Dentaltown September 2013 - (Page 92)

hygiene and prevention profile in oral health I by Patrick McKeown n 1704, a racing stallion by the name of The Darley Arabian arrived in Britain from Syria and is responsible for 95 percent of today’s male thoroughbreds.1 Geneticist Patrick Cunningham and colleagues from my alma mater, Trinity College, Dublin traced the lineage of nearly one million horses from the past two centuries and determined that 30 percent of variation in performance in thoroughbreds is due to genetics alone.2 In the nature versus nurture debate, these results suggest that nature plays a significant part of our athletic abilities. Could humans be similar to race horses in this way? Could our genetic makeup strongly dictate our athletic prowess? There is one area in particular where a combination of genetics and behavior has considerable influence on athletic performance, and that is the way the face and jaws develop during childhood. For example, take a look at the structure of the face and jaws of former Olympic successes including Usain Bolt, Sanya Ross Richards, Steve Hooker and Roger Federer. What is strikingly apparent for this group, and for the vast majority of top-class athletes, is the forward growth of the face and width of the jaws. Athletic success depends on having good airways, which in turn is dependent on normal facial structure. Spend a lot of time with your mouth hanging open or sucking your thumb during childhood and the face grows differently than how nature intended. In fact, Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time, is one of very few topclass athletes who does not exhibit forward growth of the jaws and a wide facial structure. Based on his facial profile, there is a high likelihood that he was a mouth breather during childhood, possibly requiring orthodontic treatment in his early teens. It is also possible that Phelps chose swimming, either consciously or unconsciously, as it was the one sport at which he could excel. The very act of swimming restricts breathing to help offset any negative effects that have developed from mouth breathing or an inefficient breathing pattern. Although the natural order of things is to breathe through the nose, many children – especially those with asthma or nasal congestion – habitually breathe through the mouth. Children who regularly breathe through their mouth tend to develop negative alterations to their face, jaws and the alignment of their teeth. Mouth breathing affects the shape of the face in two ways. Firstly, there is a tendency for the face to grow long and narrow. Secondly, the jaws do not fully develop and are set back from their ideal position, thus reducing airway size. If the jaws are not positioned 1. 2. 92 SEPTEMBER 2013 » dentaltown.com Charlie Cooper. Friday 26 October 2012. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/racing/the-stud-why-retirement-will-be-a-fulltime-job-for-frankel-8228820.html (accessed 10th June 2013). Cunningham, E. P., Dooley, J. J., Splan, R. K. & Bradley, D. G. Microsatellite diversity, pedigree relatedness and the contributions of founder lineages to thoroughbred horses. Animal Genetics 32, 360 - 364 (2001) http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/racing/the-stud-why-retire http://www.dentaltown.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Dentaltown September 2013

Howard Speaks: Getting Poised for Growth
Professional Courtesy: Say Hello to Great Service
Second Opinion: Why Won’t My Practice Sell?
Advice Regarding #8 RCT and Large Apex
Patients Who Refuse Perio Treatment
Corporate Profile: Sesame Communications
Office Visit: Building Bridges in Dentistry
Enhancing a Smile with Cosmetic Dentistry in the New Economy
Top 10 Questions Dentists Ask When Buying or Selling a Practice
Women’s Time in Dentistry Has Come
The Benefit of Associate Agreements in Dental Practice Sales
Retirement Transition: “Mr.” Instead of “Dr.”, What Do I Do Now?
Paperless is NOT the New Black
Simple Safe Gingivectomy Around Implants Prior to Impression
Laser-Assisted Peri-Implantitis Procedure
In This Issue: Close Your Mouth
Perio Reports
Profile in Oral Health: Nose Breathing for Good Health, Fitness and Correct Craniofacial Development

Dentaltown September 2013