Return to Transcripts main page

American Morning

Ask CNN: How Do Braces Straighten Teeth?

Aired July 24, 2001 - 07:49   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

AMANDA GRIFFIN, WOODSTOCK, GEORGIA: Hello, my name is Amanda Griffin. I am from Woodstock, Georgia. And my question is: How do braces straighten your teeth?

DR. MELISA RATHBURN, ORTHODONTIST: As you all know, there are many specialized cells of the body and this is a very important part when we come to moving teeth with braces. The way that we move people's braces is to cause some bone remodeling. When we use braces, we often put pressure on the teeth. We put pressure on one side of the tooth but we also pull the tooth from another area.

When we put pressure on the teeth, it causes the stimulation of certain bone cells to come to that area to remodel or eat the bone on that side. On the (INAUDIBLE) side, from which the tooth is being moved, it stimulates cells to make new bone, therefore, creating a new cell on that side. This is called bone remodeling, and this is how braces are able to translate teeth through bone.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com