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Even a small amount of pressure when exerted over a long period of time can create big changes -- like pushing a patient's teeth out of alignment. That’s exactly what can happen if there have a tongue-thrusting habit. The patient may not feel it happening and may not know it’s happening, but the tongue is a strong muscle and if pushing against the patient's front teeth repeatedly, chances are their teeth are shifting.

Tongue thrusting can be an especially problematic in young children. As they lose their baby teeth and adult teeth begin to grow in, the new teeth are vulnerable to outside pressure. If you notice that your young patients have a habit of thrusting thier tongue…

The Rick-A-Nator is a popular and easy-to-use dental appliance that can help you open a patient’s bite and create the correct vertical dimension. It is especially useful in treating non-compliant patients where other removable appliances have proven to be ineffective.

A less well-known use of the Rick-A-Nator is to help address temporomandibular disorders (TMD). It can help advance the mandibles and increase the vertical opening, which can alleviate some of the stress on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ).

According to the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, as many as 10 million Americans may be suffering from TMD (also often called TMJ). Multiple factors can contribute to the jaw…

• Grinding or clenching breaks down enamel and can eventually reduce teeth to stumps.

• Absence of enamel makes it easier for bacteria to penetrate the softer part of teeth and produce cavities.

• As long as bruxism continues, the situation keeps getting worse.

“Although no hard and fast figures on the frequency of bruxism are available currently, it is known that 80% of all bruxers may be unaware of the habit (Thompson, Blount, and Krumholtz, 1994) or ashamed of it… and that evidence of the self-destructive behavior (worn teeth) may take years to actually appear.

Estimates of the prevalence ranges from 5% to 100% …but it can safely be said that at the very least, one out of twenty Americans brux.…