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Early Treatment

The Benefits of Early Orthodontic Intervention

What are some of the the benefits of early orthodontic intervention you might ask? If you want to improve your smile, then any age can be a great age to see the orthodontist.

What are some of the the benefits of early orthodontic intervention you might ask? If you want to improve your smile, then any age can be a great age to see the orthodontist. However, the American Association of Orthodontist recommends that your child see an orthodontist by the age of 7. At this age, an orthodontist can spot subtle issues with jaw growth and emerging teeth while some baby teeth are still present. Some orthodontic problems may be easier to correct if they are found early.

Early Intervention

Early evaluation means early detection of problems, and greater opportunity for more effective treatment. Orthodontic intervention monitors growth and development, reducing serious problems later. When early orthodontic intervention is not necessary, an orthodontist can carefully observe and track growth and development and begin treatment when it is ideal for the patient.

Signs of Orthodontic Problems

At Dunegan & Cole Orthodontics, we look for signs which indicate possible bite problems and early orthodontic treatment may be needed. Orthodontic problems are not always straightforward. Here are some signs that might indicate the need for orthodontic treatment.

  • Excess spaces between teeth
  • Overbite, underbite, crossbite
  • Extra teeth
  • Missing teeth
  • Severely protruding or buck teeth
  • Severely crowded teeth
  • Narrow upper or lower jaw

Benefits of Early Treatment:

There are many benefits to early orthodontic treatment. Some of the most direct results of early treatment include:

  • Creating space for crowded, erupting permanent teeth
  • Creating facial symmetry by influencing jaw growth
  • Decreasing the risk of trauma to protruding front teeth
  • Preserving space for unerupted teeth
  • Reducing the need for tooth removal
  • Reducing treatment time with braces
  • Improve self-esteem & increase self-confidence

How Dunegan & Cole Orthodontics Can Help

If your child is between the ages of seven and eight and shows signs of needing orthodontic care, or if you have been directed by your family dentist to visit the orthodontist, please book your free consult online or contact our practice at (703) 753-4996. You don’t need a referral from a dentist to see an orthodontist. Our team at Dunegan & Cole Orthodontics will provide your child with an initial exam, and discuss with you the best steps to take toward caring for your child’s smile.

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Braces, Early Treatment, Invisalign First

What Causes Crooked Teeth?

Crooked teeth are caused by a number of different factors. These factors range from genetics to mouth deformities. Extra teeth or abnormally large teeth can create a malocclusion (crookedness or misplacement of teeth) that is is usually genetic in nature. In some cases jaws are too small to accommodate a full set of teeth. In […]

Crooked teeth are caused by a number of different factors. These factors range from genetics to mouth deformities. Extra teeth or abnormally large teeth can create a malocclusion (crookedness or misplacement of teeth) that is is usually genetic in nature. In some cases jaws are too small to accommodate a full set of teeth. In other cases misaligned jaws that did not form properly develop during the childhood years.

 Can you prevent crooked teeth?

In most cases, underbites, overbites, and crooked teeth are genetically derived and can’t be avoided. Invisalign or braces is be necessary to correct the condition once the child is old enough to wear them. However, certain early childhood behaviors can contribute to the development of crooked teeth that can be avoided. These include:

  • Thumb sucking and tongue thrusting
  • Losing baby teeth to decay before permanent teeth have naturally pushed them out of their sockets
  • Allowing pacifier use to continue after front teeth have erupted

The health of baby teeth directly effects the health of the permanent teeth . Permanent teeth begin to drift and erupt crookedly if the baby teeth above them are lost prematurely due to decay or damage. Baby teeth are like anchors for permanent teeth that help guide them as they erupt through the gums.

In addition, excellent care of baby teeth is vital to having permanent teeth free of discoloration or decay. Harmful oral bacteria can spread into the gums and reach permanent teeth still buried in the gums. Once attached to a tooth’s enamel, bacteria will begin eroding the tooth before it has a chance to take its first bite!

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Adult Treatment, Early Treatment

The Hygienic Benefits of Air Flossers and Water Picks

We encourage our clients to use air flossers and water picks in addition to a good oral hygiene routine including brushing and manual flossing.

At Dunegan & Cole Orthodontics, we encourage our clients to use air flossers and water picks in addition to a good oral hygiene routine including brushing and manual flossing. Both air flossers and water picks are designed to clean between and around teeth daily to help you quickly remove stubborn plaque and debris.

Air Flossers

Air flossers use “microburst technology” — rapid bursts of compressed air plus microwater droplets — to blast out plaque and debris between your teeth. Handheld battery-operated devices about the size of an electric toothbrush, they’re extremely effective in cleaning hard-to-reach spots. Air flossers are portable, cordless, and rechargeable. Typically, a single charge lasts about two weeks.

