Sometimes one side of your lower or upper jaw has grown or is growing faster than your other side. The result of this is called an asymmetrical jaw. In the best case, it is very unnoticeable on the outside and is not a big issue. But there are severe cases where your whole face can look asymmetrical.
Fixes:
1. Bands: Similar to the cases of having an overbite, there is a different fix if your mouth is still in the process of developing. When you are still growing you can get criss-cross bands that go from right-left or left-right depending on which side needs to be held back. (See post “Battle of the Bands” for pictures). This fix essentially stops the problem before it becomes too much to handle.
2. Surgery: The other option which would be advised when you have stopped growing and is similar to when you have an overbite. Here your surgeon will implant a piece of semi-soft material on the side that is smaller. Look at the following links for more information.
http://www.onlinetoothdoctor.com/jawsurgery.html
http://www.drposnick.com/orthognathic/amp.html
http://ezinearticles.com/?Correction-of-Jaw-Asymmetry-With-Implants&id=1710445
As we were saying in the post about Head Gear, we would recommend that if you are still growing and you have a less severe case, try the band method. If your asymmetrical jaw is really bad and you want to fix it, chances are you will have to get the surgery.
-Erik and Amanda
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
The Overbite
A condition that some people have (us included) is called an overbite. An overbite is when your top jaw has grown more than your lower jaw, so your top teeth hang over your bottom teeth. The result is usually what is known as having “buckteeth”.
Here are the two fixes:
1. The Faster Way: In this way you go to an orthodontic surgeon. They will break your lower jaw and then push it forward and position your jaw so that your teeth are straight and line up. Then the surgeon will insert metal pieces that fit into the space that was made by moving your jaw forward so that it permanently stays in place.
2. The Slower Way: The classic way to rid yourself of an overbite is to get head gear. With head gear, the idea is that the gears hold back your top jaw from growing so that your lower jaw can catch up. Naturally this will take longer.
The first fix is typically used for adults or people who have stopped growing, since head gear requires that your lower jaw is still actually growing. Similarly head gear is used mainly for kids and teenagers, if they haven’t stopped growing.
Our opinion on fixing an overbite:
Both of us have done and completed the head gear fix. Though it takes quite a bit longer and is kind of a drag to wear, the results are definitely noticeable and worth it. This method has been around for decades (chances are your parents even had headgear!) and has stood the test of time. But it is not reasonable if you have stopped growing, which is when the fast surgical way would be a better choice. But for kids we recommend the head gear, since the whole breaking-the-jaw part is generally probably not a good idea in kids who are still growing.
-Amanda and Erik
Here are the two fixes:
1. The Faster Way: In this way you go to an orthodontic surgeon. They will break your lower jaw and then push it forward and position your jaw so that your teeth are straight and line up. Then the surgeon will insert metal pieces that fit into the space that was made by moving your jaw forward so that it permanently stays in place.
2. The Slower Way: The classic way to rid yourself of an overbite is to get head gear. With head gear, the idea is that the gears hold back your top jaw from growing so that your lower jaw can catch up. Naturally this will take longer.
The first fix is typically used for adults or people who have stopped growing, since head gear requires that your lower jaw is still actually growing. Similarly head gear is used mainly for kids and teenagers, if they haven’t stopped growing.
Our opinion on fixing an overbite:
Both of us have done and completed the head gear fix. Though it takes quite a bit longer and is kind of a drag to wear, the results are definitely noticeable and worth it. This method has been around for decades (chances are your parents even had headgear!) and has stood the test of time. But it is not reasonable if you have stopped growing, which is when the fast surgical way would be a better choice. But for kids we recommend the head gear, since the whole breaking-the-jaw part is generally probably not a good idea in kids who are still growing.
-Amanda and Erik
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Briefing You on Bite Planes
Another appliance used before you get braces is the bite plane. A bite plane is a retainer-like piece fitted to the shape of your top jaw that prevents your bottom teeth from hitting the roof of your mouth (used in extreme overbite situations usually). There are small metal pieces molded into it that slide onto two of your front teeth, used to hold it up. Because these metal holder uppers are the only things showing, the bite plane is not visible to other people. Eventually as your mouth grows to accommodate this device, your back teeth will touch while your bottom teeth will not hit the roof of your mouth. In other words, your jaw will line up properly.
