My 7 year old son is getting bullied at school because his front teeth stick out. Should I start braces early to help reduce the bullying?

I am asked your question frequently. Bullying behavior about dentofacial features is widespread and has been for years. Before making a decision about early treatment, I recommend you ask yourself these questions: How bad is the dentofacial problem? How much is the bullying affecting the child? How much is the bullying worrying you as the parent? I do recommend early treatment for psycho-social reasons. When I do this treatment the goal is very specific: align the four front teeth, place a wired retainer behind the teeth, then let the child grow another year or two and reevaluate if further treatment is required.

I just got a mail advertisement from an orthodontist. It features a patient who says she got braces at age 7 to correct her cross bite. Is age seven too early?

It is best to correct a cross bite early. There are two types of cross bites: anterior cross bite, better known as an under bite, and a posterior cross bite. A posterior cross bite is when the upper back teeth bite inside of the lower back teeth. It can be on just one side or on both sides. The goal is to correct the cross bite in a year or less through braces, take off the braces, and let the child resume growth for another year or two. I find that most cross bites can be corrected with upper braces only. I correct almost all cross bites without using invasive palatal expanders. If you think your child has a cross bite call 1-800-4Braces for a free consultation.

I was a patient of yours 5 years ago and now my son is ready for braces. It’s been a while since I was a patient. Is there still a family discount I can use for my son?

Yes! We reward loyal patients with our “Smile Miles” program. Any patient that I’ve ever treated gets a credit toward future treatment that can be used on other family members. It is a straight forward program focused on affordable care. No prizes or contests here – just lower monthly payments for you! Call Riiana at 1-800-4Braces to see how many Smile Miles you have waiting for you and how they can be used on a family member or yourself!

My son just had his braces removed. He has removable retainers, but I do not think he is wearing them as much as he was instructed to wear them. What should I do?

Your concern is justified. A recent study found that the average patient wears his or her retainers an average of just 7 hours per day, not the 12 to 24 hours recommended. Often, patients do not wear retainers for days. To help prevent relapse of teeth, I provide all of my patients with glued-on wire retainers on the backs of their front teeth in addition to the removable retainers. This means that my patients get double retainers for both upper and lower teeth. These glued-on wire retainers are an extra benefit that I provide my patients in the Four Corners area.

I looked at my teeth in a magnifying mirror, and I noticed some lines on my front teeth. I went to my dentist, and he said they were "craze lines" and are normal for my age. He said no treatment was needed. Should I get a second opinion?

While you are always entitled to a second opinion, your dentist's recommendation of no treatment is supported by research. Most craze lines are not noticeable except under bright light and some magnification. Craze lines are not cracked or chipped teeth. They are shallow changes in a person's enamel. As people age, most get some craze lines. Treatment would be considered too invasive by most dentists because treatment would be caps (crowns) or veneers. I agree with your dentist in recommending what is best for you and your teeth.

My teenage son is using smokeless tobacco (chewing tobacco). I am afraid that this may lead to smoking. Is my concern justified?

A recent study says that your concern is justified. This study showed that there is a strong association between adolescents using chewing tobacco and smoking. The study also found that using tobacco is strongly correlated with other risk-taking behaviors. This may not be news to any of us who have raised teenagers. Intervention through education may help, but results for teens are extremely varied. The study found that getting teens involved in activities that prohibit the use of tobacco products, like school sports, may be even more beneficial to preventing tobacco use than education on the harm of tobacco or parental intervention.

My 8 year old son grinds his teeth at night. Should I be concerned?

A recent study in The Journal of Sleep Medicine answered this question. Almost half of all first graders in the study had parents reporting that their child grinded his or her teeth at least one time per week. This study found that grinding (bruxing) was not associated with breathing disorders during sleep or snoring. The study did find that there was an association with increased internalizing behaviors such as being depressed, being withdrawn or having anxiety. Chronic, frequent bruxism was also associated with increased health problems and decreased neurocognitive performance (learning). Grinding once a week is probably not a reason for concern. Grinding a few times a week should be checked out.

My wife says that I seem to have trouble breathing when I sleep. Can this cause me long-term harm?

A recent study found that Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) can take off years from a person's life expectancy. OSA is the cessation of breathing while sleeping because the path of airflow is blocked during respiration. It is estimated that more than 18 million Americans have OSA. Some of the more common signs or contributing factors are: snoring, being overweight, hypertension, diabetes, age, increased neck size (size 17 males and 16 females), morning headaches that soon disappear after waking up and constantly being sleepy during the day. A clinical exam may also reveal a large tongue or a narrow palate or mandible. If you think that you may have OSA it is very important that you seek a screening exam from a qualified health care provider. For a screening call 1-800-4-Braces.

I want to get my teeth straightened and I want to bleach them to make them whiter. Should I do it before or after treatment? How does bleaching work?

