OCR Text |
Show f k w? f O What price a pretty smile? By Hazel S. Parkinson Tribune Lifestyle Writei Can you really place a price tag on a pretty smile or a persons The first question parents often ask when informed by their family dentist that their child needs the services of an orthodontist is How much will it cost? How can you tag improved dental health, better nutrition and body health? We become what we think we are. Orthodontists deal with straightening irregularities of teeth, improving the bite and the aesthetic appearance of the person. All Are Correctable When the doctor talks about the condition of irregular teeth that fail to meet properly it is called malocclusion. The principal cause is heredity. Other causes are early loss of baby teeth, accidents, too few or too many teeth, plus bad habits such as thumb sucking and tongue thrusting. Other factors can be abnormal sleeping habits, mouth breathing, bad adenoids and tonsils. Adults as well as youth benefit from having their teeth straightened. Team Effort In order for orthodontia to be successful it takes the cooperation of a team. The family dentist, who points the need; orthodontist, who analyzes the situation, charts treatment; parents, who oversee a childs food habits and oral hygiene; and the patient, self-estee- JfSaItakeSribtn?r JUiiestyl Women Section W Food Sunday Morning, May 21, 1972 Teenagers go through a lot of discomfort to have a pretty smile like Karen Orrs, below right. Side benefits are in learn Family Page One ing self discipline of following instructions, wearing appliances, better nutrition and brushing. (Tribune Photos by Tim Kelly) who must wear the braces and appliances and follow instructions. After the diagnosis, appliances or braces are needed in treatment, as a general rule. Braces are used to hold teeth and apply force to move them to make the correction. Metal bands are placed on the teeth. The force to move is provided by wires, springs and elastic bands. Patients cooperation keeping elastics in place and wearing the headgear is the key to success. Brushing properly is most essential. Braces can become food traps, hence decay. Retention Stage After the teeth are in their proper place, the next stage is retention. Appliances hold teeth in their new positions until surrounding bone adapts to the position of the tooth and or teeth. The average length of time for the total treatment is around two years. According to orthodontists, Dr. Clair R. Hopkins Jr., Dr. Fred A. Ghiz and Dr. Gale B. Armstrong, who talked about their dental specialty to the Womens Auxiliary to the Utah State Dental Assn, recently, the average cost for a pretty smile in Salt Lake City is $900 to $1,300 depending on what needs to be done. Mrs. Wendell E. Taylor, state auxiliary president, Mrs. Lee Atkins, St George, newly elected president, and Mrs. Milton T. Rigby, region XI auxiliary chairman, arranged the seminar. . iiSi. |