Here are some tips for this new piece of plastic:
1. Do not eat with it in.
2. Brush your bite plane a lot. For cleaning techniques see our previous post called "All About Retainers", for cleaning your bite plane is exactly the same as cleaning your retainer.
3. Keep it in a safe place when you take it out. Bite planes break extremely easily.
4. Do not play with your bite plane in your mouth. Besides being kind of weird-looking to other people, you can accidentally break off the little metal pieces that hold it up (which are not replaceable unless you get a whole new bite plane!). And you can break off chunks of the plastic part too. Trust us it happens.
To emphasize Tip #4 here is a little story. When I, Amanda, got my bite plane, I used to play with it in my mouth a lot. One day I was talking to my friend and as I went to answer her question, I accidentally spit out my bite plane since I'd been playing with it. It was embarrassing and plus it fell on the ground so I couldn’t put it back in. Moral of this story: DON'T PLAY WITH IT!
-Erik and Amanda
Here are some tips for this new piece of plastic:
1. Do not eat with it in.
2. Brush your bite plane a lot. For cleaning techniques see our previous post called "All About Retainers", for cleaning your bite plane is exactly the same as cleaning your retainer.
3. Keep it in a safe place when you take it out. Bite planes break extremely easily.
4. Do not play with your bite plane in your mouth. Besides being kind of weird-looking to other people, you can accidentally break off the little metal pieces that hold it up (which are not replaceable unless you get a whole new bite plane!). And you can break off chunks of the plastic part too. Trust us it happens.
To emphasize Tip #4 here is a little story. When I, Amanda, got my bite plane, I used to play with it in my mouth a lot. One day I was talking to my friend and as I went to answer her question, I accidentally spit out my bite plane since I'd been playing with it. It was embarrassing and plus it fell on the ground so I couldn’t put it back in. Moral of this story: DON'T PLAY WITH IT!
-Erik and Amanda
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Cleaning Techniques
Between your teeth: Some of you may be wondering "how it is possible to floss with all this metal in my mouth?" One way is to take your floss (make sure it is the wax kind) and thread it under your wire and between your brackets. Another way is to buy those stiff little flossers. You thread the floss through the loop and then stick the flosser end under your wire and pull it out, thus easily getting your floss under your wire/between your bracket.
Brackets: Another place food can sit and rot in your mouth is in your bracket. And we mean in the actual bracket that is glued to your teeth. The best way to get this out is to brush this area very thoroughly. Sometimes your orthodontist will give you a little pipecleaner-like tool and you can use that to dislodge food from your brackets.
Gums: A common problem in people with braces is infected gums. When you have infected gums, they get all red and puffy and hurt to the touch. Not fun! To avoid this problem, be sure to brush above your brackets and floss regularly. Another reason you don’t want this is that when you get your braces off and if you get a plastic retainer, the retainer won’t fit properly when your gum line gets healthy again.
Head Gear: As with all things sitting in your mouth for long periods of time, your head gear will need to be cleaned. To clean the metal mouth piece, brush it with your toothbrush and toothpaste. To get a deep clean you can soak it in your mouthwash and then brush it same as before. As for the cloth part, if it gets too gross for you to wear, you can wash it by hand using regular hand-washing soap. We didn't have this problem but we only wore/wear ours for 12 hours.
Bands: Don’t bother trying to clean these. After wearing them once, just throw them away and replace it with a fresh set!
Cleaning is very important as we have stated in previous posts (such as Health in Hygiene). Hopefully these tips will make it easier for you to manage this task.
-Amanda and Erik
Brackets: Another place food can sit and rot in your mouth is in your bracket. And we mean in the actual bracket that is glued to your teeth. The best way to get this out is to brush this area very thoroughly. Sometimes your orthodontist will give you a little pipecleaner-like tool and you can use that to dislodge food from your brackets.
Gums: A common problem in people with braces is infected gums. When you have infected gums, they get all red and puffy and hurt to the touch. Not fun! To avoid this problem, be sure to brush above your brackets and floss regularly. Another reason you don’t want this is that when you get your braces off and if you get a plastic retainer, the retainer won’t fit properly when your gum line gets healthy again.
