Orthodontist Guru
After completing her Orthodontic residency, Dr. Morgan took and passed the American Board of Orthodontic Exam making her a Board Certified Orthodontist (a designation only a small percentage of orthodontists achieve). After practicing in a few areas in Northern Virginia, Dr. Morgan has decided to plant roots in Lansdowne as she loves the community spirit of the area. Dr. Morgan resides in Leesburg.
All opinions from Guru experts are based on available and presented information. The expressed opinions are not a substitute for medical or psychological care and should not be viewed as such.
| ORTHODONTIST GURU: Teeth Extraction |
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| Written by Dr. Morgan | |
| Friday, 27 March 2009 11:34 | |
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Question: My son has his permanent teeth coming in, but his front teeth are very far apart. His canines don't seem to be loose or not making room for the new teeth that will push his front teeth together. Do you think it is necessary to pull out his canine (baby) or is there a better way? Answer: Dear Molly, The normal age for primary canines to be loose is around age 11. This age, of course, can vary a lot from child to child. Sometimes spaces between the front permanent teeth will close somewhat when the adult canines erupt into the mouth however sometimes this does not happen. I would be very hesitant to recommend to remove primary canines without seeing your son. It typically is not a good idea to remove primary canines unless there is a lot of crowding. I would suggest asking your pediatric dentist or visiting an orthodontist. Most orthodontists in the area give free consultations and would be happy to look at your son's teeth and put your mind at ease. The American Association of Orthodontists suggests that every child gets screened by an orthodontist by age 7. Please let me know if you have further questions. Dr. Morgan |
| ORTHODONTIST: Impacted Teeth |
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| Saturday, 15 November 2008 22:23 | |
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My 9 year old daughter had both upper primary molars extracted (next to her eye teeth) to make room for her adult canines to come down. The dentist would like to see the molars come down to make room for the canines to straighten out. They appear to be at a 45 degree angle at the present time. I'm just wondering what the success rate for this procedure is? She didn't handle the extraction very well, and I'm concerned that if the canines don't straighten out, she will require surgery or something more painful down the road. Is surgery a must in impacted canines?? Does her age play a role in any of this? While extraction of primary teeth is a common practice to aid in the growth and development of the permanent teeth, if you have questions regarding your child's specific needs, I would suggest visiting a board certified orthodontist in your area. Most orthodontists provide free initial consultations and will be able to look at your daughter's teeth to really inform you of potential needs in the future. If permanent canines are impacted and will not erupt on their own, there is a surgery to assist the orthodontist in moving the teeth. Many times an orthodontist will make room for the teeth and then with the help of a surgeon who places brackets on the impacted teeth, they are able to pull the teeth into place. Your question about her age is a good question. The AAO (American Association of Orthodontists www. braces.org) recommend that every child be screened by an orthodontist by age 7. There are many things that can be more easily done before the child reaches 10 or 11 that will prevent or at least improve issues that will occur when all of the baby (primary) teeth are lost. Please let me know if this answers your question. Thank you, Dr. Kelly Morgan www. morganorthodontics.com |
| ORTHODONTIST: Thumb Sucking Kids |
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| Friday, 14 November 2008 23:55 | |
My 5 year old is a thumb sucker and always has been. We can't seem to break her of the habit. Is this causing any permament damage, and are there corrections that we can still try to do to stop this?  I understand that thumb sucking can be a difficult habit to break but it should be broken after age 2. An orthodontist can tell you about different types of "habit breaker" appliance that could be an option for your daughter. Additionally, the orthodontist can fix any changes that are being made to the upper jaw (maxilla) either at the same time as the "habit appliance" or can wait untill she is 7-8 years old to undergo this treatment. Hope this helps, Dr. Kelly Morgan |
| ORTHODONTIST: Is there a way to speed up time in braces? |
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| Friday, 14 November 2008 23:55 | |
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Is there a way to speed up time in braces? written by Dr. Casagrande , July 25, 2008
There are certain types of braces that can reduce treatment time called self-ligating brackets. Many orthodontists are using this technology now. Depending on the amount of movement needed, Invisalign can work very well too.
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| ORTHODONTIST: Can teeth be shortened? |
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| Friday, 14 November 2008 23:54 | |
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Can teeth be shortened? Teeth can be moved vertically (up and down) into alignment. There is also a technique called enamelplasty that can be done to give the appearance of leveled teeth. However, when gum disease (periodontitis) is present, it is not advisable to move teeth orthodontically. I would recommend a visit to a periodontist (gum specialist), who will lead you in the right direction. If he/she ok's orthodontic treatment- you would be able to proceed.
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| ORTHODONTIST:What does an Orthodontist Treat? |
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| Friday, 14 November 2008 23:51 | |
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Does an Orthodontist do porcelain veneers or other cosmetic procedures? written by Dr. Casagrande , May 27, 2008
An orthodontist limits his/her practice to orthodontics alone. A general or cosmetic dentist would do veneers. A lot of what orthodontists do, however, is cosmetic.....such as the alignment of teeth and jaws.
Orthodontists diagnose, prevent and treat dental and facial irregularities. Orthodontists limit their practices to orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics. That means that orthodontic treatment is what they do, and that is all they do. Orthodontists treat a wide variety of malocclusions (misaligned aligned teeth and/or jaws). They regularly treat young children, teens and adults. |
| ORTHODONTIST: Age of Orthodontic Treatment |
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| Friday, 14 November 2008 23:46 | |
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How old is perfect for ortho work? I just saw a kid in my son's class with braces, he is 7. I thought that was really young? The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a consultation with an orthodontist by age 7. Although your child may not need orthodontic treatment at this young age, some do. This early "Phase I" or "interceptive treatment" can eliminate the need for tooth extraction or surgery down the road and minimize developing growth problems. |
| ORTHODONTIST: Gappy Teeth |
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| Friday, 14 November 2008 23:44 | |
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I have always had gappy teeth. No problem but I hear it is a problem when you get older and they continue to separate. I hate braces. What are my options? There are many orthodontic options for adults who are interested in straightening their teeth, correcting their bite, or closing spaces without traditional braces. Invisalign is an option that involves a series of clear, removable aligners that can treat many forms of malocclusions. Consult with an Invisalign certified orthodontist. www.invisalign.com. |
| Top 10 Ways to Speed Up Your Time in Braces |
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| Written by I AM TEAM | |
| Wednesday, 07 May 2008 21:47 | |
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Although the average length of orthodontic treatment has decreased because of newer technologies and materials, most children and adults spend 12-24 months in braces. Following these 10 simple “rules” can speed up treatment and result in a healthy, white, straight smile! 10. Brushing and flossing your teeth can be challenging when wearing braces, but it is extremely important to do both consistently. Brush after every meal. 9. Use a toothbrush with soft bristles. Although manual toothbrushes can be very effective, power toothbrushes, such as Sonicare and Oral B, are great and come with specialized orthodontic attachments. The amount of time spent and technique used is more important than the type of brush. 8. Brushing technique is key. Use circular motions between the bracket and the gum line. Spend 10 seconds on each tooth and at least 2 minutes total. 7. Floss daily. This keeps the gums from developing gingivitis and periodontal disease. Floss threaders and small “proxy brushes” help to make this task easier. 6. Rinse twice a day with an antiseptic mouth rinse. This will help to keep the bacterial load down, prevent gingivitis, and maintain fresh breath. |
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| Read more: Top 10 Ways to Speed Up Your Time in Braces |
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