RTOrtho

Fun Times at Reichheld Ting Orthodontics!

This is a highlight reel from some of the fun times we've had with our patients.

Tricky sweets: Those Halloween treats can be hazardous to braces

Tricky sweets: Those Halloween treats can be hazardous to braces
By Christine Phelan
The Sun of Lowell
    WESTFORD — While most of us prep for Halloween with carvings, candy and costumes, orthodontist Jay Reichheld braces himself for what comes next.
    The broken brackets. Dislodged wires. The plaque, decalcification and swollen gums made worse by that inevitable "bath of sugar."
    For Reichheld, his brother, Stephen, and their business partner, Brian Ting, early November is marked by a flurry of emergency visits from young patients who've gnawed their way through Starbursts, Snickers and Skittles and actually broken their braces.
    And for those who thought braces were the domain of too-cool-to-trick-or-treat adolescents, think again: These days, orthodontia may begin as early as age 9, according to the American Association of Orthodontists.
    So should our young metal mouths keep from imbibing this Halloween?
    Hardly, said Reichheld. The key, he said, is choosing candy wisely and — you guessed it — brushing and flossing (quite possible, Reichheld insisted, even with braces) soon after enjoying sugary treats.
    "Having your teeth bathed in sugar is never good, but as long as you're brushing and flossing carefully, the impact can be minimal," he said, noting that he also recommends chewing sugarless gum after meals to spur salivation, wash away cavity-causing plaque and ease the ache of recently tightened braces.
    Certain candies are scarier for teeth than others, said Reichheld. For those with orthodontia, chewy sweets like Sugar Daddies, Laffy Taffy and Tootsie Rolls can loosen metal and ceramic braces of their bonds to teeth, pry off rubber O-rings, ruin retainers and cause wires to go, well, haywire.
    And hard candies and lollipops aren't much better than the sticky stuff, he said, though it depends whether they're bitten or sucked (the latter is preferable). Even jelly beans and other similar coated candies can nestle sugar into the mouth's nooks and crannies that are too difficult to reach with a brush.
    Any lingering sweet stuff eventually turns acid, biting into tooth enamel and causing, especially to those with braces, decalcification and discoloration — and perhaps more time in a dentists' chair, "something none of us wants," said Reichheld.
    And don't look to apples or other whole, crunchy fruits as a seemingly dental-friendly alternative. Biting full force into that crunchy flesh — or bobbing for it — can wreak havoc on braces. Snacking on sliced fruit is better, perhaps with a side of melted chocolate sauce or yogurt.
    The AAO also urges braces-wearers to avoid anything with nuts, caramel, popcorn or bubblegum, and to run screaming from hard pretzels, taco chips and ice, if you have a tendency to chew it.
    So what's left?
    Softer candies, like peanut butter cups and nutless chocolate, treats that Reichheld hands out each Halloween along with — wait for it — toothbrushes.
    "I don't want my house to get egged," he laughed, adding that he urges his own patients to "save the red Starbursts for your favorite orthodontist."
    (c) 2008 The Sun (Lowell, MA). All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of Media NewsGroup, Inc.

