Metal Mouth Message Board

positioners are used to fine tune alignment ans occlusal contacts. they can help with minor rotations and levelling, however directions must be followed to the letter in order for them to work.

ideal tooth overlap (Horizontal/front to back is called overJET and vertical/up&down is called overBITE) is 2-3 mm in each direction - horizontally & up & down. Anything greater than about 5 mm runs a bigger risk of fracture to the front teeth. Excessive overjet is not a problem unless i...

you can definitely have treatment with an implant in place, and no risk in losing it. however, it would be wise to have your orthodontist and your surgeon/general dentist work together & design your ortho treatment so that you are sure the implant will be in the right place. you cannot move the ...

Best answer to your question is to ask your doctor!

Orthodontists are always looking for materials that are easily adaptable to the contours of the tooth yet strong enough to withstand normal biting and chewing forces, flossing, etc for bonded fixed retainers. I hesitate to call them permanent, because thay can break, or even come out. However, the d...

TMJ problems reflect such a wide variety of signs and symptoms, that a clinical exam , xrays, history and mounted models are often necessary to get a good diagnosis. Often TMJ problems get better with braces, at best on average braces don't cause TMJ problems, but the way to solve the problems can i...

we recommend 24 hrs/day except eating brushing & sports for 64-6 months before going to nites only. it takes 6 months for the bone to reorganize around the new tooth position.

These elastics are intended to correct a difference in the upper and lower mid-lines. Wearing them less than about 20 hrs/day will be ineffective.

Interproximal reduction (IPR) can be done at any time during treatment, and depending on circumstances, can be done all the way back to the molars

Putting the Invisalign plastic between the teeth can aggrevate TMJ problems, it can also allow the jaw to reposition to a more biologic position of the ball in the socket - but this physiologic repositioning of the jaw can make fitting the teeth together with Invisalign more difficult, if not imposs...

Chris wrote:Hey Doc, got a problem with this molar in the band moving inward. Can this be corrected with elastics or should the last molar be bracketed and on the archwire?

It can be resolved in a number of ways. Check with your doctor.

taking the expander out should be no problem. i have no knowledge of or experience with the device you're referring to, however

Dealing with TMJ, TMD or Craniomandibular dysfunction ( all 3 names describing one , all or more of the symptoms you relate) is one of the most complex and confusing issues facing dentists today. On the one hand are those who feel the bite is a huge contributing factor to those symptoms, on the othe...

Hey doc, I was wondering if you could enlighten me as to methods used to correct an overbite (combined with overjet)? I think overbite is the right term, my ortho's initial findings stated: - "large horizontal overlap of front teeth" (aka 'overjet' I think?) - "lower front teeth hidd...

what do you mean when you use the term "functional orthodontics?"