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The study did find that there was an association with increased internalizing behaviors such as being depressed, being withdrawn or having anxiety.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.

I heard that you now have a full service dental department. Is that true?

Yes. For years our patients and parents have wanted to make visiting my office a one-stop experience. I introduced dental exams and cleanings for our patients five years ago. We received an incredibly positive response from our patients once we began providing these services. On November 6, Dr. Todd Wahlin, formerly of Sundance Dental, started providing full dental services to our patients. Dr. Wahlin has nine years of experience and will provide all levels of dental health care, including IV sedation during the removal of impacted wisdom teeth. Many of my patients drive hours to be treated and appreciate that they can get everything done in one visit. For more information about our dental department or to schedule a free consultation, please call 1-800-4braces.

My teeth are sensitive to hot and cold sensations. What causes this problem?

Tooth sensitivity can be caused by a number of reasons. Some of the more common culprits are cavities, cracked teeth, broken fillings, grinding your teeth, and receding gums. Everyone has microscopic tubules in their enamel that connect with the nerve of a tooth. If these tubules are exposed, temperature changes from eating hot or cold foods are transmitted more easily too the nerve. If your sensitivity is from a cracked tooth or grinding, then the changes in pressure on the tooth are causing your sensitivity. If your sensitivity does not go away after a few days, you can call 1-800-4Braces for a free consultation to discuss this problem.

My dentist told me that one of my child's baby teeth is stuck to the bone and is delaying eruption of the permanent tooth. Is this a difficult problem to correct?

A baby tooth stuck to the bone is called being "ankylosed", and it can complicate the eruption of the permanent tooth. This baby tooth should be closely monitored. An ankylosed baby tooth usually does not fall out on its own. It usually needs to be extracted. The baby tooth should be removed if the eruption of the permanent tooth is delayed by six months or more. The baby tooth should be extracted as soon as possible if the permanent tooth underneath is ready to come in and if there are developing bone defects or significant changes in the bite. If you have concerns about your child's developmental changes as he or she transitions from baby teeth to permanent teeth, please call 1 800-4BRACES for a free consultation.

I have braces. Is it better to use a manual tooth brush or an electric toothbrush?

A recent study concluded that an electric toothbrush was "superior" to a manual toothbrush for plaque removal. The study found that the electric toothbrush motion more effectively removed plaque than the manual scrubbing action. Plaque is notorious for developing around braces, so in addition to recommending electric toothbrushes, I use the Damon System of Braces to help make cleaning easier. Damon braces are smaller than traditional braces and don't have wire ties or elastic rings that collect plaque. If you want a wide beautiful looking smile, please call me at 1-800-4braces for a free consultation.

I recently had four teeth removed to fix my crowded smile. I trusted the both the person that recommended me and the person that treated me. I found out today that I could have been treated without having teeth removed. Why wasn’t I offered this option at the beginning?

There are often different ways to correct crowded teeth. Taking out teeth or not taking out teeth is a big decision that needs to be resolved before starting treatment. If keeping all of your teeth is important to you, don’t be afraid to express that to your healthcare provider. If you bring up your concerns, then your provider should discuss all of the options available. If I had been included in the consultation process, you probably would have been presented with a non-extraction option. If you would like to learn about non-extraction treatment options, call 1-800-4BRACES for your free consultation.

Are all braces and wires used to straighten teeth the same?

No, just like many of the products you buy, there is a wide difference in the equipment and technology used by orthodontists. Traditional braces use a metal wire tied together with smaller wires or elastic bands. The newer self-ligating bracket technology uses “doors” on brackets to hold the wire in place. This wire is secured in a loose and comfortable manner know as passive ligation. These high-tech wires are heat-activated, nickel titanium memory wires that are commonly referred to as "smart wires.” I am proud to offer my patients the high-tech passive self-ligating Damon System of Braces at an affordable price because I believe everyone should have access to the latest in orthodontic technology.

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.

I am a busy mom who needs to find an orthodontist for my child. What process do you recommend to find the orthodontist that best meets my expectations and needs?

First, do a web search for your area. Do you like what you see? Did the website have some pictures of finished patients? Next, call to set up an initial consultation. What is your first impression of the call? Was the person able to answer all of your questions or were there a lot of "it depends" type answers? Third, go to the consultation appointment. Do the website and phone conversation match what you see and hear at the office? Does the plan to fix your child's teeth include taking out teeth? Did you like the doctor and staff? To make it the easiest for you, please visit my website at herman4braces.com or call 1-800-4-BRACES for a free consultation.