The Dangers of Early Loss of Baby Teeth

Written by: Dr. Mai Kamar, Specialist Orthodontist

Our dental arches have been created in a harmonious manner where the baby teeth (milk teeth or primary) pave the way through the dental bones for a smooth and aligned eruption of permanent teeth. Any disruption in this harmony can create several problems that are well avoided by preserving healthy primary teeth for as long as possible till their natural exfoliation dates.

Inside the mouth of a growing child both primary and permanent dentitions are present, where one dentition is actually functioning and the other is still undergoing growth and development. Each tooth in the dental arch is maintained and stabilized in its correct position in the dental arch by the action of a series of forces. These forces are either from the neighboring or opposing teeth which support each other in the dental arch, or by forces from the muscles of the cheeks, lips and tongue, all of which maintain the teeth in the position they are currently at inside the mouth.

If these harmonious forces are disrupted or altered, one force starts to predominate and cause unfavorable movements to the teeth such as tipping or drifting which causes major problems in the permanent occlusion in the future. The number one cause of such disharmony is the premature extraction of baby teeth. Such extractions are either planned by the dentist when a tooth is severely decayed and cannot be saved by a dental restoration or decided by the parent who doesn’t believe in treating a baby tooth that will eventually fall out!

As a general rule when a primary tooth is lost prematurely, the following consequences usually occur:

• The teeth both on the right and the left to the extracted tooth move to close the space, hence the space designated for the permanent tooth that will erupt after a few years is lost and the tooth is blocked inside the bones.
• Delayed eruption or premature eruption of the permanent tooth
• Loss of the dental arch length which leaves less space for the proper eruption of permanent teeth and consequently causes crowding
• Relationship between the molars and canines is usually disrupted which more than often calls for treatment with braces
• Midline of the teeth shifts towards the extraction side
• Tooth opposing the extraction side usually elongates and overerupts
• Alteration in the overbite and overjet of teeth
• Development of abnormal muscle activity and habits such as tongue thrust in the newly created space or digit sucking, which create further disruption in the bite.
• Speech defects
• Poor nutrition and feeding
• Aesthetic and emotional problems

How to avoid such detrimental problems?

1. Regular dental check-ups.

The most recent guidelines by the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry advocates that a child has his first dental visit as soon as the first tooth erupts or maximum at 12 months of age.

This allows a strong relation to be built between the Pediatric dentist, the parents and the child where healthy oral habits are established at an early age. Such relation, or as we call it a Dental Home, assures regular monitoring and close assessment of the child’s oral health and development, where cavities can be either prevented or detected at a very early stage. However, if parents fail to bring their children for dental check-ups, the child always ends up with unnoticed badly decayed teeth that often call for more comprehensive dental treatments such as root canals, crowns or even extraction of the tooth.

2. Better treat than sorry.

Always seek dental experts’ advice the soonest and when advised to restore a cavity, try to get it done the sooner the better. It is always best to have a simple restoration than a more extensive one! It will save your child the trouble of going through a more painful procedure and save you more money as well as have higher chances of saving the tooth itself!

3. Maintain the space.

If advised to remove a tooth always make sure that the dental specialist saves the space for the future permanent tooth by placing a custom made space maintainer in your child’s mouth in place of the extracted tooth.

4. Last but not least, maintain appropriate oral hygiene measures.

Brushing twice a day with a fluoridated toothpaste (indications differ by age of child), flossing daily and regular hygiene visits as well as low sugar diet are mandatory to keep dental decay at bay.

Stay healthy and have a lovely smile.

Dr. Michael’s Dental Clinic in Dubai Welcomes New Orthodontist

20^th July 2016, Dubai, UAE: Dr. Michael’s Dental Clinic, the leading and most trusted dental healthcare provider in the UAE, welcomes Dr. Tannaz Rastegar Lari to its team of Specialist Orthodontists.

