More About Orthodontics from Dr. Catania

There are so many questions about orthodontics that we never ask, so Dr. Catania took some time to explain the most common concerns.
At what age should orthodontic treatment occur?

Orthodontic treatment can be started at any age. Many orthodontic problems are easier to correct if detected at an early age before jaw growth has slowed. Early treatment may mean that a patient can avoid surgery and more serious complications. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child first visit an orthodontist by age seven or earlier if a problem is detected by parents, the family dentist or the child's physician.

What is Phase I and Phase II treatment?

Phase I, or early interceptive treatment, is limited orthodontic treatment (i.e. expander, Herbst, Facemask, headgear, or partial braces) before all of the permanent teeth have erupted. Such treatment can occur between the ages of six and ten. This treatment is sometimes recommended to make more space for developing teeth, correction of crossbites, overbites, underbites, or harmful oral habits. Phase II treatment is also called comprehensive treatment, because it involves full braces when all of the permanent teeth have erupted, usually between the ages of eleven and thirteen.

Would an adult patient benefit from orthodontics?

Absolutely!! Orthodontic treatment can be successful at any age. Everyone wants a beautiful and healthy smile. Between 30-40% of our patients are adults.

How does orthodontic treatment work?

Braces use steady gentle pressure to gradually move teeth into their proper positions. The brackets that are placed on your teeth and the arch wire that connects them are the main components. When the arch wire is placed into the brackets, it tries to return to its original shape. As it does so, it applies pressure to move your teeth to their new, more ideal positions.

How long does orthodontic treatment take?

Treatment times vary on a case-by-case basis, but the average time is from one to two years. Actual treatment time can be affected by rate of growth and severity of the correction necessary. Treatment length is also dependent upon patient compliance. Maintaining good oral hygiene and keeping regular appointments are important in keeping your treatment time on schedule.

Do braces hurt?

The placement of bands and brackets on your teeth does not hurt. Once your braces are placed and connected with the arch wires, you may feel some soreness of your teeth for one to four days. Your lips and cheeks may need one to two weeks to get used to the braces on your teeth.

Will braces interfere with playing sports?

No. It is recommended, however, that patients protect their smiles by wearing a mouth guard when participating in any sporting activity. Mouth guards are inexpensive, comfortable, and come in a variety of colors and patterns.

Will braces interfere with playing musical instruments?

No. However, there may be an initial period of adjustment. In addition, brace covers or wax can be provided to prevent discomfort.

Should I see my general dentist while I have braces?

Yes, you should continue to see your general dentist every six months for cleaning and dental checkups, or more frequently as recommended.

Got more questions? Give us a call at Dr. Catania's office. We'd love to hear from you.

Dr. Catania Explains Orthodontics

We at Dr. Catania's office know that it is important to take care of your teeth and sometimes it's confusing to know when you need a dentist and when you need an orthodontist. So we had Dr. Catania explain orthodontics.

What is orthodontics?

Orthodontics is the branch of dentistry that specializes in the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of dental and facial irregularities (i.e. "bad bites" and "crooked teeth").

What is an orthodontist?

An orthodontist is a specialist who has completed an advanced education program following dental school, to learn the special skills required to manage tooth movement and guide facial development.

What are some possible benefits of orthodontics?

--A more attractive smile
--Reduced appearance-consciousness during critical development years (improved self-esteem)
--Better function of the teeth
--Increased self-confidence
--Increased ability to clean the teeth
--Improved force distribution and wear patterns of the teeth
--Better long-term health of teeth and gums
--Guide permanent teeth into more favorable positions
--Reduce the risk of injury to protruded front teeth
--Aid in optimizing other dental treatment

What are some signs that braces may be needed?

Below are some of the more common signs that orthodontics may be needed:

--Upper-front teeth protrude excessively over the lower teeth, or are bucked
--Upper-front teeth cover the majority of the lower teeth when biting together (deep bite)
--Upper-front teeth are behind or inside the lower-front teeth (underbite)
--The upper- and lower-front teeth do not touch when biting together (open bite)
--Crowded or overlapped teeth.
--The center of the upper and lower teeth do not line up.
--Finger- or thumb-sucking habits which continue after six or seven years old
--Difficulty chewing
--Teeth wearing unevenly or excessively
--The lower jaw shifts to one side or the other when biting together
--Spaces between the teeth

If you have any of these conditions and you would like a consultation, give us a call today at Dr. Catania's office. We would love to chat with you.

