Braces: A Consumer's Guide to Orthodontics
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General Considerations for Parents and Adult Patients
Chapter One
Symptoms You Can See
Before I explain some symptoms that you can see, let me tell you what it means to have normal teeth and occlusion (how your teeth bite together). Normal teeth are not just blobs of enamel. Each tooth in a symmetrical arch has a particular shape and function. Where each tooth touches its neighbor is very precisely positioned to create support and allow food to move around it in definite fashion. The precise movement of food allows it to slide off the teeth without sticking (and eventually causing cavities) and the food massages the gums between the teeth to promote healthy gingiva (gums). Teeth and their supporting structures are naturally arranged to fulfill their function of properly chewing food and also to improve their longevity. The orthodontist tries very hard to rearrange all the teeth in the manner that nature intended. In addition to the alignment of teeth in the arches, the teeth must be positioned so they hit their opposing teeth correctly. This also makes their chewing actions more efficient. Another variable is the size of the opposing arches. No matter how straight and well positioned the teeth are in the arches, if the arches do not relate to each other properly, occlusion can never be normal and the teeth can’t protect themselves.
Before making an appointment with an orthodontist, you may want to have a close look at the teeth about which you are concerned: your own, your child’s or both. Even though you’re not a dentist there is no reason why you shouldn’t take a look. Many children frown on their parents looking into their mouths, but you can see many things very easily to help make a decision. Most of the time your child will be very anxious to have braces. That should help you get a look.
To start, let’s try the old teaspoon trick. You don’t have to be a dentist to do this. Adults can do it for themselves by standing in front of a bright mirror. For a child, have him or her sit on a chair facing you and directly in front of you. Hold regular (clean) teaspoons by the bowl with your fingers. Act like you are leading the orchestra. Have the child say “Ahhhh”, and slowly put the spoon handle inside each cheek. Gently move the spoon handle sideways to pull the cheeks away from the teeth. With the mouth still open, look at the alignment of the teeth. They should be in a smooth U-shape from one side to the other.
You can also see if some teeth are turned one way or the other. If you see any teeth erupting in the roof of the mouth or even a lump in the tissue, you need to see an orthodontist. The lump might be a permanent tooth trying to erupt.
Have your child bite the teeth together and hold them that way. Are the upper teeth biting outside the lower teeth? They should be. If the lower teeth on one side or both sides or all around are biting outside the upper teeth, then your child has a crossbite. Crossbites interfere with normal chewing functions so they are considered functional problems, and should be corrected as soon as practical. After you have seen your child’s teeth, ask if they would like to see yours. Let them hold the spoons and repeat the procedure.
When the lower teeth are in front of the upper teeth, it is not normal, but it can be corrected. Are there teeth protruding through the gum above the upper teeth? Are essentially all the teeth crooked?
Ask your child to open his or her mouth again so you can look for spaces between teeth. Some space is good at certain ages, but bad at others. If the child has some permanent teeth and some baby teeth in his or her mouth then he or she should have some spaces between the front two or maybe four teeth. These spaces allow for the eruption of the permanent teeth that are larger than the baby teeth.
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About the Book
BRACES
– A Consumers Guide to Orthodontics is written in plain language that anyone
can understand. All procedures that a new patient might encounter in an
orthodontic office are explained, including finances, records, expectations and
special situations. Illustrations are included to demonstrate typical problems
and solutions. The section on Symptoms you can see has a number of
illustrations showing teeth you might see in your child’s mouth. It helps you
decide if there is a problem which requires orthodontic treatment (braces).
Chapter One lists and explains the ten most important questions to ask your
orthodontist. If you don’t know what to ask, here are your questions. Chapter
Two discusses treatment and Chapter Three covers growth, school, athletics and
appointments.
Chapter
Four is involved with cleft palate treatment, extractions and faces. Chapter
Five is concerned mostly with adult orthodontics. All the forms you might be
expected to sign are shown in Chapter Six. Surprise contracts do not increase your
comfort level. Chapter Seven tells you how to find an orthodontist. There is a
glossary of orthodontic terms at the end of the text. The book is easy to read
and told like a story from beginning to end. If you or your child are
considering braces, both of you should read this book. It will help you and the
orthodontist.
About the Author
Dr. Ray Callahan is a small town boy from two miles north of Ridgefarm, Illinois. He graduated from high school in 1950. The University of Illinois was his college choice, which he attended on an academic scholarship he won on a competitive examination. Dentistry became his chosen field so he attended the University of Illinois College of Dentistry in Chicago for four years and graduated in 1957. The U.S. Military was on everyone’s agenda in those days so he served as a dentist in the Army for three years including a year in Korea. Ray’s first child was born while he was in Korea so he didn’t see her for the first five months. After military service Dr. Callahan was one of the ten out of six-hundred applicants who were accepted into orthodontic training at Northwestern University, also in Chicago. In February, 1962, he opened a solo practice in Champaign, Illinois. In 1970 he became part of a group practice of three orthodontists. After over twenty years the group gradually broke up and Dr. Callahan sold his practice in 1996 and retired. In early 1997, writing became his primary pastime. His friend and financial advisor, Dr. David Sinow, came up with the suggestion to write this book, because he hadn’t known what to expect when he brought his children to Dr. Callahan for orthodontist treatment. This book is the result of three years of research, writing and rewriting. Dr. Callahan has been married to his wife, Kae, for forty-two years. They have three children: Kenda, Bert and Bill. Kenda is a pharmacist, married to a general dentist (Art), Bert is an orthopedic surgeon, married to a physical therapist (Debbie), and Bill is an artist, a graduate of the Chicago Art Institute, and married to a communications graduate of Iowa (Kim). Kendra and Art, like Bert and Debbie, each have three children. Bill and Kim expect their first in August, 2000.