Wednesday, November 24, 2010

The Purpose Of This Blog

November 24, 2010

In preface to stating the purpose of this blog, please allow me to set the stage: I am a 55 year old man as of this writing. I am in need of orthodontic work. I had braces as a child, but as the years have progressed, my mouth has regressed. My teeth have gradually again become overcrowded, angled inward, crooked, and overlapping in places. The space in my mouth has been reduced such that my tongue now constantly touches the back of my top front teeth. This all can be expected to get worse as the years progress and middle age leads into old age. My dentist previously recommended the Invisalign system however I had already spent my dental budget for the year and was saving money to get Invisalign sometime in 2011.

I was at my dentist's offices in November 2010 for a cleaning and checkup. I spoke with my dentist, mentioning I was looking toward finally beginning Invisalign in the coming year. However, she was very enthusiastic about a new form of orthodontia called Epigenetic Orthodontics (let's shorten that to EO) which utilizes a dental appliance called the DNA Appliance (both of which will be described in fuller detail in following blog entries.) I am not a scientist, but have a fair layman's understanding across a range of scientific subjects, and was very interested and excited about the principals of EO, which involves the activation of bone stem cells to grow and shape the upper and lower jaw bones in a manner that is controlled by the DNA Appliance, thus reshaping your mouth via bone growth and allowing your teeth to naturally move back into alignment.

But I needed some time to research and think about it before committing to it, as well as needing time figure out how to finance it.

And so I lead into the purpose of this blog: While I was able to find a large number of academic and research citations as well as plenty of good material from the inventor of the process (Dr. Dave Singh), I could not find anecdotal experiences from patients. (I'm assuming this is because these methods are just too new.) So I thought I could perhaps be of some service to other people who, like myself, are searching the internet for real-life patient anecdotes relating to Epigenetic Orthodontics and Dr. Singh's DNA Appliance.

In this blog, I am beginning before the very first procedure or treatment. As treatment progresses, I will attempt to update and explain things. Hopefully, some people who are potential EO patients will find this of value in their own search for knowledge on this subject.

I think it is important to add that readers need to remember that what I write will be strictly my thoughts as a patient and layperson. I am not a scientist or doctor or an authority of any kind on Epigenetic Orthodontics or the DNA Appliance. I can offer my thoughts, experiences, and what I believe to be true but there will always be the possibility I have misunderstood or unknowingly misrepresented something.

Thus,  please do not consider this blog a source of scientific, dental, or orthodontic facts. I will try to convey what I think is factual, but if any factual details are especially important to you, please use due diligence and check them via scientifically or medically authoritative sources.

19 comments:

  1. Hi,
    I was wondering if you have started your DNA Appliance treatment? I was recommended to use the DNA Appliance for my sleep apnea. I'm trying to research more information and experiences with the DNA Appliance. And as you said, it is fairly new and personal experiences with the device is hard to come by.

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  2. Hi xomaru15,

    So- someone has actually read this blog! I didn't know yet if anyone had. I have not added further posts because of time/work constraints. However, your query is a good opportunity to add some detail.

    To answer your question, I have not yet received my DNA appliance. A couple weeks ago I was sent to a dental imaging company for a series of specialized images to be taken and submitted to Dr. Singh, and a few days ago I had impressions of my teeth taken as well as some measurements of gaps and the base span of the upper arch. The impressions were all being taken to Dr. Singh by my dentist. She (my dentist) flies up on occasion to see Dr. Singh in Portland and consults with him on patients'cases.

    The current status is I am waiting for my DNA appliance to appear sometime in January.

    Since you mentioned sleep apnea, let me add that I began to snore a bit about 10 years ago, and in addition I have never had a really well-opened airway (re athletics) but I am expecting these issues to be improved as a side benefit to the orthodontic improvements.

    All the best,

    Rick

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  3. Hi Rick, I too am thinking about getting the DNA appliance but am a bit weiry as no one in Australia has heard of it. I was reccommended it by my dentist after she went to seminar of Dr Singh late last year. I have since gotten a loan for the cost of the treatment but I'm still a bit scared to proceed. would you mind telling me how your going with it all and if you don't mind telling me, how much it is costing you? Kind regards Denise

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  4. Hi Denise,

    If you read the most recent blog entry as well as the comment section that follows it (I answer questions), you will find those answers.

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  5. Dr Singh teaches the c5. Width in caucasians should be 38 mm. It sounds like you are too narrow still. It looks like you are missing your upper first bicuspid teeth. You may need too advance your anterior segment before you widen some more. You also might need a lower DNA appliance if the mandible does not keep up with the upper jaw.

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  6. Thanks doctheboss. In my most recent post (as of this writing) I related that the dentist asked me to stop widening the appliance but to continue advancing the anterior section. I may well have misinterpreted this to mean we are finished widening. She may have well just meant 'for now'. I will correct the blog post and try to get clearer on that next appointment. Re bicuspids- yes I had some teeth removed when I was a boy getting orthodontia. Re the lower appliance, this was mentioned as a possibility my last appointment. Thanks for your comments.

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  7. If you don't mind me asking, did you get the DNA Appliance for snoring reasons? If so, do you feel as though it has helped in that area? Thanks!

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  8. sdmst, I did not get it for snoring reasons. I am a light, non-apnea snorer. I have hope it may help with that snoring, but it wasn't my reason for accepting the treatment. I am still snoring but I am only partway through the process so it's too early to judge.

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  9. Hi Rick, I see it's been over a year since your last post here. I've just begun my research into this procedure today, and hope to be starting with it myself soon. Would you mind giving us an update? Thanks! DS

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  10. Ooops, sorry! Please disregard previous statement about last post. I saw the rest AFTER sending the above note. But would still appreciate any updates you may care to offer. Also, could you share the approximate cost?

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  11. Thought you might be interested in this posting in Sleep and Health Journal. http://sleepandhealth.com/node/636
    It is similar to your blog about the first 6 months of treatment with a DNA appliance

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  12. Hi excellent blog post. I really appreciates with your article. thanks for sharing great stuff. Orthodontist

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  18. hello, wondering how this all worked out. the blog seemed to stop. I hope everything is okay. i know life happens and sometimes interferes. any updates? I am about to embark on this journey myself and wonder how it worked out for you. THanks.

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