Smoke Screen with Dr. Catania

Everybody knows that smoking causes lung cancer, but did you also know that smokers and tobacco are susceptible to a variety of oral health problems at a faster rate than non-smokers?

It’s true! Smoking is responsible for almost 75% of gum disease in adults; and, similar to smokers, adults who smoke pipes and cigars, as well as those using smokeless tobacco, are just as susceptible to gum disease and other tobacco related health problems.

As soon as you use tobacco products, you become more likely to experience any of these oral-health problems:

• Oral cancer
• Gum disease
• Tooth loss
• Loss of bone in the jaw
• Gum recession
• Delayed/impaired healing process after oral surgery or any other treatment
• Decreased success rate of dental implant (tooth replacement) procedures
• Mouth sores
• Loss of your sense of taste and smell
• Bad breath
• Tooth and tongue stains

If you are interested in protecting your oral health we strongly recommend you quit using tobacco products! The following steps are recommended by the Surgeon General to help you quit smoking and using tobacco:

• Get ready – set a quitting date and remove all materials from your home, car and office
• Get support
• Learn new skills and behaviors
• Get medication and use it correctly
• Be prepared for relapse or difficult situations

For support, start with Dr. Catania! We can help by recommending different options to help you quit, and above all we will support you throughout the quitting process. We are dedicated to helping you protect your oral health – and quitting smoking is significant step in the right direction.

Wii Love Your Referrals at Dr. Catania's Office

We at Dr. Catania's office would like to congratulate Giovanni M. for winning our Share-A-Smile prize! Giovanni won a Nintendo Wii for referring Elizabeth O. to our office!

Remember that you, too, can participate in Share-A-Smile!

* Just take one of the referral cards from our reception area

* Fill in your name

* Give it to a friend or family member before their initial exam with Dr. Catania

* Your friend or family member will bring it to the initial exam to enter your name into the current drawing

Our next prize is a 19' LCD TV with DVD player and the winner will be randomly picked April 2009.

Good luck and thank you for sharing your friends and families with us at Dr. Catania's Office!

Break the Nail Biting Habit -- Dr. Catania

A tooth’s duty is to chew food, but often we at Dr. Catania's Office see patients whose teeth have picked up an undesirable side job – chewing nails.

A familiar habit, nail biting is common in childhood, adolescence, and early adulthood. Teenagers are the most frequent culprits, boys tend toward nail biting more than girls, and most adults have dropped the habit by the age of 30.

Adults can beat the nail-biting habit with a little will power. Follow these tips:

* Keep nails trimmed and filed. Paying positive attention to your nails can help you overcome the urge to bite.
* Have regular manicures or paint nails regularly. Polish serves as a visual reminder to avoid biting, or a reward after a week of abstinence.
* Cover nails with a bitter-tasting polish. It’s difficult to bite your nails when they taste like pepper.
* Snap a rubber band on the inside of the wrist when nail biting occurs. Train yourself to stop biting with a negative physical response.
* Ask a family member for help. If you find yourself biting your nails without thinking about it, a family member can (kindly) point out your behavior to you.
* Carry a nail file and clippers. When the urge to bite strikes, file or trim instead.

You can help your children quit with some patience. Follow these tips:

* Be clear about the problems with nail biting. Explain that you don’t like nail biting because it’s unhealthy and it makes nails look bad.
* Provide simple alternatives to nail biting. When you find your child biting, suggest a different, age-appropriate activity.
* Avoid negativity. Children can respond to punishment or criticism by nail biting to spite parents.
* Embrace positive reinforcement. Designate a fun activity after a day without biting, and a larger reward for a week without biting.
* Get your child involved in the process. Ask him his opinion on the best way to quit.
* Make use of physical barriers. Use bitter-tasting nail polish during the day or bandages or socks on the hands at night to remind your child not to bite.
* Be patient. Habits don’t appear overnight, nor do they disappear quickly. Be prepared to handle relapses calmly.

Regardless of age, nail biting is often a stress-induced activity. Pay attention to your patterns or your child’s patterns. If nail biting regularly occurs in response to a stressful situation, it’s more useful to focus on removing or dealing with the stressor.

No matter what the underlying cause, nail biting is a habit best avoided or overcome. Aside from a set of beautiful nails, a recovered biter enjoys a hearty sense of accomplishment. And your teeth will thank you too! Give us a call at Dr. Catania's office if your teeth need a little extra TLC.