subject: Ask Your Orthodontist [print this page] San Jose orthoddontist answers a few common orthodontic questions:
Are frictionless brackets faster than conventional ones?
In recent years, self-ligating brackets have become preferred among orthodontists due to the claims by the manufacturers of these appliances that self-ligating brackets create less friction with faster tooth movement, which would result in shorter treatment time. Actual studies however have questioned this idea. The truth is that treatment times between the two types of brackets are virtually identical, even down to the number of visits you would need to make to the orthodontist. The bottom line is that treatment time is not a reason to use one or the other; there are other factors to consider, which your orthodontist can share with you.
To what extent do orthodontics affect "jaw joint disorder?"
The answer is a mixed blessing: Treatment does not cause TMD, nor does it prevent this problem. The result of a very large epidemiologic study that looked into relationship of orthodontic treatment to TMD showed:
No significant association between a bad bite and persistent TMD
There is likewise absolutely no definitive relationship between the presence of TMD and orthodontic treatments the patient may or may not have had
Jaw joint disorder is for some reason less common in males than females
Being a female was found to be a predictor for both incidence and persistence of TMD
The most common ages for TMD are when a person is nineteen to twenty years old
My child absolutely loves his soother, and has it in his mouth constantly. Should I be concerned about future problems?
The odds of developing a posterior cross bite are 50% greater when a pacifier is used, and cross bite is not self-correcting once the habit is stopped. There are however many other contributing factors to this condition including genetics, the child's unique breathing patterns, and others..
To what extent can under bites or edge bites be remedied through the use of headgear?
The best age to check with an orthodontist for an under bite is age 7 to 8. If a skeletal underbite- which occurs when thye lower jaw is smaller than the upper- is going to be treated, then it needs to happen during the growth period of the upper jaw. However, on the average, upper jaw growth diminishes significantly by age 11, so the best time to treat these cases is from age 7-10. The actual treatment would never be considered "fun." It consists of the use of a head apparatus that pulls the upper jaw further forward. The headgear must be worn at least forteen hours each day, including at night while sleeping. The upper jaw is then slowly and steadily drawn forward until such a time as the lower jaw stops growing- the sooner the better for the patient! More than 75% of time this modality of treatment has long-term success, however, surgical treatment may be necessary if the affected person is not seen at the right time (before age 11), or if the patient is not cooperating in wearing the headgear during the orthodontic treatment, and/or the amount of growth of the lower jaw is significant.
