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ST.PAUL AND SAVAGE, MINNESOTA - When it comes to childrearing, a great many parents seem to be more proactive than ever in their approach to preventing a variety of potential problems in terms of their children’s health. This push to head off problems at the pass has resulted in a blossoming business for makers of a broad variety of prevention-related products, and the orthodontic field has not been untouched by it either, according to St. Paul orthodontist Dr. Trudy Bonvino of Cosmopolitan Orthodontics, which has offices in Savage and St. Paul that treat patients in the cities of Burnsville, Farmville and Shakopee, among others. Technology has resulted in the invention of numerous orthodontic approaches that provide beneficial, early intervention and early treatment options to prevent the need for braces in some children, noted Bovine, a St. Paul orthodontics provider, and prevent the need for more extensive treatment in other children as they grow. Even so, St. Paul Invisalign specialist Bonvino says a fine line defines the area between prevention and going overboard. In her professional opinion, a good example is orthodontic baby bottle nipples, pacifiers and sippy cups. Bonvino, a St. Paul braces expert, said she wonders whether these items really are necessary. "It has been my experience that the vast majority of problems in children in the age bracket that these products target are self-correcting," said the St. Paul invisible braces provider. A 1992 preliminary study published in Pediatric Dentistry described orthodontic pacifiers as being scientifically designed to support the shape of developing baby's palate and jaws. The flattened shape was designed to promote a baby's natural sucking action, which would promote proper oral development while simulating the shape of a mother's nipple when flattened in the mouth, according to an article published on the pediatrics website DrGreen.com. But Bonvino has discovered that in some cases, orthodontic pacifiers often are not only unnecessary, but they can pave the way for future orthodontic problems. That study also found that children who used orthodontic pacifiers had less chance of having an open bite or an overbite than those who used traditional round pacifiers. However, it went on to explain that the difference was difficult to quantify, because neither type tended to cause problems unless sucked intensely for years. "That is the point I want to bring to the forefront," said the St. Paul orthodontics specialist. "That study all those years ago implied even then that regular use of pacifiers likely wasn't harmful to future orthodontic health." The sucking instinct is something babies are born with, according to information posted on the popular baby website Gerber.com. A pacifier often is a source of comfort during a baby's first months, but that innate need to suck begins to decrease when a child reaches 6 to 9 months of age. "That can be a good time to start the process of eliminating your baby's pacifier habit, "Bonvino said. "It is the prolonged use of a pacifier or the ongoing habit of thumb-sucking beyond the toddler stage that can cause alignment issues once a child's primary teeth begin to erupt." The Gerber website offers this information for weaning babies off pacifiers: • - Use the pacifier to satisfy your baby's sucking instincts during the first 6 months, but don't use it as a way of comforting your crying baby.
• - When you reach the stage of limiting pacifier use, be ready with alternative methods to comfort your baby, such as holding or cuddling him/her.
• - Make it a goal to wean your baby from pacifier use at 12 to 18 months. The American Academy of Pediatrics says pacifiers through the first year of life are OK, and a majority of children stop using them by age 2.
Thumb Sucking
Although babies can be weaned from a pacifier at a young age in an attempt to prevent future oral problems, thumb-sucking can be a more stubborn habit to break, Bonvino said. The thumb-sucking habit needs to be broken prior to eruption of a child's adult teeth because- depending on how seriously the child sucks his/her thumb- it can cause teeth alignment issues, she said. It also can cause palate changes and even complicate jaw growth. "The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children be assessed by an orthodontist by age 7," Bonvino said. "But parents may see that their child’s thumb-sucking habit has caused the baby teeth to shift before age 7. If that's the case, schedule that evaluation earlier." An orthodontist can help break the thumb-sucking habit if the child can't quit on his/her own. Mouth appliances can be installed in a child’s mouth by an orthodontist that removes the soothing sensation felt when thumb-sucking. Learn More
If you would like to learn more about orthodontic products for babies, or you want to schedule an appointment for a free consultation with one of the St. Paul orthodontists at Cosmopolitan Orthodontics, please call (952) 469-3333 or visit the practice’s website: www.cosmoortho.com. Cosmopolitan Orthodontics has two locations: 17757 Juniper Path in Lakeville, and 8310 C.R. 42 in Savage. About Cosmopolitan Orthodontics
Cosmopolitan Orthodontics opened on June 4, 2009 in St. Paul. The state-of-the-art facility features the latest in orthodontic technology. It is designed to provide an outstanding experience for patients and parents. Dr. Trudy Bonvino is the orthodontist on staff at Cosmopolitan Orthodontics. A native of the Twin Cities, Dr. Bonvino was drawn to a career in orthodontics because it combined her two greatest interests: art and science. Dr. Bonvino earned her bachelor's degree from the University of Minnesota before attending the University of Minnesota School Of Dentistry and graduating with high distinction and her Doctorate of Dental Surgery in 1992. In 1994, Dr. Bonvino completed a residency in clinical orthodontics at the University of Minnesota and earned her master's degree there, as well. The staff at Cosmopolitan Orthodontics takes pride in caring for the orthodontic needs of residents in the Twin Cities- St. Paul and Minneapolis-and their surrounding regions, including Mendota Heights, Inver Grove Heights, Burnsville, Apple Valley and Prior Lake, Minnesota. Cosmopolitan Orthodontics is located at 17757 Juniper Path in Lakeville and 8310 C.R. 42 in Savage. © 2011 outsourcing SEO services Master Google and Cosmopolitan Orthodontics. Authorization to post is granted, with the stipulation that Sinai Marketing is credited as sole source. Linking to other sites from this article is strictly prohibited, with the exception of herein imbedded links. -end-
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