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Malocclusion is more commonly known as crowded teeth, cross bite, overbite, under bite, or open bite. It is simply the misalignment of teeth. It is a common problem seen in most people at least to some degree.

How to identify Malocclusion
Even though most people do not have perfect alignment of their teeth, for some, the misalignment causes other more noticeable problems. A dentist should be consulted if any of the following symptoms occur together with poor alignment of teeth, in order to effect a proper diagnosis and treatment of Malocclusion.

▪   pain arising from pressure to the jaw

▪   problems in speech and ability to eat

▪   breathing through the mouth

▪   difficulty in keeping the lips closed

Types of Malocclusion
In 1899, Edward Angel identified three different categories of Malocclusion:

▪   Class I Malocclusion : This is the more widespread type of Malocclusion. In this type, the first molars are normal. However the other teeth are affected by problems in spacing, crowding, and over/ under eruption.

▪   Class II Malocclusion : In this type of Malocclusion the upper molars significantly overlap the bottom teeth.

▪   Class III Malocclusion : This is the inverse of class II where the lower jaw protrudes more than the upper, causing the bottom front teeth to overlap the upper ones

Causes of Malocclusion

Malocclusion can either be inherited from parents or acquired through bad habits:

Inherited Malocclusion : This is mostly the case. This type of Malocclusion is evident in there being less or more teeth, or space between the teeth, than appropriate. It is caused by irregular jaw size or shape or by unusual formations like cleft palates.

Acquired Malocclusion : A major cause of acquired Malocclusion is bad habits. The bad habits that children mostly succumb to, such as thumb/ finger sucking or tongue thrusting, are causes of Malocclusion. As such, monitoring of such bad habits by the parents and controlling the same can easily prevent this type of Malocclusion occurring.

Treatment of Malocclusion

▪   Use of Braces

▪   Malocclusion is commonly treated by using dental braces. The constant and gently pressure provided by braces will enable teeth straightening and help push teeth back to their correct position.
Braces consist of brackets that are fixed to the teeth, and wires that connect the brackets. Since the braces cannot be removed, extra attention should be paid in keeping the teeth clean and getting rid of food particles that are likely to get stuck in the braces.

▪   Removal of teeth

▪   This will help in instances of overcrowding, where it would make room for the other teeth to move to the correct position.

▪   Reshaping, and bonding or capping teeth

▪   This will treat rough or irregular teeth removing resistance in forming a proper bite.

▪   Surgery : Requirement of surgery is rare. Surgery can be used to reshape the jaw or to stabilize the jawbone through wires, plates or screws where required. 
Malocclusion can be treated in the majority of cases. Consulting a dentist early when Malocclusion is suspected can ensure the proper and effective treatment, which would help in maintaining proper dental health.

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Advancing technology gives rise to newer methods of healing. In the field of dentistry, the major development is taking place in methods of regenerating gum tissue. Gum tissue is vital in supporting teeth and holding them in place.

The latest development by Scientists at the University of Michigan, for regenerating gum tissue is a technique that uses gene delivery. This method of gene delivery looks safe and does not seem to pose any hazards for regenerating gum tissue that supports teeth. According to William Giannobile, a professor at the U-M School of Dentistry, there still remain many issues that revolve around concern for safety of the patient undergoing gene therapy, though this form of therapy is accepted widely as a method of treatment and healing.

This concern for safety was highlighted in the early stages of its development a number of years ago, when a teenager undergoing gene therapy died after the administration of adenovirus during a gene therapy clinical trial at the University of Pennsylvania.

Gene therapy versus U-M therapy

When he compared gene therapy to U-M therapy, Professor Giannobile said that both therapies use adenovirus but in U-M therapy, the dosage is much lower and treatment is in the form of a local application, quite like a paste which is applied directly on the tissue during surgery; as opposed to gene therapy where the genes are injected directly in the blood vessels which allows adenovirus to travel in the blood stream and this may at times result in unexpected developments which can sometimes be fatal. The U-M method is more of a topical method where the adenovirus is controlled in the localised area and is not allowed to spread throughout the body. This approach lessens concerns of saftey and about negative reactions that may occur within the body.

Professor Giannobile, who has an appointment at the U-M College of Engineering’s Department of Biomedical Engineering and also directs the Michigan Center for Oral Health Research, explained that the teenager died, as the adenovirus got into his bloodstream and he reacted adversely to it. It was tragic.

He said that in the first study of periodontal disease therapy, it was demonstrated the that distribution of these genes was very safe. He also said that it could be used in the clinic for clinical application. He said that their study does not address all the safety concerns, but that safety was surely a very important concern to the field. (The success of using this treatment will surely depend on its safety factor.) The U-M method of treatment shows great potential in clinical treatment of Periodontal disease and diabetic wounds. He pointed out that that this could be due to the fact that both these diseases are a result of a “defective healing environment.”

