Gummy Tummy -- Wise & Stonebridge Orthodontics

We know the rumors going around – mostly among young people – that once you swallow a piece of chewing gum it will stake a claim and take up residency in your stomach for at least seven years! We really hate to take all the fun out of the mystery, but the truth is that chewing gum, when swallowed, will enter the stomach and move through the digestive system just like any other piece of food and leave the body long before seven years! So, if you ever have accidentally swallowed a piece of gum, there is no need to worry!

This being said, gum does not have any dietary benefits, so while it’s not harmful to swallow, you still want to avoid swallowing it. If you are a gum-chewer, make sure you chew sugarless gum, because gum with sugar can lead to cavities. Sugarless gum still has the same amount of flavor, but with less cavity causing ingredients. You see, when the bacterium in your mouth breaks down sugar, what’s left behind is acid. This acid eats away at the enamel coating of your teeth, causing holes that we call cavities. Cavities can lead to other long term mouth problems if they are not treated in time, so it is best to try and avoid overexposing your teeth to too many harmful substances!

Happy (sugar-free) gum chewing from Dr. Wise and Dr. Jensen!

When is Thumb-Sucking a Cause for Worry? -- Dr. Wise Explains

Lots of you have asked us at Wise Orthodontics and Stonebridge Orthodontics about whether it’s healthy for children to suck thumbs (or, less frequently, fingers). If you’ve got a thumb-sucker in the house, you are not alone. Research tells us that between 75% and 95% of infants suck their thumbs. Is this anything to worry about?

In most cases, no. Sucking is a natural reflex for an infant, and can provide security and contentment as well as relaxation for your little one. It’s a habit that most children grow out of between the ages of 2 and 4.

However, if your child keeps sucking after he’s gotten his permanent teeth, it’s time to take a closer look. If your child sucks his thumb aggressively, putting pressure on the inside of his mouth or his teeth, it could cause problems with tooth alignment and proper mouth growth. If you’re worried, give us a call at Wise Orthodontics or Stonebridge Orthodontics and we will help assess the situation, and provide tips for how to help your child break the habit.

Nifty "Eggs"periment from Wise and Stonebridge Orthodontics

Summer is near. If the little ones aren’t aren't going to camp, you may run out of ideas to keep them occupied. Why not use a fun and simple science experiment to focus their attention for a while? At Wise and Stonebridge Orthodontics, we found one that includes a lesson about why it’s important to brush teeth to make plaque go away.

Gather the items you will need for this experiment:

--1 hard-boiled egg with the shell on
--12 ounces of Coke, Pepsi or other dark-colored cola
--1 container large enough to hold the cola and egg
--1 plastic bowl
--1 toothbrush
--1 drop of fluoride toothpaste
--Clean-up supplies

Explain to your child that plaque is a sticky layer of germs that collects on her teeth. If she doesn’t brush, plaque can cause serious problems for her teeth, for example holes in the teeth (cavities) or swollen gums (gingivitis). Tell her that you are going to do an experiment to see how plaque coats her teeth, and why brushing twice a day is important for healthy teeth and gums.

Conduct the experiment:

1. Make the comparison between the white color of the egg and the white color of your child's teeth.

2. Place the egg into the container and pour the cola over it, so that it completely covers the egg.

3. Let the egg sit in the cola for 24 hours.

4. Remove the egg from the cola. The egg will be stained and yellowish.
5. Explain to your child that the colored layer that has appeared on top of the eggshell is just like the layer of plaque that occurs on her teeth.

6. Place the egg in the plastic bowl and give your child the toothbrush with the drop of toothpaste on it.

7. Let her brush the "plaque" off of the egg. The yellowish film will disappear, exposing the white eggshell. Explain that the same thing happens when she brushes her teeth.

Have fun from Wise and Stonebridge Orthodontics

Phase One Treatment - and Why It's Important!

Why do I need two “phases” of treatment? What is a “phase one” of a two-phase treatment? Why do orthodontists offer phase one orthodontics?

