Toothbrush Trivia

Before the toothbrush was invented, many people actually

brushed their teeth with sticks!

The first time in history that people actively cleaned their teeth was between 4000 and 3000 BC in ancient Babylon (the site where Iraq is now). The Babylonians used “chew sticks” – thin twigs or tree roots that were chewed at the end to loosen the fibers and then used like brushes.

Between 2000 and 1000 BC the ancient Chinese used similar twigs to clean their teeth. But the Chinese took it one step further and used twigs from trees with a nice smell. (Perhaps this was an early attempt at breath freshening?)

The next time you brush your teeth, take a moment to be thankful that you have a nice, clean toothbrush with soft bristles – instead of a stick!

When Are Two Phases of Treatment Necessary?

Usually patients in orthodontic treatment already have their permanent teeth – they are pre-teens, teens and adults. But in some cases we have to start treatment earlier, even before the patient’s permanent teeth come in. We call this “two-phase treatment.”

When we have patients with clear developmental problems at an early age, it’s best to start work when they are young, before the problems get bigger and more difficult to treat.

Examples include:

· An upper or lower jaw that is not growing correctly

· A mouth growing in a way that doesn’t leave enough room for all the permanent teeth to come in

· A severe malocclusion, or bad bite, which means the jaw doesn’t fit together correctly

In these cases we will start early and do one round of treatment – phase one – while the patient still has their baby teeth. Phase one usually does not involve braces, but can include a different type of appliance that helps the jaw grow into place properly. We’ll follow up with - phase two - usually a few years later, when permanent teeth are in place. Generally phase two involves standard braces.

In order to catch early problems, we recommend that children have an orthodontic check-up no later than age seven (and so does the American Association of Orthodontics). However, if your dentist or pediatrician sees any sign that early treatment might be necessary, he or she may recommend your child visit our office even sooner.

New Technology at our practice

Because all of us at Moles Orthodontics want to provide our patients with the absolute best orthodontic treatment, we are constantly on the lookout for new technologies to make that possible. The latest addition to our practice is an Iluma 3 D CAT scanner. Rather than the 2 dimensional view of a standard x-ray, the Iluma provides us with a three dimensional image. We can now look at the teeth, roots and jaw joints from any angle!

The accuracy of these images is over ten times better than standard x-rays. Moreover, we can see details that are virtually impossible to see on a standard x-ray. Depending on the resolution needed, the Iluma accomplishes this with less radiation exposure than the standard series of x-rays used in orthodontics.

We are proud that our office was one of the first orthodontic offices to have 3D imaging in Wisconsin and the first to have the Iluma. It allows us to be more comprehensive in our diagnosis. When coupled with our SureSmile system, it can significantly increase the speed and accuracy of the orthodontic treatment that we deliver!

What Patients have said about our Practice

"We came out of a bad experience at a previous orthodontist. My daughter could not have been happier with her treatment at Dr. Moles. She had no more mouth sores and didn't mind going anymore. She loved the friendly staff and loves her new, straight teeth! Thank you so much!!!"
Tracy

"It has been a wonderful experience. Thank you so much. Being 40, it was a little queer coming for braces. Dr. Moles and his staff made me feel very comfortable. Often I felt as if I were the only patient. My new smile is beautiful. Thank you Dr. Moles (and Sure Smile)."
Ilka

"Before beginning treatment with Dr. Moles, I had been treated by another orthodontist. After many years of un-professionalism and false promises, I met Dr. Moles. The integrity and true professionalism that Dr. Moles and his outstanding staff showed me, I could not believe that a perfect smile was possible. I use to feel like the ugly kid in school, but after having exceptional orthodontic work by Dr. Moles and staff, I now have all the confidence in the world and actually laugh without covering my smile. Thank you, Dr. Moles and staff. You are miracle workers!"
Trent

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