Orthognathic Surgery - Transforming Treatment

When the jaws so severely out of position that a child suffers from an extreme under bite or overbite, the result is a misshapen appearance that can lead to teasing and social problems with peers.  Today, it is possible to correct the alignment of the jaw to help develop a more balanced and aesthetically pleasing face.  Orthognathic surgery is performed only after patients turn 18 years old, as the jaw has stopped growing.   Adults can also benefit from orthognathic surgery.

Braces are used as a first step in the correction process.  This is to obtain the best possible dental arch, so that the teeth fit together correctly and the child can eat, speak and sleep without any problems.  The next step, once the patient turns 18, is to consider the single or double jaw surgery to reposition the mouth.  After the surgery, the soft tissue in the patient’s face moves on its own to achieve a natural attractiveness. 

Orthognathic surgery can make a dramatic difference in the patient’s appearance and their quality of life.  If you have questions about orthognathic surgery, please call the office and we will be happy to discuss this with you. 

More than Braces at Dr. Gellerman’s Orthodontics

Did you know that children who have chronic sinus problems can often benefit from the use of a Rapid Palatial Expander (RPE)? 

Children who have chronic sinus infections colds, asthma and allergies often also have narrow sinuses passageways.  The reduced airflow can result in higher levels of bacteria that live normally in everyone’s sinuses – leading to increased numbers of colds and infections.

Sometimes the treatment is as simple as using a Rapid Palatal Expander, known as an RPE.    Orthodontic medical literature has demonstrated positive correlations between using Rapid Palatal Expander (RPE) in children with nasal obstruction, asthma, and allergies. In laymen’s terms, the expansion of the area leads to increased air flow, which changed the amount and type of bacteria in the sinus cavity.  

If your child suffers from chronic sinus problems, you might want to ask your pediatrician or ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat doctor) about the use of an RPE.  If you have questions, please call our office and we’ll be happy to explain further.

NEW-CONN ORTHODONTIC FOUNDATION

Almost every month finds me attending a scientific conference in orthodontics of one kind or another.   On the weekend of April 13^th, I attended the New-Conn Orthodontic Foundation’s 24^th Biennial Seminar: How Teeth Really Move: emerging trends in biology, biomechanics, genetics, pharmacology, and physiology.  This weekend long program featured speakers from universities all over the world who are leaders in orthodontic, craniofacial and biomechanical science.  It was a very well attended conference, with high level speakers and presentations.  This investment of time is very important to me, because the more I can continue to learn from leaders in the field, the better I can help my patients have a spectacular smile! 

One in Five Orthodontic Patients is an Adult

There is nothing worse than feeling self-conscious about your smile, whether it means holding back on a grin when photos are being taken or keeping lips tightly closed during a romantic gaze. Teeth can be moved the same way for a 56 year old as they can for a 13 year old, so braces are not just for children or teens.

Braces for adults are not always about aesthetics. Some bad bites, which can affect speaking and eating, can get worse if left untreated. If teeth are poorly aligned or if bad habits are making them move out of place, time will only make things worse.

Today, new technologies and space age materials are used in orthodontic systems to decrease the length of treatment time and enhance the effectiveness of braces. Many options, like Incognito™ and Invisalign®, are also extremely discreet. Incognito™ Orthodontic Braces are custom-made gold braces that are hidden behind your teeth, so no one will ever know that you are wearing braces. Invisalign® uses a series of removable, invisible aligners to straighten teeth.

We can give anyone, at any age, a spectacular smile!  If you have questions, just call and we’ll be happy to explain how.

Spectacular Smiles Team Trip To OrthoCamp

Dr. Inna Gellerman and her Spectacular Smiles Team just come back from “Ortho Camp” - a four day program of workshops and seminars where we focus on improving clinical and administrative skills.  We also do a lot of work in team building.    This year, Ortho Camp took place at the Hard Rock Palace in Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic.  Each time we go, our entire team comes back with a new sense of purpose and dedication. 

We learn a lot about what it takes to be the best, from the instructors who lead the programs and from meeting other professionals from orthodontic practices around the country who have the same level of commitment to providing superior care and service to patients.

The Spectacular Smile team goes on at least two retreats a year in addition to the continuing dental education programs that we attend throughout the year.  We do this because we think it’s important for us to keep growing and learning, so that we can give our patients what they deserve – a wonderful journey to a spectacular smile!

Should someone who is NOT an orthodontist provide your family with orthodontic treatment? We don’t think so – and here’s why:

You are about to embark on an orthodontic journey – an exciting time for your family. 

When you are deciding who should provide treatment, you may want to ask the following questions to be sure that you are being cared for by the right professional:

• Is the doctor a specialist in orthodontics with 2-3 years of specialized education beyond dental school?
• Do clinicians and their team members attend continuing education classes and seminars frequently?
• Are ‘space age’ wires used for improved comfort and performance?
• Does the doctor use bonded brackets as much as possible, or spacers and old-school bands?
• Does the doctor use proper mechanics that allow him/her to reduce the total number of appointments necessary to complete your treatment?

Many non-orthodontists today offer certain orthodontic appliances after being certified by the appliance manufacturer.   We think that your smile and good dental health is far too important to be treated by someone without the extensive training and clinical experience of a board-certified orthodontist.

When Should Your Child First See an Orthodontist?

Many parents don’t think about braces until their children are just on the cusp of adolescence. Orthodontists can spot problems with teeth alignment and jaw growth as early as age 7, long before children have their permanent teeth and corrections are more challenging.

By age 7, enough permanent teeth are present for an orthodontist to evaluate the relationships between the teeth, the child’s jaw and the bite. In many cases, an early orthodontic check-up can prevent much bigger problems in the future.

Some of the more apparent conditions that call for a child to have an orthodontic check up include:

• Early or late loss of baby teeth.
• Difficulty in chewing or biting.
• Jaws that shift or make sounds.
• Mouth breathing.
• Thumb sucking.
• Teeth that meet abnormally or don’t meet at all.
• Teeth that appear above the gum line.