Dr. Deb & Dr. Diane's Response to the Wall Street Journal Article

Wall Street Journal Article about Early Orthodontics:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703326204575616460332062620.html

The doctor's response:

Bravo to the Wall Street Journal for its front page article on early orthodontic treatment last month. It eloquently addressed our philosophy to treat only when necessary, and answers why we are not like other offices who may routinely propose multi-phase plans beginning at early ages.

That being said, we agree there are important indications for interceptive (Phase 1) treatment. As the article says, “Early treatment makes sense for an underbite or a narrow upper arch, problems that are easier to correct while the jaw is still growing. Treating patients as young as 7 or 8 years old with a "palatal expander" widens the upper jaw, so the upper teeth line up better with the lower teeth. This may make the second round of treatment, when the patient is a teenager, quicker and easier. Kids with crossbites also may benefit from such early treatment, although they too may still need a second round. We might also add that prematurely extracted teeth (due to crowding or decay) often require a simple appliance (space maintainer) to prevent loss of precious space.

The article continues, “For one of the most common conditions—a Class II Malocclusion, commonly known as an overbite, "overjet" or buck teeth—studies indicate there aren't measurable benefits to early treatment. Starting treatment early for this condition usually means a second phase of treatment is coming and with no guarantee it will be any easier than without early treatment. For this condition, early treatment also usually means longer overall treatment time and a higher bill at the end. Sometimes there are psychological reasons for correcting crooked or buck teeth early: A child may be getting teased, or a parent may worry the teeth will be knocked out.” This is the exception, not the rule.

The article concludes with, “Children who had early treatment did spend less time, on average, in the second phase of treatment. But taking both phases into account, their total treatment time was considerably longer. At the end, only small differences were noted in front-to-back jaw position between the groups” "There is no doubt about this conclusion," says Gregory King, professor of orthodontics at the University of Washington, Seattle. "It is no more effective to do it early than later. You end up in the same place."

These findings are not new to the profession, and speak to our sensibilities as practitioners and mothers. These are the standards we would apply to our own families, and hence to yours.

We invite questions to the article and our response. Please email any questions to info@amherstorthodontics.com.

What to Remember This Holiday Season

Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on all the blessings God has bestowed upon us. It can be challenging this time of year to keep this thought front and center during our daily activities. So remember, when the boys come home from college with 3 months worth of dirty laundry and look part Neanderthal because they haven’t had a haircut since September and haven’t shaved in a month….shower them with hugs and kisses. When your 17 yo daughter comes home excited about the dress she bought for the semi and you want to throw a bathrobe around her and cover her up …tell her how beautiful she looks and give her one on your shawls. When you asked a relative to bring a pie for dessert and they show up with a Tabletalk pie (yes, they still make these)…serve it with a smile. When your mother continues to quip during Thanksgiving Day cooking, “you need to use more butter; not enough salt, add more salt” …give her a hug and tell her she is the best taster in the world. Above all, make a point this holiday season to find a quite spot, get down on your knees and give heartfelt thanks to God.

Every Kid Wants a Pet

So it's kinda hard to see the full details, but every parent (I think) has walked down the road of their kids wanting a pet. I've been a dog lover forever and would really enjoy a pup, BUT timing is everything. My daughter lately, has wanted a pug (wonder where she got that idea!). And of course, everything big sister wants must be a great idea, so my son wants a pug too! No, no, no. There isn't a pug in the aquarium! But there are 2 hermit crabs... Sharkie and Nemo. Well, since Sharkie and Nemo joined our clan, I have to admit that never having hermit crabs before, I was caught red-handed in the local Petco, purchasing their replacements 1 month later... Stay tuned. Have been watching Food Network for enticing crab recipes...

Homo Studentus Highschoolitatus

I’ve discovered a new species! This species evolved from what used to be my darling daughter. The creature is one who recently has been legally granted permission to operate a motor vehicle, has a weird predilection to consuming all things unhealthy including gasoline and has no concept of basic neatness. I know one of these inhabits our domicile because evidence is everywhere. I find Reeses wrappers, Dunkin Donut napkins and McDonald’s paper bags strewn about my car and the needle on the gas gauge is always pointing to ‘E’! The creature also must be thinking on a more elevated plane and can’t be slowed down with the mundane like understanding that the house and car are not extensions of its school locker. Dirty socks, jeans, sweatshirts, tattered notebooks, crumbled papers and chewed pens are now commonplace in my once tidy vehicle and home. Threatening to hide the keys to both seems to illicit a primordial response of eyes rolling back in its head, an ugly scowl and frantic finger movements while holding a cellular device. Oh where, oh where has my sweet baby gone?!

End of Summer Celebration

End of summer was celebrated by going to Lull Farm's Peach Festival in Milford. Thd kids enjoyed a jumpy house (won't be able to shake this one from birthday party requests now!), lots of yummy peachy treats, and music from their favorite - Amy Conley of Music Together in Milford!

The Return to College

At the beginning of the summer, I was so happy to have Homo studentus universitatus (HSU) back in the nest (minus the mess) and all three of my kids around. At the same time, I was already thinking about having to send HSU back to the place where the species thrives and I was dreading that another one of my offspring would morph into this creature. Don’t get me wrong, the rewards of having the species around are substantial… happy noises in a quiet house, my credit card feeling so fully and vibrantly alive, an accumulation of funny creature photos on my digital camera, a window into a complex society of social primates. Alas, the Homo studentus summer season is brief. No matter how much they have enjoyed the family nest, mom’s cooking and use of their own bathrooms, they will return to college and bide their time until their winter migration back. I, for one, look forward to their return!

HSU returns home from college...

The Homo studentus universitatus (HSU) has acclimated to its summer surroundings. The appearance of a large pile of dirty laundry in the corner of its dwelling is present. Plastic bins from its college habitat are still strewn about its territory and all flat surfaces are covered with its belongings. The bed covers are never on the bed so I’m not really sure where it has been sleeping but there are signs of slumber on various couches. When I wake up in the morning, I find evidence of what it ate during the night all over the counters in the kitchen (and on the floor).

Communication is limited with its parental units except when it is asking for the car or “What’s for dinner”. I’m assuming this is because its highly evolved brain can’t be weighed down with mundane questions like “How come you can’t hang up your clothes?” When I ask this, HSU just seems to shrug, like it has a weird itch on its back. No, I guess that brain is for churning out high GPA’s in the quest of getting into graduate school or landing a high paying job where you don’t have to work much.