When Should My Child Begin Seeing an Orthodontist?

Dr. Skylar recommends that every child begin seeing an orthodontist when they start to lose their baby teeth and their permanent teeth start to erupt. Typically, this is around the age of 7. This is an ideal time to begin taking x-rays and assess a child, as it is much easier to solve problems before they progress. If your child is prone to orthodontic-related issues, they will likely be present at this time, and problems like this are much easier to solve when they are subtle and mild as opposed to moderate or severe. 

Do I Need a Referral to See the Orthodontist?

No! You never need a referral to see one of the orthodontists at PDAO. Dr. Skylar suggests calling one of the PDAO offices to set up a complimentary exam. PDAO does not charge for any orthodontic-related consultations and exams until the braces process begins. The initial exam typically takes around an hour and includes x-rays, pictures, and addressing any problem our orthodontists encounter. 

What Are Orthodontists Looking For During a Consultation?

Typically, your orthodontist is looking for several possible problems. Here are a handful of the most common issues your orthodontist will look for:

• Crossbites – Crossbites occur when the upper teeth are located behind the lower teeth, which is the opposite of what you want. It can happen in the front or back teeth and is quite important to address early.

• Dental Protrusion – Dental protrusion is when an individual’s lips don’t cover their teeth because they are flared out slightly. Biologically, lips are meant to be little airbags that protect the teeth, but if they can’t fit around the teeth, they cannot operate properly as airbags. This can lead to a higher chance of a traumatic event, such as a chipped or knocked-out tooth. 

• Bad Habits – The two most prominent habits your orthodontist is looking for are thumb sucking and pushing the tongue forward when swallowing. These habits can create significant issues down the road for your child’s smile. 

• Crowding/Spacing – To a certain extent, your orthodontist can address crowding and spacing issues while your child is still growing, but some solutions require waiting until further down the road. Either way, it is beneficial to get an eye on these issues at a young age. 
• Bite Concerns – Like crowding and spacing issues, many bite concerns are not addressed until your child is a bit older—around the age of 12—but it might be something your orthodontist wants to treat when your child is younger if the concerns are severe enough. 

My Child Isn’t Ready for Braces Yet. Why Are They Seeing an Orthodontist Every Six Months?

Dr. Skylar equates your child’s smile to the iceberg theory—90% of the iceberg is under the surface, and your child’s smile is no different. As your child grows and develops, 90% of their adult teeth are below the surface. While the teeth are trying to come in straight, many erupt sideways, but your orthodontist would have no way of knowing about and addressing the issue without an x-ray. 

Similarly, when adult teeth erupt, they have no way of knowing if they’re erupting into a baby tooth or a permanent tooth, which can cause severe problems for your child’s smile. If your orthodontist can see this before it becomes an issue, they can perform preventative care that will redirect the path of the permanent tooth.

Because all of PDAO’s orthodontic services are complimentary before starting the braces process, Dr. Skylar prefers to take an x-ray every six months to follow the path of the teeth. Regularly scheduled x-rays and consultations allow your orthodontist to predict how permanent teeth will come in and how that will affect the rest of your child’s smile. 

The post What are we Looking for During an Orthodontic Consultation? Featuring Dr. Skylar appeared first on Pediatric Dental Associates & Orthodontics.

Dr. Skylar joined Amy on her recent Facebook Live to answer a handful of common questions parents have about their child’s expected orthodontic experience, but before we get to that, we have a little bit of housekeeping to do:

1. Make sure you’re keeping up with us on social media!  Check us out on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Spotify!
2. Don’t forget to join our new Facebook Group!
3. We’ll be announcing the winners of our Build-A-Bear Giveaway on or before January 28th!  Keep an eye out for our Facebook Live announcement video!
4. After seeing Devo’s (Davonte Davis) accident at the Razorback Basketball game over the weekend, we want to remind you about the importance of wearing mouthguards.  Check out our Youtube Channel for more information about why mouthguards are essential!

Our Conversation with Dr. Skylar!

For many parents, their child’s orthodontic journey can seem intimidating.  When should I bring them in for a consultation?  Does my child need braces?  Why do some children have two phases of orthodontic treatment?  

