Parts of Braces

AN APPLIANCE can be defined as anything a dentist attaches to your teeth to move them or to change the shape of your jaw will be called an appliance. We have a long list of them as you read through this article.

ARCH WIRE - A metal wire that is attached to the brackets that move your teeth

BAND - A metal ring that is placed on some teeth to hold wires or other parts of braces

BITEPLANE - A removable appliance made of acrylic designed to open a deep bite.
Bracket - A metal or ceramic fixture that is bonded onto a tooth It serves as a way of connecting the arch wire to the teeth.

BUCCAL TUBE - A small metal tube that is welded to the outside of a molar band The buccal tube is a slots to hold arch wires, lip bumpers, headgears and other things your dentist uses to move teeth.

CHAIN - A stretchable elastic chain used to hold arch wires into brackets and to move teeth.

HEADGEAR - A Headgear is a wire apparatus used to move the upper molars back in the arch to create room for crowded or protruded front teeth. The headgear has two metal arcs that have been soldered. The inner arc goes in the mouth and is connected to the buccal tubes. The outer arc goes around the face, and connects to a pad with springs and a plastic safety strap that goes around the neck, or to a higher pull headgear that goes on top of the head. The inner bow is inserted into the buccal tubes, and the plastic strap is attached to both sides of the outer bow of the headgear.

HOOK - The place on the bracket or band where the elastics are attached

LIGATURE - A small elastic, shaped like a donut, which is used to hold the arch wires in the brackets.

LIP BUMPER - A lip bumper is used to move the lower molars back to create space for other teeth. The lip bumper consists of a metal arc that has plastic mold attached to the front. The wire is placed into the buccal tubes on the lower molars, while the plastic mold lies behind the lips. Pressure from the lip pushes the wire to move the molars back.

MOUTH GUARD - A soft rubber form that that covers the teeth to prevent injury while playing sports. All children playing sports should wear Mouth guards.

NECK PAD - A neck pad is a cloth-covered cushion that is worn around the neck with a headgear.

NICKEL TITANIUM OR (NITI) - An especially flexible orthodontic wire which allows for tooth movement over a longer period.

PALATAL EXPANDER - A fixed or removable appliance that is used to make the upper jaw wider

RETAINER - A plastic appliance that can be used to move teeth, or to wear after orthodontic treatment. The retainer attaches to the upper or lower teeth and helps them settle into a stable position. Retainers are worn full time at first and then at night only.

SEPARATOR - A rubber or metal part that creates space between teeth that will receive orthodontic bands.

WAX - Wax is used to prevent braces from irritating lips or cheeks when braces are first put on. 

About the author:

Dr. Payal Chaudhuri B.D.S., M.D.S.

The author of this article is a Registered Dental Practitioner in India.

She is also associated with a Dental College in Gurgaon, India.

E-mail: dr.payal@hotmail.com

Pulp Therapy (for baby teeth)

The pulp of a tooth is the inner, central core of the tooth and contains blood vessels and nerves. Dental caries (cavities) and trauma to the tooth are the primary reasons for children to undergo pulp therapy.

Your child may need pulp therapy if he/she has

• Tooth pain for no apparent reason
• A tooth that is sensitive to temperature changes
• A broken tooth

The main purpose of pulp therapy is that the tooth is not lost. Primary teeth are needed for chewing and speaking and serve as space savers for permanent teeth. Without the primary teeth to guide them, existing neighboring teeth can crowd in, causing permanent teeth to grow in crooked or tilted.

The two forms of pulp therapy for children's teeth are:

Vital Pulp Therapy for Primary (Baby) Teeth [aka Pulpotomy]

Vital pulp therapy is for cases in which the tooth’s pulp may be salvaged. The main purpose is to maintain and protect existing healthy pulp by removing the diseased pulp tissue within the crown portion of the tooth. Next, an agent is placed to prevent bacterial growth and to calm the remaining nerve tissue. This is followed by a final restoration (usually a stainless steel crown).

