Fun Facts about Dentistry

Just for fun, Braces by Burris has assembled a list of fun facts about dentistry and orthodontics which you probably never knew:

 

• Straight teeth have always been important to people. Rudimentary braces made of catgut and metal have been found in Egyptian mummies.
• The spinner dolphin has more teeth than any other animal, up to 252 teeth. Compare that to people who have only 32 teeth as adults.
• Siwak sticks, also called miswak, are a precursor to the toothbrush. They have been used for thousands of years and are still used today in parts of the Middle East and Africa. Siwak sticks are twigs from the arak tree, which fray into bristles when you chew on them and which you can then use to brush your teeth.
• Dental disease has been with humans since prehistoric times, but the incidence of cavities increased dramatically in Europe in the 1600’s when imported sugar became part of the diet.
• Bears, who have a large appetite for honey, are the only non-domesticated animal that gets cavities.
• Contrary to popular belief, George Washington never had wooden false teeth. He did have dental problems all his life, however, and for a time wore partial dentures made of ivory.
• As of 2011, there are 193,000 professionally active dentists in the United States, according to the American Dental Association.
• As of 2012, there are 5,530 orthodontists in the United States, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Do I Really Have to Wear My Rubber Bands?

In a word, Yes. Our doctors would not have made rubber bands part of your orthodontic treatment if they didn’t determine them to be necessary.

            The typical purpose of rubber bands is to correct an overbite or underbite. Once treatment is over, your teeth will fit together nicely. Your smile will look lovely, and eating will be a lot easier. Rubber bands can also be used along the brackets of one jaw to help move teeth in a way that braces might not be able to do alone.

            Tips for wearing rubber bands:

• Wear them consistently – You will need to take out your rubber bands now and then, during brushing for example. But be sure to wear them consistently. If you take them out and don’t put them back in, even if just for a little while, your jaw or teeth can start moving back to original positions, which can significantly extend treatment time. In effect, you might be starting all over.
• Use the right rubber bands – Rubber bands come in different diameters and elastic strengths. Make sure you use the ones given to you by us, or your jaw won’t move into place properly. If for some reason you want to order some rubber bands off the Internet, don’t do it. Instead, call us. We’ll give you the ones you need.
• Don’t improvise – Patients have been known to double up on rubber bands thinking that it will make their teeth move faster. In reality, it doesn’t work that way. Patients might also wear a set of rubber bands longer than instructed instead of replacing them daily or as directed. But rubber bands can lose their elasticity quickly, and wearing one set too long will negatively affect treatment.

How you wear your rubber bands will depend on our instructions. Some patients who wear rubber bands need to wear them all the time. Others only need to wear them while sleeping. Some will need to wear them throughout their entire treatment time, but others will only need to wear them for a portion of it.