Ask The Expert
David Herman, D.D.S., M.S., M.P.H. * Orthodontist
3751 N. Butler Ave. Suite 113
Farmington, New Mexico 87401 * (505) 564-9000
www.herman4braces.com
Q: I was told by others that you and your office are great but sometimes there is a wait to be seen. I have been there 3 times. All three times you were busy but I did not have any real waiting time. Why the comments about the wait?
A: Before the expansion there were sometimes waiting times longer than both me and my patients liked. In July of 2010, I completed expanding the clinical part of the office. I nearly doubled my ability to serve patients. I also added several more staff. All of these staff came from other orthodontic or dental offices. They came with a large amount of experience and fit in great with my existing staff. The end result is elimination of most of the wait times. I am open on Fridays when most other offices are closed. Fridays, especially Friday afternoon, remain very popular.
Cheryl Kirk, RDH * Hygienist
3751 N. Butler Ave. Suite 113
Farmington, New Mexico 87401 * (505) 564-9000
www.herman4braces.com
Q: When my 14 year old son had his braces put on, they polished his teeth. Does this mean he doesn’t need a cleaning for another 6 months?
A: No, polishing and a cleaning are two different things. His teeth were polished to remove surface debris and to smooth the surface before the brackets were placed. At a cleaning appointment, plaque and tartar are removed using hand instruments. The teeth are usually polished at this appointment to remove stain and plaque on the surface and along the gumline. When in braces, it is very important to keep up regular dental check-ups and cleanings to prevent decay and gingivitis.
David Herman, D.D.S., M.S., M.P.H. * Orthodontist
3751 N. Butler Ave. Suite 113
Farmington, New Mexico 87401 * (505) 564-9000
www.herman4braces.com
Q: My child has braces and I was told to reduce his number of sugar exposures. What does that mean?
A: Studies show that there is a strong relationship between cavities and exposure to refined sugars in snacks and sugar filled beverages. Soda, juices and sports drinks high in sugar are the main culprits for causing cavities. If your child can have these beverages reduced or if he or she is willing to drink a sugar free variety, you will do a lot to reduce risk of cavities. Candy, cake, cookies and so on are high in sugar but they don’t appear to cause cavities nearly as much as the sugar containing beverages. Coke like sodas and some juices also contain acids that contribute to the cavity process. Limit sugar beverages and you will significantly reduce his risk to cavities.
Brittany Potter, RDH, A.A.S. * Hygienist
3751 N. Butler Ave. Suite 113
Farmington, New Mexico 87401 * (505) 564-9000
www.herman4braces.com
Q: I recently had my teeth cleaned and the hygienist recommended a prescription mouth rinse called Chlorhexadine for gingivitis. How is it different from mouth rinses at the store?
A: Chlorhexidine is an antimicrobial mouth rinse that is much more effective than over-the-counter at reducing the number of bacteria in your mouth. Your everyday over-the-counter rinses are the mildest form of antimicrobials. Chlorehexidine targets a wider variety of microorganisms and also has antiplaque and anti-inflammatory capabilities which combat gingivitis.
David Herman, D.D.S., M.S., M.P.H. * Orthodontist
3751 N. Butler Ave. Suite 113
Farmington, New Mexico 87401 * (505) 564-9000
www.herman4braces.com
Q: I am a 24 year old female who had my wisdom teeth removed. I had a lot of post surgery pain and it took longer to heal than my younger brother. Does age or gender make a difference?
A: A recent study says yes. The study found that older patients, age 21 and above, have more discomfort post surgery and take longer to heal than patients under age 21. The study also found that female patients, especially if over age 21, have more pain post surgery and take longer to heal than in any other group. Last, the study found that there were more lasting defects in the bone of those patients over 21 who had wisdom teeth removed. The study concluded that caution should be used in taking out wisdom teeth unless it is clear that they are or will become impacted.
Cheryl Kirk, RDH * Hygienist
3751 N. Butler Ave. Suite 113
Farmington, New Mexico 87401 * (505) 564-9000
www.herman4braces.com
Q: My husband has been a tobacco smoker and chewer for years. He has gotten his teeth cleaned and uses whitening toothpaste to remove the tobacco stains. Why are his teeth still yellow?
A: Tobacco stains can often be removed through a cleaning and whitening treatment. After a lifetime of smoking, the stains become embedded into the teeth, leaving them yellow or brown. Toothpastes and professional cleanings won’t remove these stains. They require a professional whitening treatment where a peroxide gel is allowed to soak into the teeth to chemically bleach the stain and reduce the tobacco stain appearance.
Cheryl Kirk, RDH * Hygienist
3751 N. Butler Ave. Suite 113
Farmington, New Mexico 87401 * (505) 564-9000
www.herman4braces.com
Q: I have a 3 year old son who hyates when I brush his teeth. Do I really need to brush his teeth every day since they are just going to fall out?
A: Yes, you do need to brush his teeth every day. His baby teeth can get cavities just like adult teeth and infections can result from cavities if they are not treated. Also, if cavities develop on his baby teeth, it may hurt for him to chew, preventing him from consuming proper nutrients for healthy growth and development. His baby teeth are also important in maintaining space to help guide his permanent teeth into place.
David Herman, D.D.S., M.S., M.P.H. * Orthodontist
3751 N. Butler Ave. Suite 113
Farmington, New Mexico 87401 * (505) 564-9000
www.herman4braces.com
Q: When do I get to stop wearing my retainers?