What Air Flossers Do and How to Use Them

  • Air flossers have an angled, slim nozzle, so you can easily reach your back teeth.

  • Their point-and-click design makes air flossers easy to operate, even for children.

  • Air flossers’ tips help you aim for the spaces between your teeth.

  • After choosing your “blast” setting, you simply place the nozzle tip against the spaces between your teeth, working from back to front on each row of your teeth.

Water Picks

Water picks, also known as “oral irrigators” or “water flossers,” provide a range of water pressures you can choose to clean between and around your teeth. They also have a “pulsation setting” to stimulate and massage your gums and gum pockets to keep them healthy.

What Water Picks Do and How to Use Them

Water picks are also handheld devices. They use water to push out plaque and food particles. Water picks’ combination of pulsation and water pressure deeply cleans your teeth as well as the area underneath your gums. Water picks are compact and sit on your bathroom sink or counter. They need to be plugged in and hooked up to a water source for ease of use.

Most children probably don’t need to use water picks if they are doing a good job of brushing and manually flossing; however, children and teenagers with braces or other orthodontic appliances may find them useful for removing food debris and plaque from their teeth and gum lines. Water picks are safe for children as young as six with adult supervision and take about 60 seconds to use.

The steps for using a waterpik are quick and easy to learn:

  • Fill the reservoir with lukewarm water or antibacterial mouthwash.

  • Select your tip (orthodontic tips are available, for example) and press it firmly into the handle.

  • Adjust the pressure control. It’s recommended to start at low pressure.

  • Lean over your sink and place the tip in your mouth.

  • Turn the unit on. Close your lips to avoid splashing, while allowing water to flow from your mouth into your sink.

  • Start with your back teeth and pause briefly between teeth, aiming the tip just above your gum line at a 90 degree angle.

  • When you’ve finished, turn the unit off and use the tip eject button to remove the tip.

The Benefits of Extra Cleaning Devices

Both air flossers and water picks can be effective in removing plaque and debris even brushing and manual flossing may miss to achieve bacterial reduction between your teeth. You can add an antibacterial mouthwash to the reservoir in either device for an even cleaner, fresher feeling which also helps protect your mouth from infection.

At Dunegan & Cole Orthodontics, we are delighted to be able to recommend a new generation of oral hygiene “helpers” to our clients. Air flossers and water picks make former obstacles to keeping teeth clean while wearing braces or dental bridges news of the past.

If you have oral hygiene concerns or orthodontic needs and would like to set up an appointment, please contact us at 703.753.4996 or book your free consult. We look forward to partnering with you to keep your oral health the best it can be — for a lifetime of clean, healthy, happy teeth and gums.

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Early Treatment

WHAT IS HYPERDONTIA?

When a child is born, he or she will have 20 primary teeth and 32 permanent teeth. But sometimes kids are born with additional teeth, and our team at Dunegan Orthodontics calls this oral condition “hyperdontia”. Primary teeth are the first set of teeth that erupt in your child’s mouth, typically by the time your […]

When a child is born, he or she will have 20 primary teeth and 32 permanent teeth. But sometimes kids are born with additional teeth, and our team at Dunegan Orthodontics calls this oral condition “hyperdontia”. Primary teeth are the first set of teeth that erupt in your child’s mouth, typically by the time your child reaches the age of 12. Permanent teeth then take the place of the primary teeth and are usually fully-erupted by the time your son or daughter reaches 21 years of age. Anyone who develops more than 20 primary teeth or more than 32 permanent teeth has hyperdontia, and the additional teeth are known as supernumerary teeth.

While the cause of hyperdontia is not entirely clear, it is believed that there may be a genetic factor. Oral professionals have found that patients with extra teeth often have syndromes like cleidocranial dysplasia, Ehler-Danlos syndrome, Gardner Syndrome, or cleft lip and palate. The prevalence of hyperdontia affects between one and four percent of the population in the United States, and the majority of cases are limited to a single tooth.

So, what is the best way to deal with hyperdontia? It really depends on the case. The treatment plan your doctor suggests varies according to the potential problem posed by the supernumerary teeth, as well as their type. Orthodontic treatment may certainly help, but extraction can also be a good option. We recommend that children receive an oral evaluation or checkup no later than the age of seven. In addition to a hygiene evaluation, this helps ensure your child does not experience hyperdontia problems.

If you suspect you or your child may be suffering from hyperdontia, please give us a call to set up an appointment!

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