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Please limit your inquiry to questions about orthodontics (braces) and children's dentistry. I am both an Orthodontist and a Pediatric Dentist, having been trained in both of these dental specialty fields. Orthodontics is the dental specialty that treats problems of tooth, bite and jaw alignment using braces and removable appliances. Pediatric Dentistry is the dental specialty also known as dentistry for children, which deals specifically with the dental problems of this special age group from infants to adolescents. I am also experienced in Forensic Dentistry, the application of dentistry to law enforcement and identification using dental records.
I have been in the private practice of orthodontics and pediatric dentistry for over 20 years. Prior to that I served for three years on the Cleft Palate and Cranio-facial Reconstruction team at Children''s Hospital of Philadelphia and was an Assistant Professor of Dentistry at University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. I also served as a dentist in the U.S.Air Force, stationed at Andrews AFB in Washington, DC.
I am a Fellow in the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, and a member of the American Association of Orthodontics, as well as a member of the American Dental Association and the Dental Society of the State of New York.
I received my BA in Biology from Frankin & Marshall College in 1969, and my dental degree from University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine in 1973. In 1978 I received both my Certificate in Orthodontics from University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, and my Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry from Children''s Hospital of Philadelphia after completing a three year Teaching Fellowship in Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry in 1978.
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I would view the extraction/space maintainer option as a last resort. If the tooth can be reasonably saved with a pulp treatment and restoration I would prefer that choice. The space maintainer requires
Answer #1: Tooth decay is an infectious disease caused by bacteria. The bacteria require a source of carbohydrate and there must be a susceptible tooth surface available for the bacteria to do it's decay-producing
I assume that the decay is too advanced to save the teeth, however that may not be the case. Often it is possible to avoid extraction of the decayed primary teeth by doing a root canal type treatment
The allergy is most likely to the nickel component of stainless steel. Nickel-free titanium brackets are usually a good way to avoid the allergy by but this requires use of non-stainless steel wires.
Leaving the decay untreated for more than a few months risks significant infection, pain and damage to the developing permanent teeth. If the decayed teeth were about to fall out in the next 2-3 months
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