How do we figure out if a pre-adolescent patient Is mouth breathing? And, once we figure it out, is it necessary, or even possible, for the orthodontist to do anything about it?
Part 1 will provide an overview of the importance of nasal breathing for overall health and explore the relationship between mouth breathing and malocclusion. The role of CBCT imaging in airway evaluation, including radiation dosages and ROI, will also be discussed.
How do we figure out if a pre-adolescent patient Is mouth breathing? And, once we figure it out, is it necessary, or even possible, for the orthodontist to do anything about it?
Part 2 will discuss the common clinical and radiographic signs and symptoms of mouth breathing in pre-adolescent patients, including how to evaluate CBCT images to determine if an airway obstruction exists and, if it does, when and to whom the patient should be referred.
How do we figure out if a pre-adolescent patient Is mouth breathing? And, once we figure it out, is it necessary, or even possible, for the orthodontist to do anything about it?
In Part 3, Dr. Mike will present the case of a 7-year-old patient whose mouth breathing and snoring resolved during interceptive orthodontic treatment (without expanders!), Before-and-after records, including CBCT slices with measurements, retention images, and a powerful parent testimonial will be included.
Why do we default to removing teeth when we see crowding in pre-adolescent patients? And if we don’t remove teeth, why do we resort to expanders to increase arch perimeter? Is there anything else that can be done?
In Part 1 of this podcast, Dr. Mike will review the case of a 9-year-old patient who was heading down a serial extraction path, as recommended by another orthodontist.
Why do we default to removing teeth when we see crowding in pre-adolescent patients? And if we don’t remove teeth, why do we resort to expanders to increase arch perimeter? Is there anything else that can be done?
In Part 2, Dr. Mike will present the patient’s records from Phase I retention, Phase II treatment, and Phase II retention 5 years after treatment had been completed.
We’ve all heard a team member say this, and it is one of my BIGGEST pet peeves! I used to get so frustrated by how often “little” things around the office would fail to get done – like turning a TV on/off, charging a camera battery, or even locking/unlocking the front door. Yet, when you asked the team members why it wasn’t done, they would say “it’s not my job.” By implementing a Responsibility List, you’ll never have to hear that again!
Nobody likes bands. Bands require seps, which can be challenging to place and cause pain/discomfort, they often impinge on the gingiva causing discomfort and bleeding, and they can come loose causing enamel decalcification. They also require a more skilled CA to fit and place. Read this blog to learn how to eliminate using bands on all 6’s and 7’s where an appliance is not being used!
Effective doctor-parent communication is a constant challenge. In the middle of a busy afternoon, it’s often impossible for the doctor to provide a personal update to every parent. So, instead, we try to relay that information through our CA’s. But, as we know all too well, things frequently get lost in translation. So, check out this easy way to accurately update a parent on their child’s progress at every visit!
Pre-adolescents are just as susceptible to bullying and teasing because of crooked teeth as adolescents. In fact, sometimes the younger kids are even more cruel to one another. One consistent goal of orthodontic treatment is to make our patients look and feel better about themselves. So why not achieve this during Phase I?