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Since our childhood we know the rules of effective dental care. Most of us brush two times a day, floss regularly and visit their dental care specialist once every 6 months. However, we still have plenty of dental problems and must spend a lot of money for improving our dental health. What do we do wrong? Below, check out the list of the most common misconceptions and risks

1. Excessive brushing. Many people tend to believe that the more they brush, the lower chances they have to develop one or another dental disease. This is a serious misconception and it is highly recommended to brush no more than 1-2 times a day, use soft brushes and proper toothpastes.

2. Brushing right after eating too sweet or too acidic foods. This is another wrong idea, to brush your teeth right after consuming acidic drinks or desserts.

3. Vinegar in salad dressings. Adding such products as vinegar or lemon juice to your salads is harmful to your teeth. Try to avoid having such type of salad dressings on a regular basis.

4. Diabetes. This disease is linked to increased levels of glucose in the body fluids, including saliva. This is why people with diabetes usually have poorer dental health if compared with those who do not have diabetes. Your tooth enamel becomes soft and very sensitive when under effect of acidic or too sweet materials, and scrubbing it with tooth brush will not lead to anything good. That is why it would be better to rinse your mouth with a mouthwash and brush your teeth in not less than 30 minutes after eating.

5. Tooth whitening procedures. Sometimes, whitening procedures which we do at home damage our tooth enamel to a great extent. Therefore, instead of using special home kits, choose to go to a specialist and reduce the risks of having dental problems.

6. Drinking too much of herbal teas. This is a real shocker, but some fruit-flavored herbal teas can be very acidic and cause tooth damage, according to British dentists from the University of Bristol Dental School. Choose to drink good old black or green teas which have numerous health benefits and positive effects on our dental health.

7. Consuming sports drinks. These products are packed with harmful acids and sugars which can help to boost energy levels. A research has shown that sports drinks are about 30 times more corrosive than water. Try to avoid using sports drinks.

8.Drinking white and red wine. Studies have shown that red wine causes stains and white wine cause tooth decay. Those who got used to benefit from high antioxidant content of wines should drink during a meal, rinse the mouth after drinking wine and possibly use a piece of cheese to neutralize negative effects of acids in wines.

9. Using eye drops. The scientists found out that using anti-inflammatory eye drops is also linked to worsening of the dental health and tooth decay. Specialists at the British Dental Health Foundation warn that using anti-inflammatory eye drops and some other prescription medications is linked to such problem and dry mouth, which is connected to insufficient amounts of saliva in the mouth and weakened protection against harmful acids and other chemical compounds. If you use eye drops and suffer from dry mouth, keep this condition under control.

10. Swimming in public pools. It is amazing but even such habit as swimming in public pools can increase your chances to suffer from tooth erosion. According to a study which involved 500 participants, it was discovered that about 66% of those had yellow teeth and other types of tooth damage as a result of permanent contact with chlorine in water. If you can’t refrain from swimming, try to always keep your mouth closed while swimming.

11. Playing video games. Specialists are convinces that those people who play lots of video games are more likely to eat unhealthy snacks, lose control on what they eat and give no importance to dental care.

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Jan/11

13

Free Spinbrush!

If your child is in need of a pediatric dentist, now’s the time to come to Naperville Dental Specialists! For a limited time, receive a FREE character spin brush on your child’s first visit! See attached coupon for details!

CALL TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TODAY! 630-848-2010

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Jan/11

12

It’s That Time Again!!

Naperville Magazine is conducting their third annual “Best of Naperville Magazine Awards” You vote, You decide, and they will publish the winners in the August 2011 issue. There are forty categories to vote for, covering everything from best burger to best dentist. Remember, you choose the winner!  Each person is able to cast 10 votes.

If you LOVE your dentist/orthodontist

  • Log on to www.napervillemagazine.com
  • In the upper right corner click – “Click here to vote”
  • In the bottom left of the next screen click “Click here to login or register”
  • Login OR Click “Create new account”
  • You will be asked to create your own personal UserName and Password
  • Enter username, email address, and password then click on “Create New Account”
  • On next screen Click “Click here to vote”
  • All 40 categories will list
  • Go to Best Dentist/Practice and TYPE: Naperville Dental/Innovative Orthodontics
  • Click on Submit
  • Vote 10 times

THANK YOU for your support!!!

Also, congratulations to Naperville Magazine! The Tribune company has acquired the magazine which is great for them and area businesses!!! Way To GO!

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Dec/09

12

WHAT A GREAT YEAR!~

Jun/09

25

Entreprenuer of the Year

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