What Your Mouth Says About YOU!
Think the way your teeth look doesn't really matter? Survey says: think again.
Without saying a word, your mouth is sending messages to everyone you meet. According to the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), people often make snap judgments about individuals based solely on the condition of their teeth.
"This phenomenon was documented more than 25 years ago," says Dr. Don Joondeph, president of the American Association of Orthodontists, referring to an eye-opening study in which photos of young smiling individuals were altered to show varying orthodontic problems and then reviewed by focus groups.
"When the focus groups looked at the altered photos they used unflattering terms such as 'unattractive' and 'aggressive' to describe the individuals," says Dr. Joondeph. "However, when groups saw photos of the same individuals with a healthy, beautiful smile, they were more likely to view the individuals as 'intelligent,' 'attractive' and 'a friend I'd like to have.'"
Dr. Joondeph believes that the original study, which was published in 1981, is even more applicable in today's image-obsessed world. "More than ever, young people and adults want to be perceived as healthy, attractive and appealing to their peers and others."
To obtain optimal oral health and achieve a healthy, beautiful smile, the AAO recommends a team approach. "In addition to seeing a dentist for regular check-ups and cleaning, patients also should see an orthodontist to ensure that any underlying orthodontic problem is not overlooked," says Dr. Joondeph. "An orthodontic consultation is especially important for children or for anyone who is considering a cosmetic dental procedure."
For children, an orthodontic check-up no later than age seven can identify potential problems and ensure that any future treatment is timed appropriately. For adults, an orthodontic consult may reveal that cosmetic dentistry is unnecessary. "Patients may be pleasantly surprised to learn that their unattractive teeth are generally healthy, just misaligned," says Dr. Joondeph.
In regards to the study, Dr. Joondeph believes that the first thing that people notice about his young and adult patients is obvious: "The confidence and sense of self-esteem that comes with their healthy, beautiful smiles is unmistakable to anyone they meet."
Contact PICKRON today at 800-YOU PICK to schedule a complimentary consultation to see if you could benefit from orthodontic treatment.
Article provided by the AAO 2011
The Tom And Gerry Show!
PICKRON orthodontist, Dr. Gerry Samson, and Dr. Tom Mulligan were special guest presenters on “Fast Blast Biomechanics” at the American Association of Orthodontists’ Annual meeting in Las Vegas, Nevada, on May 14.
When moving teeth, seasoned clinicians share a common experience; when teeth are moved they may not behave as expected. What’s with that? Are these problems peculiar to the pre-adjusted orthodontic appliance? Are these engineering problems? Or, perhaps it’s possible that the teeth involved have a vindictive, deep-seated hatred of the orthodontist. These particularly irritating conditions increase treatment time for the patient while simultaneously triggering gastrointestinal distress for the doctor and patient. And, the treatment time drags on. The experienced clinician recognizes the need to have more than one way to solve each of these situations. Teamed –up for “The Big Show” Dr.’s Mulligan and Samson served up clear, simple and fast paced solutions to these four common clinical orthodontic occurrences.
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If you’re hiding your smile... it’s holding you back. If you’re uncomfortable with your smile... you’re not free to show the world the real you. Great news! PICKRON Orthodontic Care is now offering FAB... Fast Acting Braces for adults. It means you can have the smile you’ve always wanted in less than a year. With Fast Acting Braces your new smile will be ready for that next camera phone moment. So, whether your social six are crowded, too far apart, or have shifted since wearing braces, we’ll give you a new reason to smile.
First Dental Visit at Age 1
Is your child at risk for early childhood cavities? Does your child go to sleep with a milk bottle, drink juice in a sippy cup during the day, or eat a diet with too much sugar?
If so, you should schedule your child's first appointment with a pediatric dentist at one (1) year of age or when the baby teeth start coming in (as early as 8 months). A pediatric dentist, is a specialist who has received additional training in the management of small children and their teeth from 6 months to 16 years of age.
It is important to learn how to take care of your child’s mouth as the baby teeth are coming in and for the child to learn good oral hygiene habits early. The baby teeth are all in by age 3 and are the child’s method of chewing, smiling, and speaking until they are all lost by age 12. 
The baby teeth are very important in the development of the face and jaws and are responsible for guiding and developing space for the permanent teeth. If lost prematurely, the permanent teeth are likely to come in crooked or not at all, causing serious problems and requiring expensive procedures to correct.
Children with crooked teeth are likely to be teased about their appearance, they may become more shy and withdrawn, they may not smile, they cannot take care of the teeth, and they may develop gum problems. If the teeth stick out too far, they may break the front teeth and require painful and expensive procedures. If teeth don’t have room to come in, they may become impacted and require surgery or removal.
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