Dental Health Check with Dr. Linda Niessen
Dental health topics from Dr. Linda Niessen of Baylor College of Dentistry
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 Gentle Ortho

By Dr. Linda Niessen
Monday, March 07, 2005

STORY:  GENTLE ORTHO
SCRIPT #595  SHOOT:  2/9/05
AIRDATE:  Monday, March 7, 2005
Daybreak and Midday
DHC Master #20    Timecode:  47:53

Some dentists are practicing kinder, gentler orthodontics.  They are moving teeth at a slower rate but shortening treatment time. Dr. Linda Niessen looks at how it's done in today's Dental Health Check.

Andy Middleton, Christian Cuevas, and Chris Wallace describe orthodontics as quick and virtually painless.

"I had braces before, in 5th grade.  They were the normal kind and they were a lot bigger than this. These are so small. You can just barely feel anything," said Andy.

"I've gotten used to it. It feels normal now," said Christian.

"I really expected a whole lot more discomfort. And they really haven't been uncomfortable," said Chris.

Their orthodontist is Dr. Bob Borkowski, who describes this trend in orthodontics: by moving teeth slower, there is less trauma to the tissue, and less time to heal.

"What's really new in orthodontics is the overriding philosophy now that we need to use the lightest force that we possibly can. And by doing so, we create changes that are not only more gentle for the patient, but are more stable in the end result. Because it happens physicalogically, not unnaturally."

Dr. Borkowski uses a different type of device to expand the palate in children called a Schwarz expander.

"What we used to have to use in that appliance was heavy force that actually broke the upper jaw into two pieces and spread those apart and you waited to heal. We no longer have to do that."

Dr. Borkowski also uses newly designed brackets and wires for braces.

"Everything has moved quickly. It's like all of a sudden, you wake up one day and things have shifted," said Chris Wallace.

For Baylor College of Dentistry, Texas A&M Center, I'm Dr. Linda Niessen, Channel 8 News.

Dr. Linda Niessen, clinical professor in the Department of Restorative Sciences and  the Office of Communications and Development at Baylor College of Dentistry, hosts Dental Health Check, the only weekly dental feature shot on location in the nation.

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