Are You Tongue Tied? Would You Benefit From A Lingual Frenectomy?

TEST YOURSELF:   Open wide! Now while keeping your mouth wide open, see if you can touch the roof of your mouth with the tip of your tongue. If you can't, this variation of normal is referred to as "Ankyloglossia" or being "tongue-tied".


  If it is significant enough I sometimes recommended having a procedure called a lingual frenectomy done to improve the range of motion of the tongue to allow the teeth/jaws to spontaneously improve and resume more ideal normal growth. There is also a long-term benefit in promoting long term improved stability after braces.


  The tongue is one of the important muscles that influences the alignment of growing teeth. If it is restricted in its range of motion the upper jaw may develop narrower than the lower jaw causing the back teeth to bite incorrectly in what is called a "crossbite". It may also not push on the back of the bottom front teeth hard enough to balance the pressure from the lower lip, causing them to crowd and twist. 


  In significant cases, a lisp in speech may be audible which frequently improves the same day as the frenectomy is done to correct it.

Below are before and after pictures of Luke, a 7 year old boy who had a moderate case of ankyglossia (tongue-tie).



Moderate tongue-tie which was
 causing his lower teeth to lean inwards.

Because the patient's lower front teeth are tipped backward, the lingual frenectomy allowed the tongue the freedom to rest against them a little harder and push them outwards. The pressure that the tongue naturally places on the front teeth is minimal but constant,  which encourages the teeth to shift forward and improve their positions.
  



Actual picture of Luke 1/2 hour after 
having the procedure.



In this case, the lingual frenectomy was performed with a laser, which resulted in the patient leaving the office with little discomfort, no stitches and no bleeding. One half hour after the procedure, the patient was happily enjoying ice cream and then went to baseball practice.



36 hours post operative. Luke experienced
a slight itching sensation as the tongue healed.



The healing continued throughout the next week with no real discomfort and a minimal itching sensation for about two days. By the end of the second week, the area was completely healed and there was little noticeable evidence that the procedure had taken place. The cells of the mouth completely renew themselves every 2-3 weeks, so there is no scarring.

Insurance Coverage - Are You Getting What You Pay For?

When a parent realizes that their child needs braces, they are usually very happy to find out that they have orthodontic coverage that will pay a portion of the costs. Unfortunately, more parents are now finding out that the rules are changing and if insurance paid a portion of orthodontic treatment for a Phase 1, they will not cover any of Phase 2, which is often more expensive for the parent and the insurance company. Depending on the insurance company and the patient's treatment plan, a 1st Phase of orthodontic treatment may only beneift the patient a few hundred dollars, while a Phase 2 payout by the insurance company may cost the insurance company a couple of thousand dollars.

I was recently speaking to a customer service representative at one of the nation's largest insurance company's, trying to get information on a patient's orthodontic coverage, when I was informed that insurance will no longer cover both phases of orthodontic treatment. I was told that if a patient has Phase 1 or braces on the primary teeth, then insurance won't cover a Phase 2 or braces on the permanent teeth later on if needed.

While on the surface, this may not seem like a big deal to a lot of people and the reasoning behind it is being touted as a way for employees to save money on their dental  premiums, most people who have had a 1st Phase of orthodontic treatment, don't realize that they often continue to pay for benefits that they will not be able to benefit from at a later date.  To compound the problem, the majority of patients that need a Phase 1, need a Phase 2 when the permanent teeth come in. Phase 1 is usually required when there is a potentially destructive dental issue at hand. An example would be a cross bite that can damage the teeth when they hit each other each time the child closes their mouth to chew their food. In this case, without a Phase 1 of orthodontic treatment, there is a possibility that the teeth will chip and/or break.

Lesson learned? If your child had a 1st Phase of orthodontic treatment, verify with your insurance comapny that if your child needs additional orthodontic treatment at a later date, he or she will be covered. If you won't be covered for a second phase, you need to make sure you are not paying for orthodontic coverage that you will not benefit from and you may want to shop around for another dental plan that will help you cover the expense at a later date.

Play It Safe and Gear Up with a Sport Mouthguard

At Eder Orthodontics, we know how important it is to protect your teeth and your face while playing sports. With the arrival of spring and summer there is an increase in outdoor activities and a greater chance of damaging your mouth and teeth. Dr. Eder knows that sports-related injuries are very common among children and teenagers alike and is happy to be a part of the AAO "Play it Safe" campaign. The American Association of Orthodontists is promoting their campaign to encourage youth of all ages to gear up and play it safe by wearing mouthguards when participating in any sporting activity.  

The following are some interesting statistics that the AAO has listed on their website and should be considered when deciding if your child needs a mouthguard when participating in their sport of choice.

