The tooth and nothing but

MANILA, Philippines - Did you know that bad posture can be caused by bad teeth?

“Even a child’s IQ can be affected by his dental and cranial development,” says Dr. EillenManalang, a specialist in the field of Cranio Facial Orthodontics-Orthopedics, Cranio-Mandibular Disorder (TMJD) Management, Sports Dentistry and Dental Sleep Medicine. 

Studies have shown that a correlation exists between “excessive dental distress” and chronic symptoms such as migraine, backpain, sinusitis, respiratory and sleep problems. In one case, a patient complained of protruded teeth. “After orthodontic treatment, not only the teeth were improved but also significant improvement in the airway was achieved,” Dr.Manalang noted. In another case, “after a patient’s crowded teeth and overbite were corrected, remarkable improvements on the patient’s posture was observed.”

Dr. Manalang noted studies done by Dr. Al Fonder on the so called “dental distress syndrome,” which is caused by mal-occluded teeth (also called “bad bite” or “improper bite,” referring to the improper alignment of teeth and/or jaws), “which results in spasms of the muscles of the jaws, head, neck and shoulders.”

In another case, a patient was suffering from constant headaches, earaches, numbness in the face and limited opening and pain in the jaw. After dental treatment, not only was the patient’s pain resolved but also “facial development and enhancement was significantly observed.”

Dr.Manalang cites Dr. Theodore Belfor, a member of the American Society for Dental Aesthetics, who calls it “non-surgical facelift that comes from within. Developing the bone of the face through dental movement can result in more permanent facial enhancement without surgical intervention.” 

“A boy’s parents were concerned about their son’s worsening facial profile, which  apparently makes the boy very insecure. Also, the boy experienced severe respiratory problems with profuse nasal drainage and congestion, allergy problems and  frontal sinus headaches,”  Dr.Manalang reported on another case study. 

After a few weeks of treatment, remarkable improvement was noted.

Dental health appears low in priority among the average Filipino’s concerns. The 2006 National Oral Health Survey revealed that 97.1 percent of six-year-old children suffer from tooth decay while 74 percent of  12-year-old children suffer from gingivitis. According to the Department of Health, 92 percent of Filipinos suffer from dental caries (tooth decay), while 78 percent  suffer from periodontal diseases (gum disease).

A common dental problem is malocclusion, characterized by the “crowding of the teeth.” “This is more commonly found among bottle-fed rather than breast-fed babies,” says Dr. April Roxas-Cagatin, a pediatric dentist and the in-house specialist to pediatric and special needs dentistry of Metro Dental, the largest pioneering dental chain in the country.          

“Crowding can be caused by the early or late loss of the primary teeth. It can also be caused by improper eruption of teeth, or a genetic imbalance between tooth size and jaw,” Dr. April explains.  “Milk teeth are natural space maintainers. They serve as guide for permanent teeth. When  not synchronized, crowding can happen.”

This makes it more difficult to clean the teethproperly, which can result not only in tooth decay but also gum disease. If left untreated, it can also cause headaches and earaches, as well as speaking, biting, or chewing problems.

Through orthodontic treatment, problems like crooked or crowded teeth, overbites or underbites, incorrect jaw position and disorders of the jaw joints are corrected. Tooth extraction may be needed to create room for teeth and tongue.  Braces are used to align the teeth.

While patients with orthodontic problems can benefit from treatment at nearly any age, an ideal time for placement of braces starts at the age of eight, when the head and mouth are still growing and teeth are more accessible to straightening.  Parents should discuss this with their kids and bring them to the dentist.

The ideal time to start bringing your kids to the dentist is six months after  your  child’s first tooth erupts, so the dentist can provide or recommend preventive care even  before the problems occur, such as baby bottle tooth decay, teething irritations, gum disease, and prolonged thumb-sucking.

At Metro Dental, they have treatment rooms specially designed for kids to make their visits a fun experience.  They are equipped with a flat screen monitor and ultra-modern sound system, so they can listen to music or watch a movie while seated on a state-of-the-art dental chair.

“Metro Dental offers the latest in dental technology and the services of some of the country’s  leading dental practitioners,” says Metro Dental COO Frederic Peignon. They have 80 full-time resident dentists as well as a team of experienced consultants who are specialists in their fields.

They use top of the line dental equipment which adhere to international standards, such as the Ultra Clave automatic sterilizer, Elixxion laser, plasma arc blue light, ultrasonic scaler, air polishing machine, and intraoral cameras, among others. “Some may be invisible to the patients, but they are at the heart of the system,” Peignon says, like the oil-less medical grade compressors which cost five times more than ordinary compressors. The digital dental x-ray has 80-percent less radiation.

“The dental clinic is organized like a spa, with a hotel-like reception area,” says  Christian S. Argos, president of Equicom Shared Services Executive. “Our service begins even before you walk through our doors, accommodating inquiries and feedback online and through our dedicated hotline.” Metro Dental services include general dentistry, pediatric dentistry, orthodontics, cosmetic dentistry, teeth whitening, dental implants, wisdom tooth extraction, root canal therapy, and digital x-ray. It has 16 branches located in malls nationwide.

“Parents should bring their kids to the dentist for their yearly check-up, and before school opening this June is a good time to do that,” says Dr. April. “It is the perfect time to incorporate good oral health habits into a child’s daily routine. The sooner you make them a priority, the sooner your child will benefit.”