RTO Internet Safety Seminar HUGE Success:The Lowell Sun newspaper

Parents at Westford forum warned on Web dangers
By Kirk Boutselis
Sun Correspondent
    WESTFORD — State Trooper Chris Ware will admit that he has a pretty tough shell when it comes to viewing personal tragedies.
    As a law-enforcement officer for more than 20 years, Ware has seen more than his share of fatal fires and horrific accidents. He even watched a child die in his arms.
    But Ware said he was totally unprepared to oversee the Massachusetts Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, a position he started in February.
    "The stuff I have seen since February has brought me to tears," Ware said last night before more than 250 parents at the Westford Regency who had gathered for a free Internet-safety seminar sponsored by Reichheld Ting Orthodontics.
    His first cybertip forced him to view an online video of child pornography. He said he wasn't the same person after that point.
    "I knew (Internet crimes) existed, but I didn't understand the scope of what I was getting into until I saw that video," he said.
    Sgt. Michael Hill, a state trooper from Berkshire County who also serves on the task force, said children growing up in the digital age are potentially exposed to more threats online than in their own neighborhoods.
    "Six or seven years ago, the biggest problem we had (with kids) was the giving out of personal information," he said. "Now kids don't care who they're talking to online. We have to explain to them what is an appropriate relationship."
    Hill frequently monitors Internet chat rooms where identities are often obscured, files are shared and photos swapped. These rooms, he said, are the "hangouts" for Internet predators. Once they convince a child to talk to them, they will talk to them every day until they build a trust.
    "(The conversations) always, always revolve around sex," he said. "It might start out timid at first, but it always leads to that."
    Parents, he added, must be vigilant in the monitoring of their child's Internet use. Whether it is through establishing computer rules or knowing who is on their child's buddy list, they are the first line of defense.
    "It's virtually impossible to prevent your kids from having an online life," he said. "But you can reduce incidents in your house by (as much as) 75 percent by having the computer in a common room."
    Even with frequent monitoring, however, children are now more susceptible than ever to be victims of cyberbullying.
    "The effect of cyberbullying is magnified 10 times because it can happen anywhere at any time," said Dana Gershengorn, an assistant U.S. attorney who is involved in prosecuting child-exploitation cases.
    According to a recent survey among 1,500 fourth- through eighth-graders, 42 percent of students admitted they have been bullied at least once online, Gershengorn said.
    With twice as many girls likely to get bullied than boys, "cyberbullying is limited only by your child's creativity," she added.
    Unlike a schoolyard fight, cyberbullying is permanent and can lead to depression, low self-esteem, anger, suicide and eating disorders.
    "If your child stops using their computer, then that is a warning sign," she said. "Children love their computers."
    Parents, though, continue to struggle with a generation of tech-savvy kids.
    "The more you find out, the scarier it gets," said Tom Schofield, a Westford parent who attended the seminar.
    "It's mind-boggling," added Groton resident Eugenia Julio-Bishop. "My son is my IT guy. It's putting parents at a great disadvantage."
    The crimes of a few are also putting worried parents and children on the defensive.
    "Every opportunity for a friend is now lost in a stranger," Julio-Bishop said.
    For more information on cyberbullying and how to keep safe on the Web, visit www.netsmartz.org, www.ikeepsafe.org or www.digizen.org.
    (c) 2008 The Sun (Lowell, MA). All rights reserved. Reproduced with the permission of Media NewsGroup, Inc.

Protrusion- Emotional and Physical

Almost every orthodontic case has some component of function and some part of esthetics. Seeing an eight or nine year old with a severe protrusion certainly takes both into account. There are several reasons for evaluating this patient at 8 or 9 or 10.

Firstly, the protrusion may be a sign that the lower jaw is retrusive and under growing the upper jaw. This discrepancy will continue and it may be possible to assist in the development of the lower jaw using orthopedic appliances like a headgear or a Herbst. If the lower jaw falls behind the upper jaw too much it may be impossible to correct as well at an older age.

Secondly, upper teeth that are so far forward like this are at a severe risk of being physically traumatized. Without the protection of the lip the front teeth may be fractured by a baseball or soccer ball or simply horseplay at school.

Lastly there is the more personal issue of self-esteem and peer pressure or ridicule. A child can become extremely self-conscious of their smile and become emotionally affected by protrusive teeth.

If one or more of these reasons are present it may be advantageous to place orthodontic appliances for a short time to begin the correction. Sometimes the young patient may out grow the protrusion. Evaluating the growth and development, the orthodontist can help you make a decision whether to treat or wait.

In the beginning....

Why don’t we start at the beginning? Many of our patients first visit our office at the age 7 or 8. These youngsters are usually referred by their family dentist because the dentist is trained to see the subtle beginnings of an orthodontic problem; a problem that does not need to be cared for at 7 years old, but may be able to be cared for sooner than later such as it will head off a bigger problem before it has a chance to occur. Confusing? No, easy does it. The most common issues at this age are related to lack of space and misshapen jaws. See the pictures below. The first picture shows overlapping teeth and the second picture shows a narrow top jaw that results in the indicated crossbite.

Evaluating growth and development and available space we will decide if some primary (baby) teeth should be removed or if an expander, to change the shape of the upper jaw, will be required. Extractions and expansion can help a lot of 9-10 year olds by setting the jaws up for the next growth spurt.
I will write about underbites, anterior crossbites, openbites, protrusion and spaces between the front teeth at another time
Questions and comments welcome.

Welcome to RTOrtho

Welcome to RTOrtho.
The purpose of this blog is to answer your orthodontic questions and develop discussions pertaining to orthodontic treatment. This is my first attempt and I am sure I will get better as time goes on. Feel free to let me know, don’t be shy. I can take it. If you are surfing the web and found us, how lucky can you get. If you are a patient of ours, and you got here from www.straightteeth.com, nice to see you again.