What is abdominal separation?
Abdominal separation occurs when the growing uterus causes the two long, parallel muscles of your stomach to separate from each other. These muscles run from your chest to your pelvis, just under the skin, down the middle of your belly.
Abdominal separation is partly due to the pressure of your growing baby, and partly due to the hormonal changes that take place during pregnancy. It usually starts in the second half of pregnancy.
Abdominal separation is more common in women who have had more than one child, are aged over 35 or who are having twins or triplets (or more). It can also occur in a small-statured woman who is having a larger-than-average baby.
What causes varicose veins?
Healthy leg veins have one-way valves to help blood flow back to your heart. When you walk, your calf muscles pump the blood up towards your heart, and the valves stop it falling back down towards the lower parts of your body, such as your legs. Varicose veins develop when these one-way valves don’t work as well as they should. This means that your blood flows back down your legs and pools in your veins. This stretches the vein walls and causes the veins to swell, twist and bulge. If they become large enough, you can see them under your skin.
Why do I have missing teeth and what can I do about it?
Some people are born without some of their permanent teeth, and this condition is called congenitally missing teeth.
Genetic factors cause congenitally missing teeth and this condition is often seen in generations of a family. So, if mum, dad and/or grandparents have missing teeth, it is quite common that this can pass on to future generations.
The most common missing teeth are:
- wisdom teeth
- upper lateral incisors (the teeth either side of the front teeth)
- second premolars/bicuspids in the upper and lower jaws (in front of your first big molar tooth)
As there are many reasons for a missing permanent tooth, the best way to visualise what is happening is often through a set of dental x-rays.
When it comes to a missing permanent tooth, there are typically three options for correction or treatment:
- preserve the primary tooth for as long as possible
- replace the missing tooth with a prosthetic tooth
- orthodontically close the space
There are several ways in which orthodontics can be used to help when a child has a missing permanent tooth.
For example, orthodontic treatment can create a space in the area where a tooth should have grown. This type of treatment is used to make the appropriate space for a dental implant or bridge. Another option is to close the space where the missing tooth should be positioned. You can also opt to preserve the primary (baby) tooth and replace this if need be in the future.
Your general dentist or local Orthodontist would need to complete an assessment and discuss the possible treatment options for each individual.
Joanna Levins
Oral Health Therapist
BOH Latrobe University
Peninsula Orthodontics
134 Tanti Avenue Mornington