These are three of the most common questions we get about two-phase treatment. The answers to these questions are simple, and phase one treatment has over 50 years of proof that it is a successful and effective way to treat orthodontic patients!

At Wise Orthodontics we believe in the effectiveness of phase one treatment, and we model our phase one treatments after the studies and protocols of Dr. James McNamara’s work at the University of Michigan. The details of our phase one treatments are of course handled individually on a case-by-case basis. No two patients are the same, and neither are their treatments!

The key to phase one orthodontic treatment is to evaluate and diagnose a patient for treatment at an early age. While there is no “right” age for a person to start their orthodontic treatment, the American Association of Orthodontists does recommend that a patient receive their first consultation around the age of seven.

Here is a breakdown of a typical orthodontic consultation for phase one treatment:

1) Review of current radiographs
a. Panoramic films should be made roughly every two years during the mixed dentition stage
b. More frequent films are requested irrespective of insurance if a particular issue arises
c. FMX’s and bitewings while helpful, do not typically give a “big picture view” that is acceptable for most ortho planning

2) Clinical evaluation
a. Counting of the teeth to confirm presence/absence of teeth at each stage of development
b. Occlusal analysis- Overbite/overjet, upper and lower midlines, molar relationship (A/P and transverse), crowding, functional shifts
c. Exfoliation tracking- symmetry and sequence
d. Oral hygiene and soft tissue overview
e. Occlusal wear patterns review
f. Photographs when needed to document, treatment plan and/or assist in communication with patient or parent

3) Counseling of parent/child on the development process and the importance of regular dental visits

4) New appointment made anywhere from 8 weeks to 12 months depending on circumstances of the development process



Phase one treatment is designed for three things:

• Prevention - to prevent current problems from getting worse

• Interception - to intercept and correct current problems

• Modification - to modify the growth and structure of the jaw

Our practice is geared up to handle this service and to do so in a productive way. We find that as patients are made aware of the improvements from preventive orthodontics, they are likely to want to proceed with the recommended treatment. If you have any questions about phase one treatment, or any other orthodontic treatments that we provide, please let us know! Also, visit our web site where you can read about the different treatments we provide and learn more about orthodontics for you or your child.

Orthodontic Treatment needed?

Childhood Years (7 -12)
As our young children develop into kids, many things are happening with their smiles. The most obvious is the eruption of permanent teeth and the normal growth that is occurring.

Many times, the first few teeth are crowded out and can't come in properly. Or perhaps an overbite is developing. This is the time when orthodontics really becomes an art. Will the teeth have room? Do we need to expand the mouth? Will normal growth and development allow the teeth to come in straight with time? While many times the answers to these questions are obvious, sometimes a conservative approach, when the orthodontist becomes an observer, is the best solution.

We typically have a large window of opportunity during which we can begin treatment and still get the maximum benefit of modern orthodontics. Beginning the process too early can unnecessarily lengthen your child's treatment and make the orthodontic experience unpleasant and overly expensive. Should "early treatment" be required (expanders, functional appliances, partial braces, etc.) we are well equipped to proceed with a customized treatment plan for the child. Rest assured that at Wise Orthodontics and Stonebridge Orthodontics we will keep your child's best interests at heart.

Warning Signs in 7-year-olds

Do the front teeth line up?

The spaces between the two upper front teeth and the two lower front teeth should line up with each other and both should line up with the bridge of the nose. When they do not, the probable cause is a drifted teeth or a shifted lower jaw, resulting in an improper bite. Seek Treatment Earlier Than Age Seven If Your Child Has: Difficulty chewing. Open-mouth breathing. Thumb or finger sucking. Overlapping or crowding of erupting permanent teeth. Jaws that click or pop. Biting of the cheek or into the roof of the mouth. Speech problems. Grinding or wearing down of teeth. Obvious abnormal bite development of any kind. "Rest assured that at Wise Orthodontics and Stonebridge Orthodontics we will keep your child's best interests at heart."