My name is Kevin Ohlendorf, and I am the third generation owner of the Ohlendorf Appliance Laboratory.  The lab was started in 1933 and my grandpa started working at the lab soon after it opened. In 1943 he purchased the lab, and it has been in our family ever since.  My dad took over the lab from my grandpa and I took over from my dad. It has been a real honor for me to carry on this tradition, and be a third generation owner.

I decided to start writing a Blog so I could pass along specific information on topics that I think you will find helpful and things that come up at the lab that have a wide range of interest.    Everyone likes to receive information in different ways, and many people prefer a written Blog instead of the Video Blogs that we do.

OUR HISTORY:

When my grandpa started working at the lab in 1933 we mainly made full arch braces with custom bands on every tooth.  This was before bonded brackets and preformed bands. Our technicians spent most of their time making custom bands to fit every single tooth, not just the molars, and welding tubes on to those bands for the wires to go through.  Straightening teeth was difficult and required a lot of metal.

This went on until the early 1970’s when bonded brackets started replacing fully banded cases.  My grandpa Howard and my dad, Mark, saw this new technology eliminating a major portion of the business.  They realized some major changes were needed for the business to survive.

In the late 1970’s Functional Appliances were starting to be introduced and taught in this country.  My dad saw the incredible results that were being achieved with them, and knew Functional Appliances would be the future of our business and began the process of transitioning our lab to be one of the leaders in Functional Appliance Fabrication.  Thank goodness he had the foresight to do this. Many labs that did not embrace this new way of doing things, lost a ton of customers and many went out of business.

THE FUTURE:

About every 30 years the industry has made a major change.  So what will my legacy be? While we still make braces and we still make Functional Appliances, the major change that I see happening is Digital Technology.  My role is to guide the lab from traditional models and hand-made custom appliances to digital impressions, model printing, and Cad Cam appliance design and construction.

It is a very exciting time for us.  For the last few years we have started seeing more and more cases being sent to us digitally instead of doctors sending in physical models.  The day is soon approaching when the scales will tip, and we will receive more cases digitally than through the mail. We have been working hard to keep up with the technology and modifying our processes to take advantage of the benefits that are available.  If you are taking digital impressions of any kind, we can accept them. We are certified with all the companies including Itero, Sirona, 3M, 3Shape and many others. If you have questions, please email me or give me a call.

Once we have the scans, we can print your models and fabricate your appliances just like we do with stone models.  We also have the capabilities to do more of the appliance fabrication process digitally than ever before and this is where the future is headed.

Our CAD CAM software allows us to move teeth to create Inman Aligners, Clear Express and Clear Force Aligners, remove brackets from the models before we make retainers, and produce a variety of reports for IPR and before and after comparisons.  This is just scratching the surface of what can be done.

Shortly, we will be ready to go with Digital Indirect bracketing, Perio Protect contouring, and many other exciting advancements to help us provide you with the best fitting appliances, made to the highest quality standards and delivered on time to your office.  We are making the investment isn time, training and resources to continue to be the premier lab for all your dental appliance needs. Count on us to stay on top of the fast-changing technology just as we have since Grandpa made his first set of braces.

HOW TO FIND US:

I hope you have enjoyed my Blog.  I plan on posting a new one at least once a month.  Please check our website at OhlendorfApplianceLab.com for new Blog posts.  You can also be notified by following us on FaceBook, Twitter and Instagram at Ohlendorf Appliance Lab.  You can search for us, find us and then follow us. It’s that simple to stay up to date.

If you enjoyed this Blog, please share it with a friend that you think might enjoy it.  I would appreciate your help to spread the word about our Lab to as many people as possible.

Please let me know if there is a specific topic you would like me to address.  Your input on the content of the Blog would be very helpful.

Thanks
Kevin Ohlendorf
President

The post Where We Came From, Where We Are Now, Where We Are Going appeared first on Ohlendorf Appliance Labs.

The true Groper pediatric partial appliance features
metal pads for extra strength and durability.

The well-known Groper pediatric partial bridge is a space maintainer for children who have lost anterior teeth prematurely. It was first introduced in the 1980s and gained popularity among dentists due to its many benefits and durability.(1) However, recently the Groper has become a source of confusion for dentists, as some dental labs are now offering a different version of the appliance, and some dentists are fabricating them on their own. As a result, dentists and dental assistants are often surprised to find that from one lab to another, the Groper can look different, be constructed of different materials, and have different lifespans.