If you are using Invisalign aligners to straighten your teeth then it can be done before, after or even during treatment. If you are getting braces, after is best. The active ingredient in bleaching gel is hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is applied to your teeth using a clear plastic tray. As the hydrogen peroxide degrades it produces free radicals that diffuse rapidly through enamel and dentin. These free radicals are strong oxidizers that split up pigmenting compounds that diffuse out of your teeth, causing the tooth to absorb less light. This process causes teeth to look lighter. Call 1-800-4Braces for a free consultation.

Question: My daughter’s teeth have started to come in. When should I start brushing and using toothpaste on her teeth?

Dr. Herman's Answer: To familiarize your baby with brushing, wipe her gums with a moist, soft cloth or piece of gauze after every meal. As soon as the first tooth comes into place, start brushing with a soft-bristle toothbrush designed for babies. Use water rather than a fluoride toothpaste until your child is about 2 years of age. Once your child is able to spit, she may be ready to brush her own teeth using a pea-sized amount of fluoride toothpaste while you supervise. Be sure to have the child spit out the toothpaste. It also recommended by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry that your child visit a dentist by her 1st birthday.

Question: My orthodontist just took my braces off and my smile looks good. My girlfriend was treated by you and her smile is much wider than mine. We both had the same type of problem, so why is her smile so much wider?

Dr. Herman's Answer: Your doctor treated you with traditional braces and I treated your girlfriend with the Damon® System of braces. Traditional braces do a great job of straightening teeth but do little to widen the bone holding your teeth. Traditional treatment often requires removal of healthy teeth to make space—this approach is often uncomfortable and can leave a narrower arch and a flat profile. The Damon System of Braces straightens teeth and widens the bone resulting in full, natural, wide smiles. If a wide smile is important to you call my office for your free consultation. Please visit herman4braces.com for before and after photos of my patients.

Question: I love your "Real People Real Results" pictures in the newspaper. How do you find those people?

Dr. Herman's Answer: They are my patients from all over the Four Corners area! When I finish a patient’s treatment, I ask them or they ask me if they can have their new smile featured in the newspaper. I am excited with how well the patient's face and smile appear and the patient is pleased with what we accomplished together. I have even been asked if the happy patients are models! We are proud of our patients and their special talents, accomplishments and stories—that’s why we enjoy featuring them in our monthly promotions. We hope you take pleasure in seeing your friends and neighbors featured in the ads too!

Question: When I finished braces, you placed a wired retainer on the back of my front upper and lower teeth. I also received a clear removable retainer to wear at night. Why two types of retainers?

Dr. Herman's Answer: Multiple retainers are provided to make it easier on you to maintain your newly straightened smile. Retainer wear is extremely important. If retainers are not worn as directed teeth will move. The glued on retainers allow you to wear the clear removable retainer only at night. This combination makes retainer wear more convenient and also helps you from losing your retainer. If you only have one type of retainer, glued on or removable, you have no backup. No backup is bad because teeth without retainers, can and will move!

Soul Surfer’ Bethany Hamilton endorses the Damon® System of Braces to promote fast, high-tech, comfortable orthodontic treatment! Here’s more information from Bethany and the makers of the Damon System…

Pro Surfer, Bethany Hamilton began orthodontic treatment at age 14 for a severe underbite with significant crowding and a narrow arch. She also had an open bite, which means there was open space between her upper and lower teeth when her jaw was closed. These types of cases are typically among the most difficult to treat and often require surgery. Hamilton relied on the Damon System instead of traditional braces for her treatment.

The light pressure used in the Damon System stimulates broad, natural arch development and typically delivers results up to 25 percent faster than traditional braces, according to clinical studies. While traditional braces require elastic ties to hold wires in place, these ties can accumulate bacteria and often require "tightening" that can hinder tooth movement and prolong treatment.

In contrast, the Damon System combines "tieless" braces with high-tech memory-shaped wires that don't need to be "tightened." Damon System braces are easier to keep clean, which promotes better patient hygiene throughout treatment. Additionally, treatment with the Damon System rarely requires tooth extractions and frees patients from the use of headgear, rapid palatal expanders and other invasive appliances. The cost of treatment with the Damon System is comparable to that of traditional braces.

"Smiles are a blessing and an infectious tool for spreading happiness and bringing joy to others. "The Damon System transformed my smile, allowing me to confidently share my story of perseverance and encourage others undergoing adversity,” said Bethany Hamilton.

To learn more visit, damonbraces.com

Q: I read in a recent health magazine that a person's smile ranks 2nd to having a handsome or beautiful face when judging someone's attractiveness. Is that true?

Dr. Herman's Answer: Yes. There are many studies that show that a person's smile opens a lot of doors. Many studies on personal appearance show nice smiles rank high in getting better jobs, more attractive partners, better service and so on. With minimally invasive systems of braces like "Damon Clear" you can get the crooked tooth or poor looking smile improved usually without taking out teeth, minimal discomfort and shorter time in treatment. To find out how easy it is to get the smile you always wanted, call for your free consultation.