Monday, November 2, 2009 –LOS ANGELES AND SANTA MONICA, CALIFORNIA – In the United States each year, one in 800 newborns is born with a cleft palate or cleft lip.
Of those, parents of many of these children will seek treatment that will include orthodontics at some point in their lives, said Dr. Atoosa Nikaeen, a California orthodontist.
Nikaeen treats a handful of cleft lip/palate patients annually.
What is cleft palate and cleft lip?
WebMD defines cleft palate as a condition babies sometimes are born with in which the roof of the mouth- or palate- fails to normally develop during pregnancy, and an opening- or cleft- is left that may go through to the nasal cavity . Cleft palate may involve the hard palate, which is the front part of the roof of the mouth, or the soft palate in the rear of the mouth. It can occur alone, or in conjunction with other facial and cranial birth defects such as cleft lip. (more…)
LOS ANGELES, SANTA MONICA AND BEVERLY HILLS CALIFORNIA — Los Angeles and Santa Monica CA Orthodontist Dr. Atoosa Nikaeen has started using the Forsus Fatigue Resistant Device on more patients in her practice who need overbite correction and don’t wear their headgear or elastics as they should.
The Forsus, which is manufactured by 3M Unitek, is used with orthodontic braces to move the lower jaw forward and correct overbite, Nikaeen said, adding that the Forsus is proving to be superior to traditional headgear or elastics in patients who aren’t good at wearing the removable devices.
“Headgear can be uncomfortable, and some patients simply won’t wear it as they should,” said the Los Angeles and Santa Monica, CA braces expert. “With elastics, their effectiveness is reliant upon the patient wearing them correctly.” (more…)
LOS ANGELES, SANTA MONICA AND BEVERLY HILLS CALIFORNIA — Los Angeles braces expert Dr. Atoosa Nikaeen is celebrating National Orthodontic Health Month this October by educating parents on the importance of orthodontic evaluation and treatment when necessary.
Nikaeen’s Los Angeles orthodontics practice has participated in this month-long campaign since it began two years ago. The goal of this campaign is to share ways in which people can get the greatest benefit from various methods of orthodontic treatment and devices.
“Studies have shown that early evaluation, diagnosis and treatment is more important than ever,” said Nikaeen, who also is a Los Angeles Invisalign provider.
Children should be evaluated by an orthodontist by age 7, according to the American Association of Orthodontists. (more…)