A: The purpose for wearing retainers is to keep your teeth from moving after you are done with braces. The goal is to make it easy for you to wear them and to minimize the number of hours and/or days you need to wear them. I routinely place a fixed retainer for both top and bottom teeth (A wire glued onto the back of your teeth). With the fixed retainer in place you need to wear the clear removable retainer every night. You do this for a year. The 2nd year the clear removable retainer is worn 3-4 times a week. The third year wearing once a week usually works. I do not recommend wearing a retainer less that 1 time per week. It is the least you can do to keep your smile looking as good as the day your braces were removed.
Brittany Potter, RDH, A.A.S. * Hygienist
3751 N. Butler Ave. Suite 113
Farmington, New Mexico 87401 * (505) 564-9000
www.herman4braces.com
Q: I have heard that constant snacking can lead to more cavities. Is this true?
A: This is true. When you snack continually throughout the day your risk for cavities does increase. This is especially true if you snack on foods and drinks high in sugar. The bacteria in the mouth thrive on sugar and their byproduct is an acid. So when foods and drinks high in sugar are being introduced frequently, the acidity of your mouth remains at a level which encourages decay. Your saliva provides a buffering effect but it takes time to work. Chewing sugar-free gum with xylitol can help stimulate salivary flow to promote the neutralization of acid and prevention of cavities.
Cheryl Kirk, RDH * Hygienist
3751 N. Butler Ave. Suite 113
Farmington, New Mexico 87401 * (505) 564-9000
www.herman4braces.com
Q: I am 32 years old and I was recently diagnosed with Type II diabetes. My doctor asked me if I get my teeth cleaned on a regular basis. What do my teeth have to do with diabetes?
A: It is very important to have regular cleanings in general, but when a person is diagnosed with diabetes the risk for periodontal disease increases. Studies show the prevalence and severity of periodontal disease has been demonstrated to be higher in individuals with diabetes. So if you are diagnosed with diabetes, you should have a complete periodontal assessment and treat any active disease with scaling and root planning and then get on a regular periodontal maintenance schedule. It is difficult for your body to control blood sugar when there is chronic infection elsewhere.
Brittany Potter, RDH, A.A.S. * Hygienist
3751 N. Butler Ave. Suite 113
Farmington, New Mexico 87401 * (505) 564-9000
www.herman4braces.com
Q: I took my child to get his 6 month cleaning and the hygienist said he needed sealants to protect his teeth. What are sealants and are they the same as a filling?
A: Sealants and fillings are two very different things. A filling is needed when a tooth has decay. The decayed part of the tooth is removed and a filling is used to replace that part of the tooth. Sealant, on the other hand, are thin plastic coatings that are applied to the chewing surfaces of the back teeth to prevent cavities. Most cavities in children and teenagers occur on the chewing surfaces called pits and grooves so that bacteria cannot build in them and cause decay.
David Herman, D.D.S., M.S., M.P.H. * Orthodontist
3751 N. Butler Ave. Suite 113
Farmington, New Mexico 87401 * (505) 564-9000
www.herman4braces.com
Q: Is there any research supporting the Damon System of Braces claim to have less discomfort (pain) than other types of braces?
A: A recent study gave some more insight to this question. The study was on friction within several self ligating types of braces. These types of braces don’t use wires around the brace to tighten. The study measured “kinetic friction” or friction between the braces (bracket) and the wire. The study found that the passive self ligation system by Damon had, by a large amount, the lowest amount of friction. This is important because friction can make the force used by an orthodontist to move teeth to be lost in overcoming friction rather than moving teeth. So an orthodontist increases force in high friction systems. To the patient more force usually means increased soreness (pain).
Cheryl Kirk, RDH * Hygienist
3751 N. Butler Ave. Suite 113
Farmington, New Mexico 87401 * (505) 564-9000
www.herman4braces.com
Q: I am 37 and my gums seem to be receding from one of my front teeth. I have been cleaning my teeth twice a day and have been using mouth wash and all the good stuff. Not sure why this is happening. Is there treatment available?
A: In general, gum recession is caused by a couple of things. People sometimes can over-brush their teeth and cause the gum to be "brushed" away. Also, the gum can pull back from teeth because the person is clenching their teeth very hard and the gum moves back in response to the clenching. For people that over-brush, a soft or electric toothbrush can help prevent further recession. For people that have problems with clenching, my suggestion would be to invest in a custom-made night guard. If the cost of a custom-made night guard is impossible, you might try a sports store night guard.
David Herman, D.D.S., M.S., M.P.H. * Orthodontist
3751 N. Butler Ave. Suite 113
Farmington, New Mexico 87401 * (505) 564-9000
www.herman4braces.com
Q: I read in a recent health magazine that a person's smile ranks 2nd to having a handsome or beautiful face when judging someone's attractiveness. Is that true?
A: Yes. There are many studies that show that a person's smile opens a lot of doors. Many studies on personal appearance show nice smiles rank high in getting better jobs, more attractive partners, better service and so on. With minimally invasive systems of braces like "Damon Clear" you can get the crooked tooth or poor looking smile improved usually without taking out teeth, minimal discomfort and shorter time in treatment. To find out how easy it is to get the smile you always wanted, call for your free consultation.
