RETENTION-Theories

manisha143manu2 Comments

Getting or having braces is quite a big deal for sure with the long treatment period, follow-ups & the discomfort faced during and after adjustments made which includes dull soarness or throbbing pain along with some amount of restrictions on munching your favorite food during this period. 😦

But the end result of all this is an improved facial appearance with properly aligned teeth aiding in speech & mastication ; in short – A healthy new smile :).

Is that the end of the story ?? Certainly not !!

The main part of the whole treatment is how you maintain the corrections made & retain it for future.

Here’s where terms like retention & relapse come into picture.

What is retention?

Maintaining newly moved teeth in position,long enough to aid in stabilizing their correction.-Moyers

Why do patients need retention?

Because of the post treatment changes that occur leading to relapse.

Relapse-Loss of any correction achieved by orthodontic treatment. Causes of relapse:

  • Periodontal ligment traction
  • Due to growth related changes
  • Bone adaptation
  • Muscular forces
  • Failure to eliminate the cause of malocclussion
  • Eruption of third molars
  • Role of occlusion

Schools of retention:

Theories of retention:

Riedel summarized the nine theories and Moyers added another theory which is the tenth theory mentioned here.

  • Theorem 1: Teeth that have been moved tend to return to their former position
  • Theorem 2:Elimination of the cause of malocclussion will prevent relapse
  • Theorem 3:Malocclussion should be over-corrected as a safety factor
  • Theorem 4: Proper occlusion is a potent factor in holding teeth in their corrected positions
  • Theorem 5:Bone & adjacent tissues must be allowed time to reorganize around newly positioned teeth
  • Theorem 6: If the lower incisors are placed upright over basal bone they are more likely to remain in good alignment
  • Theorem 7: Corrections carried out during the periods of growth are less likely to relapse
  • Theorem 8: The farther the teeth have been moved ,the lesser is the risk of relapse
  • Theorem 9: Arch form,particularly in the mandibular arch,cannot be permanently altered by appliance therapy
  • Theorem 10: Many treated malocclussion require permanent retaining devices

Remember as : REOP TLP FAR (REOPening To Let Patients Follow And Retain)

✒Manisha

Sources: Bhalaji -Orthodontics the art and science,www.erufucare.com, http://www.buzzfeed.com

Gingiva (part 1)

Gerlyn BraganzaLeave a comment

The gingiva is the part of the oral mucosa that covers the alveolar processes of the jaws and surrounds the necks of the teeth.

Parts of the gingiva
Interdental gingiva
Microscopic features
Langerhans cell
Merkel cell
Melanocytes
Production of melanin

Written by Gerlyn Braganza 📑✒️

Source – carranza clinical periodontology and Google images

Powerful ways to remember what you study.

muhadnoorman1 Comment

Muhad Noorman P – Final year -Team Dentowesome

Most often we get frustrated by studying for days before exams, often we fail to recollect or forget while writing exams. It’s a quite natural process for a human body to forget.
However there are tricks to master our hippocampus and remember for long. Excelling in exams are only possible based on how much you remember topics.

According to Ebbinghaus curve of forgetting information is lost from brain and we’re inable to recollect it.A typical graph of the forgetting curve purports to show that humans tend to halve their memory of newly learned knowledge in a matter of days or weeks unless they consciously review the learned material.

In oder to master long term memorization, we need to practice following methods

Revision : You still remember, A for apple and mitochondria is power house of cell. Constant and frequent revison makes your hippocampus to convert short term memory to long term memory.

Spaced repetition learning technique
Review Your Notes. Within 20-24 hours   of the initial intake of information, make sure the information is written down in notes and that you have reviewed them.
Recall the Information for the First Time. Recall the Materials Again.
Study It All Over Again
Difficult topics are checked regularly while easy topics could be reviewed occasionally

Take a break method
  Study for 20 minutes take a 5 minute break repeat pattern for 3 to 4 hours. It helps to gain more focus, At the end you’ll be happy for the productive hours. Without break in intervals your brains rejects input eventually your output becomes non productive. Mastering this techinque daily, your graph of productivity hits up.

Use body movements while learning,helps to Tigger muscle memory.


Make a story to memorize long topics. Pieces of information are always connected each other when a story link is given.

Organise your study table. Neat study table and fresh environment boost your intake . Bright light, fresh air, erect spine enhance brain functioning. Feel comfortable stay away from cluttered environment

Try to understand what you learn,  things you understand and studied are memorised 9 times.


Learn opposite things .

Switch your topics frequently. Similiar memory get’s intermixed (interference theory).

Things learned at the beginning and end are most memorized. Plan your topics accordingly.


Dicatate your topics and record in dictaphone you can download in your phone. Hear audios before you sleep, going to a beach or restaurant… Brain makes short term memory to long term memory while relaxed.

Visualise your topics. You still remembers the colour of precipitate and titration from your 12th chemistry lab practicals. Visualized memory is far beyond your imaginations.

Read first from books, 2 or 3 days later watch related topics videos from Youtube or any informative apps. Audio+ video learning brushes your previous stored information

Always make use of Sticky notes of alternating colours (prefer light colours- eye rejects dark colour for long time. Use sticky notes apps In your phone screen ( numericals, years etc.could be written in it).

  Last days before your exams should be used for rough reading or revison not for studying. Brain rejects things learned in stressed or a state of anxiety .( Your neurotransmitters makes it mess. Respect them 🤣)

Credits : 1) Forgetting curve definition:Wikipedia. Image : Internet. 2) Spaced repetition technique images from Internet and Osmosis.org website . Spaced repetition method content from Google.

How to study efficiently and score more marks in exams.

muhadnoorman2 Comments

Muhad Noorman P, Final year Student – Team Dentowesome

Scoring good and better marks are always priority of any student irrespective of their level and class .  Hard work and smart work helps to score good marks.

Some tips to study smart and score more marks

1) Always organise yourself, Never procrastinate. Don’t think about wasted days ,look forward days ahead and make efficient planning.

2) Give importance to every subject equally, start with easy and end in hard nuts.


3) Identify your best time, and place to study. Ignore and never seek how you’re peer group works. Always your peer lies about studies, focus on yourself 🙂

4) Cut your social distraction, even though it sounds like a rocket science, regular practice helps to cut your Distraction. Utilise focus mode in android phones, Install Forest app. It Helps to prioritise your study hours.


5) Teach yourself as if you’re a teacher, trust me you’ll crack a million topics.


6) Teach you’re peer group , it’ll help to recollect and brush up your brain.


7) Regularly shift your studyplace , between a period of 1 hour or 2 hour later,  brain and mind always rejects learning from a same environment.


8) Get familiarise with the exam layout, use previous year question, understand nature of questions , prepare accordingly.


9) Always finish with previous questions first and if time allows study other topic left, mentioned in  University syllabus.


10) Reading a book not studying :  Revise topic after 1 or 2 hour, Prepare notes, put away books . Attempt topic as an exam question. Self realization is best methodology to improve yourself.


11) Never cut too many corners: Often we get devastated listening rumors , predictable questions . And the  truth is anything can come.


12) Practice mock exams during free times. Practice always make a man perfect.


13) Organize your answer while writing in exam papers. Never forget, Presentation matters. Include as much as figures, flowcharts, pie diagrams..etc.. Proove examiner you have an edge over topics. Underline important points with seperate ink.


14) Last but not least get an adequate sleep.(Ideally 6 to 7 hours)  Give some time for your brain and hippocampus to process your memory.

References: Image : Google