March 18th, 2011
If you ever sustain damage to your braces and need to call Kennell Orthodontics, we can help you more effectively if you can tell us exactly which piece is in trouble! Here’s a handy diagram and corresponding list of all the parts that make up your braces.
Elastic Tie: Tiny rubber band that fits around the bracket to hold the archwire in place.
Archwire: The main wire that acts as a track to guide the teeth along. It's changed periodically throughout treatment, as teeth move to their new positions.
Loop in Archwire: Frequently used for closing space left by an extraction. Many archwires don't have a loop.
Bracket: Small attachment that holds the archwire in place. Most often, a bracket is cemented directly onto the tooth's surface, eliminating the need for a band.
Headgear Tube: Round, hollow attachment on the back bands. The inner bow of the headgear fits into it.
Coil Spring: Fits between brackets and over archwire to open space between teeth.
Tie Wire: Fine wire that is twisted around the bracket to hold the archwire in place.
Band: A thin ring of metal fitted around a tooth and cemented in place. The band provides a way to attach the brackets to the tooth.
Hook: Welded or removable arm to which elastics (rubber bands) are attached.
Elastic (Rubber Band): Small rubber band that is hooked between different points on the appliance to provide pressure to move the teeth.
Hope this helps! Give us a call if you have any questions!
March 4th, 2011
If you recently completed treatment at Kennell Orthodontics, we’d like to congratulate you! Now that your braces have been removed, Dr. Kennell will provide—or has provided you—with retainers. After braces are removed, teeth can shift out of position if they are not stabilized. Retainers, however, always provide that stabilization. They are designed to hold teeth in their corrected, ideal positions until the bones and gums adapt to the treatment changes. Wearing retainers exactly as instructed by Dr. Kennell is the best insurance that the treatment improvements last for a lifetime.
To learn more about the advantages of wearing retainers after your orthodontic treatment with Dr. Kennell, please read this helpful article about retainers from KidsHealth or give us a call!
February 26th, 2011
Many parents assume they must wait until their child has all of his or her permanent teeth to see Dr. Kennell for a consultation, only to discover treatment would have been much easier if started earlier. Did you know the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child have an orthodontic check-up no later than age seven?
That’s right—seven.
Ok, so what’s so great about age seven, you ask? Enough permanent teeth have arrived for Dr. Kennell to make a determination about whether any problems are present. The first molars have come in, providing an opportunity to check for malocclusion, or “bad bite.” Also, the incisors have begun to come in, and problems such as crowding, deep bites and open bites can be detected.
Orthodontic evaluation at an early age provides one of two positive outcomes: For some, early identification or problems will lead to easier or shorter orthodontic treatment in the future. For others, a healthy prognosis will provide immediate peace of mind.
Early evaluation, of course, may signal a need for early treatment. For some children, early treatment can prevent physical and emotional trauma. Aside from spurring on years of harmful teasing, misaligned teeth are also prone to injury and are detrimental to good oral hygiene. So, if your child is nearing his or her seventh birthday, give us a call at Kennell Orthodontics to schedule an appointment.
February 7th, 2011
Each February for the past 61 years, the American Dental Association (ADA) has sponsored National Children's Dental Health Month to raise awareness about the importance of oral health. Developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.
For kids wearing braces, brushing and flossing can become more difficult, requiring extra time and vigilance to remove food particles that accumulate on and between the teeth and in braces. New options for braces such as Invisalign Teen, which is removable, make it easier for kids to maintain good oral health during orthodontic treatment.
If the health of your teeth is ignored during treatment with braces, the results can be significantly compromised. Dr. Kennell is available and happy to explain why effective brushing and flossing is one of the most critical actions needed from patients during orthodontic treatment. Have you visited us lately? Give us a call and schedule an appointment!