“Orthodontic treatments can be life-changing. The most rewarding part of my profession is seeing the progressive result of my work reflected through my patients' smile and confidence. It is very fulfilling to see how my patients feel a lot more sure of themselves when they smile. It’s great to be a part of their happiness.”

Following her DDS in 2004, Dr. Tannaz pursued postgraduate studies and earned her Master’s Degree from the European University College Dubai in 2011. She successfully completed advanced certification in orthodontics from Malmö University in Sweden in 2011.

“Dr. Michael’s Dental Clinic is a premier dental provider that the community trusts. It’s great opportunity to be a part of a team that sincerely cares about the health and satisfaction of its patients.”

Dr. Tannaz has many years of experience in assessment, diagnosis and treatment of dental problems in children, teens and adults. She is specially trained to design appliances that align teeth, produce and maintain their normal function while at the same time improving facial esthetics.

She offers her patients a variety of treatments including conventional orthodontics, clear aligners and lingual braces. She is a certified provider of Invisalign and Incognito braces.

To schedule an appointment with Dr. Tannaz, please visit www.drmichaels.com to book an appointment online, or call Dr. Michael’s Dental Clinic in Umm Suqeim at 04-3949433.

About Dr. Michael’s Dental Clinic

Dr. Michael Formenius founded Dr. Michael’s Dental Clinic in Sweden in 1982 with five dental centers and a dental laboratory spread across Stockholm. In 1997, Dr Michael expanded to the UAE, where he currently runs three state-of- the-art multispecialty dental clinics along Dubai’s Al Wasl Road in Umm Suqeim and Jumeirah. It has assembled a team of international dental specialists, hygienists and support staff for general dentistry, cosmetic dentistry, oral and maxillofacial surgery, implantology, orthodontics, prosthodontics and pediatric dentistry, serving nearly 40,000 patients in and around Dubai.

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For further information, please contact:

Maria Cristina Cubacub

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Dr. Michael’s Dental Clinic

cristina@drmichaels.com

Contact No: +971564423078  

Can a Patient With Crowns or Bridges Still Get Braces?

By: Dr. Argiro Kechagia, BDS, MFDS (rcsed), MSc

At Dr. Michael’s Dental Clinic, we see an increasing number of adults getting braces for corrective cosmetic and functional reasons. Most adults already had tooth restorations done and it is not unusual for us orthodontists to fit braces over crowns or bridges.

Whether your orthodontist recommends fixed or removable braces to correct the alignment of your teeth, it is encouraging to know that you can enjoy the many benefits of alignment and an attractive smile even if you currently have bridges or crowns.Placing braces to dental restorations is more challenging than installing them to natural teeth. This is why it is important to seek a specialist when considering orthodontic treatments. Below are a few issues that may arise.

• Tooth movement is limited when fixed braces are installed over dental implants or crowns. The position of implants cannot be moved or changed because they are solidly fused into the jawbone. For patients with existing bridges, tooth movement can only be minimal to avoid damaging the bridge. If there’s a history of trauma as in the case of root canals or crowns, the orthodontist may need to move the teeth slower and the restorations should be monitored during the course of the treatment.
• There is a possibility for crowns and bridges to incur damage during orthodontic treatment. This damage is purely aesthetic and there’s usually no need to do anything about this especially if the restorations are hidden at the back of the mouth. If the crowns on your front teeth are slightly damaged while wearing your braces, you can ask your dentist to fix the crown once your braces are removed.
• Cosmetic restorations may have to wait until after your orthodontic treatment. If you want to replace a crown for aesthetic reasons, it is recommended that you have it done after your orthodontic treatment. However, if your crown is loose, your orthodontist may ask your dentist to make a temporary crown before your braces are installed. You can always have your new crown once your orthodontic treatment is complete.

Each patient is unique and although fitting braces on dental restorations can be a little more challenging, an experienced orthodontist can always find the best solution for your treatment and ensure that you get the smile of your dreams.