapse. I like the fact that my patients can take out their aligners to eat and brush. Patients like it because it looks better than braces. And sometimes the benefits of being able to selectively move only certain teeth while maintaining the positions of others makes Invisalign the treatment of choice.

If Invisalign isn’t appropriate for your particular problem, what other options do you have? The most tried and true, esthetic, economical alternative is clear braces. They have been around a long time and are now better than ever! Modern manufacturing techniques have created clear brackets that are stronger, smaller and stain-resistant. They can be used for the exact same complex movements as metal brackets and move the teeth just as efficiently. In my office I have exclusively used tooth-colored ceramic braces on the upper teeth for many years now because I want every patient to have the most esthetic treatment option possible.

Invisalign might be perfect for you if your problems are only mild to moderate. If you want the ultimate invisible treatment, you could consider lingual braces, which go on the backside of the teeth, but can be more irritating to your tongue and tend to cost significantly more than traditional "frontside" braces. If you want the most cost-effective esthetic alternative to “railroad tracks” that can actually move your teeth like metal braces however, ask your orthodontist to show you today’s clear braces.

Taking Digital Impressions with an iOC scanner

One of the most invasive and unpleasant parts of the orthodontic process is taking impressions for orthodontic records and retainers.  Over three years ago, Jarrell Orthodontics became the first practice in Indiana to employ the use of an digital iOC Scanner for taking oral impressions.  This means that when you start orthodontic treatment with our office, we don't have to take traditional impressions of your teeth - we do a scan of your teeth - which is as safe and simple as taking a series of photographs.

If you are interested in Invisalign, you will definitely appreciate the iOC scanner.  Traditional impressions for Invisalign are notoriously unpleasant and can be difficult to take accurately.  By using the iOC Scanner, a significantly more accurate "impression" is made which translates into better fitting, more accurate Invisalign aligners.

What is an iOC Scanner?

The iOC Scanner is a digital orthodontic impression system in which a scan is taken of the teeth with a camera-like wand. The traditional way to take an impression is to mix a powder with water creating a paste which is placed in the mouth using a small tray.  The accuracy of the digital system ensures a more accurate impression of the patients mouth is made from the start of treatment, which results in more accurate and improved orthodontic treatment. An accurate impression is the foundation of the accurate study model required for effective treatment planning and orthodontic care.

Why is using an iOC scanner better?

Conventional vs Digital Impressions

• Imaging quality superior to results achieved with alginate or PVS impressions
• Produces a more accurate dental record
• Less invasive for the patient
• Results in more effective treatment
• Less anxious impression experience
• Fewer repeat appointments
• Eliminates the goop, gagging, and patient discomfort experienced by traditional impression moulding

A digital scan performed with iOC is, quite literally, digitally perfect and can be easily produced by our orthodontic assistants in a fraction of the time taken to begin to prepare a conventional impression. At Jarrell Orthodontics we are always on the lookout for new techniques and technologies that can benefit our patients.  We strive to be Ahead of the Curve.

What to expect with a palatal expander

One of the most common orthodontic appliances used in young children is the palatal expander. These appliances look intimidating to patients and the thought of having to “do the turns” every day scares a lot of parents. What can you expect while your child has an expander in their mouth?

Arch expansion is one of the most common ways to eliminate crowding and crossbites in growing patients. Successful expansion requires that the growth plate in the room of the mouth (the midpalatal suture) is not fused. This fusion usually occurs between 14 and 16 years of age, but if expansion is needed in an older teen or even an adult it can be worth it to make the attempt because it is often successful. If the suture is completely fused in an adult, a surgical procedure may be required to allow the expansion, so starting young is important!

An expander is attached to the upper arch by bands placed around the teeth or plastic bonded over the teeth. Although there are removable expanders, fixed ones have an important advantage in that they cannot be lost or forgotten.

While there may be some initial discomfort when an expander is placed just because there has never been anything like that attached to the teeth before, upper arch expansion is relatively painless. Patients report that they feel pressure on the teeth, in the roof of the mouth, behind the nose, and even between the eyes as their expander is activated. This pressure fades within minutes.

Besides pressure, you can also expect your child to speak differently for the first few days. Additionally, you may hear them slurping as their mouth creates extra saliva after expander cementation. One of the most visible signs that the suture is opening (the desired effect) is the appearance of a space between the upper central incisors. The space is created as the expander pushes the two halves of the palate in opposite directions. Once you have stopped activating the expander, it is normal for the space to close spontaneously, often within a few days. This occurs as the elastic fibers in the surrounding gum tissues return to their original positions. The underlying bone, however, remains expanded. It is also normal for the front teeth to feel a little loose and get sore as they move back together.

To make the first couple of days more bearable for your child as they adapt to their new expander, you may want to find some fun foods for them to eat that don’t require a lot of chewing. Examples include pasta, yogurt, pudding, mashed potatoes, ice cream, etc. A day or two after their delivery appointment, the expander will feel natural in their mouth and normal eating will resume. While expanders are more forgiving of hard and sticky foods than are braces, it is recommended that patient avoid gummy-bear type candies that would get stuck in the expansion screw.

Because there is always some relapse (movement back towards the original size), your orthodontist may choose to over-expand your child’s palate. He will decide how much expansion is necessary as part of the initial diagnosis and treatment plan. After your orthodontist indicates that you’ve reached your target, he will instruct you on how long the retainer should stay in place to stabilize the results. This is usually a few months but may be for the entire length of treatment.