Newsletter June 2005
Balance your bite
You would never consider driving your car with a flat tyre would you? The car would be unbalanced, pull to one side, give a rough ride and ruin the tyre. Yet many people walk about with missing teeth wondering why they get neck pain, shoulder pain, jaw pain and clicking jaw joints. The teeth stabilise the neck and head. When you think about it, if you are lifting something heavy you clench your teeth together. What happens to the lower jaw if there are no teeth there? The jaw is unbalanced, you pull to one side, give the joint a rough ride and ruin the joint! So if you are missing teeth or your teeth are sensitive perhaps it’s time for a „service“!
Heart Disease
Called the silent killer as many of us find out too late that we have a problem. It is the number one killer in America and the UK. It killed 233,000 people in the UK in 2003, yet what are we doing about it and how can dentistry help? Gum disease has been linked to cardiovascular disease, (American Academy of Periodontology, 2002) stroke and diabetes. Cleaning the teeth and gums plus good nutritional supplementation may help reduce your risk. Add to this exercise and stress management and you’ve got a package that should see you healthy into old age!
All porcelain crowns and bridges
So many people are unhappy with the blackened edges of their crowns and bridges. This is caused by the metal substructure under the porcelain that is used to strengthen the crown or bridge. The new generation, all porcelain crowns are strong enough without the need for metal and look far better in the mouth. No more unsightly black lines or embarrasment with smiling.
More on Orthodontics!
While headgear, seen on so many children undergoing orthodontics may help the overall appearance of the teeth, what is it doing to the neck?
Physiotherapists are concerned about the traction forces on the cervical spine. Could this cause neck problems later in life? Could it contribute to head pain? Functional orthodontics negates the need for this form of headgear as it works with the growth of the child. It is certainly an option worth considering when deciding on the orthodontic approach for your child.
It does however work best at an earlier age so waiting until all the
permanent teeth are in the mouth is not the best timing for this approach!
Bill Kellner-Read BDS
Physiotherapists are concerned about the traction forces on the cervical spine. Could this cause neck problems later in life? Could it contribute to head pain? Functional orthodontics negates the need for this form of headgear as it works with the growth of the child. It is certainly an option worth considering when deciding on the orthodontic approach for your child.
It does however work best at an earlier age so waiting until all the
permanent teeth are in the mouth is not the best timing for this approach!
Bill Kellner-Read BDS