[August 08, 2011] Orthodontic way to miles of smiles Tweet Aug 08, 2011 (The Star - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- PETALING JAYA (THE STAR/ANN) -- The benefits of orthodontic treatment go beyond aesthetics. When my son was a toddler, my nieces commented that Ken looked cute with his Bugs Bunny teeth. Ken started teething at about four months old, and would bite the wooden frame of his cot. I had weaned him off his pacifier before he turned one. Ken has been having regular dental check-ups from young, and cleaning every six months. Some of his permanent teeth became crooked. His upper cuspids were like Dracula fangs. Horror of horrors, his teeth were overlapping and protruding like mine! "You have overcrowded teeth and malocclusion (misalignment of teeth). In future, you'd better see an orthodontist. Many Japanese have small jawbones and cramped teeth nowadays. Ah, too much soft food, perhaps!" the dentist told Ken after checking his permanent teeth. Ken had a slight lisp, and frequently bit his lips when eating. When he was 14, we took him to consult three orthodontists. They gave us almost similar evaluations, diagnosis and estimates for the treatment. Mind you, orthodontic treatment is not covered by health insurance. It costs a bomb! Payment in instalments (without interest) is accepted, but it does not include adjustment of braces and dental care products. We chose the third orthodontist, Dr F, who did a more comprehensive examination. Dr F speaks some English. Testimonials from patients hang on the wall of his clinic which has a pleasant ambience. Before Ken's treatment commenced, he had to attend a talk by a dental hygienist in a room on the upper floor of Dr F's clinic. Patients can make appointments on the spot, by phone or online on Dr F's website. Whenever Ken goes for his appointment alone, I will receive a text message informing me of the time of his arrival, departure and the amount paid. I am impressed with their concern for the safety of unchaperoned teenagers. Ken first wore metal wires for some time. Then he proceeded to wearing braces with brackets. He ate soft food before he got used to the braces. "Hey, you've got colourful brackets like mine! Welcome to our club!" one schoolgirl jested. They sure had common things to talk about, as they went through each treatment. Ken was given a file containing information on the clinic, payment terms, FAQs, records of radiographs and pictures showing the different stages of his treatment which was completed in two years. After that, he has to wear retainers for another two years. Part of his treatment required him to hook a tiny rubber band diagonally from his upper teeth bracket to his bottom teeth bracket. To extract his crooked, bottom wisdom teeth which were half embedded in his gum, he underwent two surgeries in a hospital. Another costly affair! Thankfully, he did not have to extract his four molars or undergo surgery to widen his mandible (lower jawbone). Upon completion of his teeth alignment, Ken was presented with a congratulatory card showing a picture of his smiling face and a message, "Happy Smile!" Nevertheless, all is not over yet. He has to put on retainers next. "Cool! Look, my surname is embedded in the lower retainer!" he exclaimed, showing me his retainers. His classmate has transparent retainers which mould to her teeth, making them inconspicuous. The benefits of orthodontic treatment go beyond aesthetics. Besides helping Ken to bite, chew and pronounce better, it also improves his oral health and self-image. In the l970s, the alignment of my upper teeth was performed by a dentist in Malaysia. He used a metal wire with bent parts to push in my protruding canines. I didn't have the means to align my bottom teeth. While I was embarrassed to show my braces in my younger days, these kids are flashing smiles with their colourful braces. The Star carried a report some months ago, about youngsters in Tokyo who wear dental braces with LED illumination. This geeky gadget was designed by Motoi Ishibashi and Daito Manabe as a gimmick to promote a department store. Controlled via a computer app over a wireless connection, the LED braces will flicker with varying colours and speed, with each smile. The trend is reported to have caught on in Malaysia. To see more of the Asia News Network, go to http://www.asianewsnet.net/home/ Copyright (c) 2011, The Star, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia / Asia News Network Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]