At the annual meeting and expo for the American Association of Pediatric Dentistry (AAPD), dozens of dentists visiting our booth (Ohlendorf Appliance Laboratory) asked why some Groper appliances don’t last as long as others. They also wanted to see what my company’s version looks like. What we learned is that many dentists are ordering a different version of the Groper that doesn’t feature its most important element—the Groper pads.

This article will address the differences in today’s Groper appliances and discuss the benefits of the appliance.

The pseudo or imitation Groper appliance is more prone to breakage because it lacks reinforcing pads.

The benefits of a Groper appliance

The Groper appliance can hold open space for a single missing tooth or as many as four missing teeth (upper and lower) that have been lost due to accident, dental caries, or illness. The Groper functions both aesthetically, improving the child’s appearance, and as a preventive treatment by proactively preserving an open space to avert arch length loss and the resulting crowding. The Groper also restores function and allows maxillary growth. As a fixed rather than removable appliance, the Groper is less likely to break and doesn’t require the child’s cooperation.(2)

The Groper supports speech development in young children who have lost maxillary anterior teeth. Because the tongue uses the lingual sides of these teeth for certain phonic sounds such as “s,” “z,” and “th,” the absence of these teeth often results in improper speech.(3) While one study found that early loss of incisors had no long-term effects on speech, most dentists consider the Groper helpful in that it allows a child to communicate as he or she did before the tooth loss, which reduces frustration.(4)

Using a space maintainer such as the Groper also prevents improper tongue function. Leaving the space open, patients cannot create proper suction for swallowing and speech, so they compensate with tongue thrusting. This can lead to anterior open bites and a narrowing of the upper arch.

Another big advantage of the Groper is the social and emotional impact that a partial bridge can provide a child. Children, even those of preschool age, are aware of their appearance and can feel embarrassed or self-conscious about gaps that may last for several years until the adult teeth erupt. It’s important to choose a Groper appliance that features fully functional, realistic-looking teeth.

Acrylic resin is the preferable material over a composite because the teeth will not stain. In addition, the acrylic resin teeth are available in all shades on the Universal Shade Guide so they can be matched to a child’s natural teeth.

A broken imitation Groper.

What’s a true Groper and how is it different?

The original or true Groper is a durable, fixed appliance designed to last until a child’s adult teeth begin to erupt. This might mean as many as two or three years, depending on the age of the child when he or she was first fitted with this custom appliance. The strength and durability of the appliance is due to its construction—each prosthetic tooth is individually attached to a metal pad that is laser welded to the palatal wire.

Some of the pseudo versions that are being labeled Groper are much less durable than a true Groper because they do not feature the pads. Instead, the appliance is simply fabricated with a wire that is adhered to the back of the prosthetic teeth. This type of appliance breaks easily, sometimes after as few as two months of use.

The Groper can be made with bands or stainless steel crowns, depending on the doctor’s preference. It can be anchored on deciduous molars or first permanent molars if these are erupted enough to band.

Conclusion

Dentists should be aware of the differences between the true Groper Pedo Partial and imitations. The most easily discerned difference is that the true Groper features an individual pad for each tooth that is laser welded to the lingual wire for additional strength. While these pads may be small, they make a big difference in terms of strength, durability, and longevity.

References

1. Jasmin JR, Groper JN. Fabrication of a more durable fixed anterior esthetic appliance. ASDC J Dent Child. 1984 Mar-Apr;51(2):124-7. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/6585380 Accessed August 1, 2016.
2. Waggoner WF, Kupietzky A. Anterior esthetic fixed appliances for the preschooler: considerations and a technique for placement. Pediatr Dent. 2001;23:147–50. [PubMed]
3. Fymbo L. The relation of malocclusion of the teeth to defects of speech. Arch Speech. 1936;1:204–16.
4. Gable TO, Kummer AW, Lee L, Creaghead NA, Moore LJ. Premature loss of the primary maxillary incisors: Effects on speech production. J Dent Child. 1995;62:173–79. [PubMed]

As seen on Dentistry IQ
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The post How Can Dental Professionals Tell the Difference Between Real and Impostor Groper Pedo Partials? appeared first on Ohlendorf Appliance Labs.