Injuries can happen at any age or skill level – More than half of the seven million sports and recreation-related injuries that occur each year are sustained by youth between ages 5 and 24. *

• Collision and contact sports have higher injury rates. Baseball, soccer, basketball and football account for about 80% of all sports-related emergency room visits for children between 5 and 14 years of age.*
• Mouth guard use is very low – 67% of parents say their child does not wear a mouth guard – yet, 70% say their biggest fear when their child plays is that they will get hurt.**
• One out of every four (27%) parents say their child has sustained an injury during an organized sport resulting in a trip to the emergency room.**
• Most coaches and leagues are not advising the use of mouth guards – Of the parents whose children do not wear a mouth guard, 84% say it's because the league or coach does not require it.**
• Hard hits occur no matter what the sport – The average high school baseball pitcher can throw a fast ball between 75-85 miles per hour. This compares to being hit in the mouth by a speeding car.***
• Cheerleading is one of the most dangerous sports, accounting for 65% of all injuries in high school girls' athletics.****
• Children with braces need to wear mouth guards – One out of every three (31%) parents say their child has orthodontic treatment or braces while playing an organized sport.*
• Lacerations can occur if an orthodontic patient´s mouth is not properly protected.

* Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
** American Association of Orthodontists
*** eFastball.com
**** MSNBC.com

These are just a few reasons that Dr. Eder and the Eder Orthodontics team are doing our part to spread the word that facial sports injuries can be avoided simply by reminding your kids to wear mouth guards. At our office we have a variety of mouthguards available for patients of all ages. We even has an in-house Jawzz Professional Mouthguard maker that specializes in  mouthguards for professional and amateur athletes of all ages.

                  Click Here to Check Out Some Really Cool Jawzz Mouthguards!

American Association of Orthodontists Promotes Free Consultation Campaign!

Starting in February and lasting until June 2011, the American Association of Orthodontists is promoting a Campaign for a Free Orthodontic Consultation. This is the perfect opportuntity for anyone wondering what it would take to have a beautiful smile, do so, without having to pay a consultation fee. During the initial appointment, Dr. Eder will do an exam to determine if any orthodontic treatment is necessary and if so, what type of treatment is recommended. Our staff is also be available to check insurance and discuss possible payment options. If you or anyone you know is interested in finding out how Dr. Eder can help you smile, please call the office at (561)737-8776 and we will be happy to set up an appointment for a Free Consultation. Eder Orthodontics always offers a Free Consultation to their  new patients, so give us a call today!

When Are Two Phases of Orthodontic Treatment Necessary?

Did you know that the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that a child visits an orthodontist by the age of seven in order to determine if the child has any developmental problems with their jaw and teeth? It is at this time that the doctor determines if it is necessary to begin Phase 1 of orthodontic treatment, in order to prevent bigger problems with the patient's teeth and bite in the future.

Phase 1 orthodontic treatment may or may not include braces. In some cases, a spring aligner, head gear or a palatal expander may be used exclusively, while at other times, it is necessary to get braces to help move the teeth into position so that the permanent teeth can come in more easily.

Phase 1 is almost always followed with a Phase 2, after all of the adult teeth have come in. Often many parents assume that they must wait until a child has all of his or her permanent teeth, only to find out that treatment would have been much easier if started earlier. Early treatment can eliminate the need for more drastic measures, such as surgical exposures to expose permanent teeth that can not erupt due to the position of other teeth blocking its' path. Unfortunately, in some cases, satisfactory results are unattainable once the face and jaws have finished growing. With proper timing, children may not have to endure years of embarrassment.

Below are some of the benefits of early orthodontic treatment.

Early treatment provides the opportunity to:

• Guide the growth of the young jaw bones creating a better environment for those new emerging permanent teeth.
• Guide incoming teeth into optimal positions.
• Regulate the width of the jaws.
• Lower the risk of trauma to prominent front teeth .
• Correct harmful sucking habits.
• Reduce the likelihood of teeth becoming stuck or impacted under the gums .
• Preserve or gain space for arriving permanent teeth .
• Allow easier correction if found early.

Crowded and rotated teeth can break easily and can trap food particles that cause tooth decay and gum disease. Crooked teeth can also cause abnormal wear of tooth surfaces, difficulty speaking, and excess stress on supporting bone and gum tissue. Without treatment many problems become worse. Finally, crooked teeth detract from your smile which is one of the more important facial features. You only have one chance to make that first impression, so make a great one with a great smile!

To find out what Dr. Eder recommends for your smile, please call our office and schedule your Free Consultation today! (561) 737-8776.