Head Gear: As with all things sitting in your mouth for long periods of time, your head gear will need to be cleaned. To clean the metal mouth piece, brush it with your toothbrush and toothpaste. To get a deep clean you can soak it in your mouthwash and then brush it same as before. As for the cloth part, if it gets too gross for you to wear, you can wash it by hand using regular hand-washing soap. We didn't have this problem but we only wore/wear ours for 12 hours.
Bands: Don’t bother trying to clean these. After wearing them once, just throw them away and replace it with a fresh set!
Cleaning is very important as we have stated in previous posts (such as Health in Hygiene). Hopefully these tips will make it easier for you to manage this task.
-Amanda and Erik
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
The Classic Checkup
To make sure your teeth are coming along, you get checkups every six weeks or so. The point of this is to make sure your braces and other orthodontic materials are doing what they're supposed to.
Braces: During your checkup, your orthodontist will usually tighten your wires. First they use a little tool with a hook on the end to carefully take your bands off the brackets. You usually can pick a new color at this point, and they will provide you with samples for all color choices. Then they reach in the back of your mouth and pull the wire out from your brackets. Now they will get a stiffer wire and will measure and cut it so that it matches your old wire in length. When your orthodontist puts your new wire in, your teeth will probably be sore for a day or so, similar to when you first got your braces on. After the wire is in, they will trim the ends that stick out into your cheek. Be sure to tell the orthodontist if it is poking you or it will be a painful next six weeks. Don’t worry the process of tightening your wires doesn't hurt and you don't get your wire tightened every time!
Headgear: The orthodontist will usually make sure you are wearing it tight enough and that it sits properly.
Bands: They will usually give you thicker and tighter bands.
Photos: Sometime when you get a checkup, your orthodontist (in our experience) will take pictures of your teeth from straight on and sideways, open and closed. When they do this, the orthodontist will give you plastic cheek stretchers so that they can get a clear view of your teeth. They take the pictures so that they can track your progress.
Here are some tips to help you prepare for your checkup:
1. Brush and floss very thoroughly. Your orthodontist will get on your case if you have a bit of leftover breakfast in your braces.
2. Bring all of your orthodontic materials like your headgear, but you will probably not be required to bring your bands.
3. If you have bands, be sure to ask your orthodontist for more.
You get used to these checkups and they aren't a big deal. But they are important. If for some reason the orthodontist figures out that you aren't using the right equipment to fix your teeth you would probably want to know sooner than later!
-Erik and Amanda
Braces: During your checkup, your orthodontist will usually tighten your wires. First they use a little tool with a hook on the end to carefully take your bands off the brackets. You usually can pick a new color at this point, and they will provide you with samples for all color choices. Then they reach in the back of your mouth and pull the wire out from your brackets. Now they will get a stiffer wire and will measure and cut it so that it matches your old wire in length. When your orthodontist puts your new wire in, your teeth will probably be sore for a day or so, similar to when you first got your braces on. After the wire is in, they will trim the ends that stick out into your cheek. Be sure to tell the orthodontist if it is poking you or it will be a painful next six weeks. Don’t worry the process of tightening your wires doesn't hurt and you don't get your wire tightened every time!
Headgear: The orthodontist will usually make sure you are wearing it tight enough and that it sits properly.
Bands: They will usually give you thicker and tighter bands.
Photos: Sometime when you get a checkup, your orthodontist (in our experience) will take pictures of your teeth from straight on and sideways, open and closed. When they do this, the orthodontist will give you plastic cheek stretchers so that they can get a clear view of your teeth. They take the pictures so that they can track your progress.
Here are some tips to help you prepare for your checkup:
1. Brush and floss very thoroughly. Your orthodontist will get on your case if you have a bit of leftover breakfast in your braces.
2. Bring all of your orthodontic materials like your headgear, but you will probably not be required to bring your bands.
3. If you have bands, be sure to ask your orthodontist for more.
You get used to these checkups and they aren't a big deal. But they are important. If for some reason the orthodontist figures out that you aren't using the right equipment to fix your teeth you would probably want to know sooner than later!
-Erik and Amanda
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