National Orthodontic Health Month Promotes A Reason To Smile

By Nancy K. Crevier

October is National Orthodontic Health Month, and area orthodontists are eager to get out the message that it is never too soon to begin intervention for a healthy oral future.

National Orthodontic Health Month is really an awareness program, said Dr Joshua Baum, who along with his colleague Dr Elyse Koenig practices at 23 Church Hill Road. It is important, said Dr Baum, for people to realize that a visit to an orthodontist as early as age 7 can be productive, as this is the age at which the jaw is forming.

“One of the things that a visit [to the orthodontist] early on in a child’s age can do is to prevent more long-term or difficult intervention later on, because potential problems can be addressed, ” said Dr Baum.

Twenty or 25 years ago, when children rarely saw an orthodontist before age 12 or 13, it was not unusual for four or more permanent teeth to have to be extracted in order to correct an oral problem, he said. “The percentage of extractions is significantly less today, because of early intervention,” said Dr Baum.

Dr Curt Beck, 143 Mt Pleasant Road, agreed that the National Orthodontic Health Month is intended to draw attention to the fact that everyone needs to be evaluated for orthodontic needs. “Five percent of younger children would benefit from early treatment for growth abnormalities,” said Dr Beck, and while that number may not seem large, intervention for those children can prevent minor developmental issues from becoming major problems later on.

Even those who wait for braces can be helped, though, said Dr Baum. “It is never too late. I have even had a 72-year-old patient, who wanted to finally do something for herself, so she got braces,” he said. The popularity of Invisilign and Invisilign Teen, a virtually clear treatment that corrects teeth without traditional braces, has drawn a greater group of older patients, he said, and the technique continues to evolve “in big jumps” about every two years, allowing orthodontists to treat more difficult cases, more successfully, with the breakthrough technique.

At Dental Associates, located at 11 Church Hill Road, Dr Aaron Gilman stressed that the reason behind National Orthodontic Health Month is to define the roles of the orthodontist and dentist in the community, and how together the oral health experts can work to educate families and youth.

“During the growing years of ages 7, 8, or 9, is the right time to evaluate orthodontic needs,” said Dr Gilman. “When we see kids early enough, it is before problems set in. If a child’s dentist encourages them early on to visit the orthodontist, that can be positive,” he said.

Orthodontic training studies the growth and development of the jaw, and how teeth are formed and grow into the jaw, explained Dr Gilman. “A lot of parents are shocked when kids are ready at age 7 for treatment,” Dr Gilman said, but it is one reason that fewer children need teeth pulled for correcting oral problems than in past decades, and better results are achieved with early intervention.

Hygiene Is Important

It is probably no accident that National Orthodontic Health Month falls in October, said the orthodontists.

“With Halloween approaching, kids with braces need to be careful about what they eat,” Dr Baum said. He cautioned Halloween ghosts and goblins to steer clear of “sticky, chewy candy,” and to embrace better brushing habits.

“Braces today have adhesives that leave zero marks on the teeth,” noted Dr Baum, “and the only time we have trouble is when the patient hasn’t brushed properly.”

“Follow up carefully with regular dental hygiene and dental check-ups,” encouraged Dr Beck. “Appliances make it difficult to keep the teeth clean without additional vigilance, and can provide an area where bacteria hide from the toothbrush,” he said. It is the build up of bacteria behind the dental appliance that creates discoloration or cavities, he said.

Despite his warnings, Dr Beck expects a few of his patients will not be able to resist the draw of gum and hard candies, especially on Halloween. On November 1, he is never surprised to have calls about broken or damaged appliances. Chewing hard candy puts the equivalent of 250 pounds of pressure on an appliance, he said, and chewing gum causes a continual flexing of the appliance back and forth.

“The less gooey the candy, the better,” said Dr Beck, with chocolate seeming to be the least cavity-forming type of candy on the market. There is no substitute for a good, thorough brushing of the teeth and appliance after eating candy, though, said Dr Beck, on Halloween or any day.

Dr Gilman also allowed that it is possible for those with braces or dental appliances to enjoy treats any day, including the upcoming Halloween holiday, so long as he or she is certain to do “an extra good job brushing afterwards. Take an extra minute,” he urged.

Tooth brushing post-Halloween will be made easier, thanks to the efforts of a Tooth Fairy from Dental Associates who will be posted at the corner of West Street and Main Street, near the flagpole, on Halloween afternoon and evening. This Tooth Fairy will hand out glow-in-the-dark wristbands, as well as toothbrushes and toothpaste.

If you miss her there, check out Edmond Town Hall, where the Tooth Fairy will magically appear, too, thanks to Dr Baum’s office.

Dental Associates and Dr Baum will both host Buyback Candy programs after Halloween, in case there is too much of a good thing.

Trade Halloween goodies for cash at the 23 Church Hill Road office of Dr Baum, Tuesday, November 1, through Friday, November 4, during office hours. Up to 10 pounds of unwrapped Halloween candy per person can be sold back for $2 a pound.

Dental Associates will host its Ninth Annual Candy Buyback on Election Day this year, Tuesday, November 8, at 11 Church Hill Road, from 9 to 11 am. The buyback will pay $2 per pound, up to $10 per person.

Early intervention, proper oral care when fitted with appliances, and choosing treats wisely can add up to the one thing all orthodontists aim for — a perfect smile.