Non-Vital Pulp Therapy for Primary (Baby) Teeth [aka Pulpectomy]

Non-vital pulp therapy is required when the entire pulp is diseased (into the root canal(s) of the tooth). During this treatment, the diseased pulp tissue is completely removed from all parts of the tooth. The canals are cleansed and filled with a special material meant to be naturally absorbed by the body while the root prepares for the primary tooth to fall out and be replaced by a permanent tooth. A crown is placed on the tooth to prevent fractures.

If the pulp is severely damaged then your doctor may recommend removing the tooth entirely. If this is a case ask if space maintainers are necessary for future development.

About the author:

Dr. Payal Chaudhuri B.D.S., M.D.S.

The author of this article is a Registered Dental Practitioner in India.

She is also associated with a Dental College in Gurgaon, India.

E-mail: dr.payal@hotmail.com

How to choose the right toothbrush?

1.       Pick one with a small head so that it reaches every nook and corner of your mouth

2.       Pick one with soft or ultra-soft bristles

3.       Change your toothbrush if it starts to show signs of wear and tear, or after every three months

4.       Change your brush after you have suffered a bout of cold, since germs can collect on the bristles and cause repeat infection.

Precautions for Brushing Your Teeth

·         Don’t apply a lot of pressure while brushing. If you thought that applying extra pressure will clean the teeth better, that’s not true, instead the sensitive tissues wear out to cause bleeding.

·         Use a tongue cleaner to get rid of the bacteria on the tongue and keep your breath fresh.

·         Use dental floss to clear out the food particles in between your teeth.

·         Use Mouthwash: Use an effective mouthwash after as brushing does not reach all parts of your mouth. Gargle your mouth with a good mouthwash to get rid of food particles and harmful bacteria, best after brushing in night.

Wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous & Happy New Year in advance.

About the author:

Dr. Payal Chaudhuri B.D.S., M.D.S.

The author of this article is a Registered Dental Practitioner in India.

She is also associated with a Dental College in Gurgaon, India.

E-mail: dr.payal@hotmail.com

Dental Care in Children

Seeing the need for an alternative and holistic approach for dental care in children, pediatric dentistry has come into existence as a specialized branch of dentistry. This branch deals with children from birth through adolescence, assuring both primary and comprehensive oral healthcare.

Importance is given to disease causality and prevention, diagnosis and treatment planning, growth, child psychology and behavior management. Children with special healthcare needs, such as in Cerebral Palsy, Mental Retardation, Autism etc. are given the much needed oral healthcare by expert pediatric dentists.

Playing a special role in preventing tooth decay, pediatric dentists ensure that the child’s primary teeth are kept healthy until they are lost naturally as these teeth perform important functions such as – mastication (chewing), speech and maintaining space for the permanent teeth, thereby guiding proper eruption of permanent teeth.

Contrary to the common belief that those milk teeth need no treatment as they will shed off and be replaced by their permanent counterparts; they need preventive care such as topical fluoride application and placement of pit and fissure sealant. In case the milk teeth are affected with dental caries treatment could vary from simple Restorations (Fillings) to Root Canal Treatments (RCTs) followed by placement of Stainless Steel Crowns. The required treatment would depend on the extent of dental caries diagnosed with radiography.

As a pediatric dentist, it pains me to see the lack of awareness among parents regarding their children’s teeth. The American Dental Association recommends that your child’s first dental visit be either 6 months within the eruption of the first tooth or when your child turns 12 months of age, whichever occurs first. But most commonly parents bring their child to a dentist only when they are under acute pain or with swelling.

Prevention is better than cure. Simple home care measures and oral hygiene habits can prevent the occurrence of dental caries such as supervised brushing twice a day with fluoridated tooth paste, flossing once daily and rinsing mouth after every meal. Last but not the least, visit a pediatric dentist once in every 3 months so that initial cavities can be detected and treated promptly.

About the author:

Dr. Payal Chaudhuri B.D.S., M.D.S.

The author of this article is a Registered Dental Practitioner in India.

She is also associated with a Dental College in Gurgaon, India.

E-mail: dr.payal@hotmail.com