We believe that your child’s orthodontic experience should be straightforward, friendly, and, most importantly, easy!  Don’t worry; we’re here to help!  

When should I bring my child in for an orthodontic consultation?

We recommend that children visit their orthodontist for an evaluation around the time their adult teeth begin to come in.  Typically, this is around their seventh birthday, but every child is different.  Don’t be afraid to ask your dentist about seeing an orthodontist and determining a timetable that works for your child.

What should we expect during our initial visit?

First of all, our initial orthodontic consultations are complimentary!  All you have to do is show up and speak with Dr. Skylar for a few minutes.  He’ll count your child’s teeth, take a few measurements and scans, and inform you of potential treatment options.  

How do you determine a treatment plan?

During the initial visit, Dr. Skylar will inform you of how he wants to address any concerns regarding your child’s smile.  We’ll customize the plan and work with our treatment coordinator to ensure the financials work for you.

Will I be recommended two phases or orthodontic treatment?

Some children require two phases of treatment, but many only need one.  Phase I typically begins soon after the initial consultation, and it treats important issues like cross-bites, space issues, etc.  Phase II is the comprehensive orthodontic treatment that you are likely more familiar.  This usually begins pre-teen and early teenage years.

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On this week’s Facebook Live, Amy Morgan talked with Bryan Fittin, a parent taking advantage of these offerings!  Bryan and his family have been coming to our practice for years, and he even found himself jealous of the dentist’s office experience that his kids were getting.

Bryan had braces in his youth, but he didn’t keep up with his retainer afterward.  Over time, his smile started to revert back to his pre-braces days.  During one of his kids’ appointments, Bryan mentioned this to Dr. Jason, and they started a conversation about what a solution would look like.

Wanting to avoid brackets and traditional braces, Bryan was hesitant, but Dr. Jason set the record straight.  We can take scans of your teeth and work with Invisalign retainers to get your smile back to tip-top shape.  

Gone are the days of taking molds with goop that doesn’t taste quite right!  We take scans of your mouth here at the office and ensure a 24-hour turnaround time to get you going on your Invisalign journey.

Bryan found that the rest of the process with Invisalign was rather simple as well.  He wears them roughly 22 hours a day, taking them out solely to clean his retainers, drink coffee, and eat.  Plus, the retainers are tough to spot.  He’s been using Invisalign for over a year, and some of his friends are just now finding out!

As far as the experience of being an adult patient at PDAO, Bryan only had good things to say.  We’ve fashioned our Fayetteville location so that the orthodontic department is mostly separate from the dentistry section.  It has fewer pediatric themes and is much more approachable for both teens and adults.  

We like to make sure that our adult patients get the VIP treatment!  From the orthodontic department, you’ll have no idea that the other half of the business is built for children.

Ask us about adult orthodontics next time you’re in the office!

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What Every Child Needs

These are your no-brainer dental hygiene products: a toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss. You likely won’t forget these staples, but we want to make sure they are on your list.

Kids That Recently Got Their Braces Off

If your child recently had their braces removed, you want to make sure they maintain the progress they’ve worked so hard on. Make sure they pack and wear their retainers, and don’t forget to pack their retainer cases. Every year we hear horror stories of camp counselors digging through the trash at lunch to find a rogue retainer that was accidentally thrown away. Pack a retainer case to ensure this won’t happen to your child!

Kids with Braces

Admittedly, the packing list for children with braces is substantially longer than for those without braces, but we want to ensure that you have all of your bases covered. You’re spending a lot of money to enrich their smiles, and we don’t want a week of camp to set them back. We also know that braces can be uncomfortable, and we would hate for braces-related discomfort to ruin a potential highlight of their summer.

The first braces necessity is wax. Whether your child recently got their braces or they’ve had them for a year, wax might come in handy. While it can help ease the discomfort of new braces, it can also help with an extra-long wire or a recent adjustment.

We also encourage you to pack nail clippers and tweezers to help with wire-related discomfort. When their teeth begin to move and correct from an adjustment, your child might notices wires protruding farther into their mouth and poking their cheeks or gums. You can easily use tweezers to bend the wire into a more comfortable position or use nail clippers to trim the excess wire. You’ll want to make sure these tools are packed in case this happens while your kid is at camp!

Many kids misplace smaller items while they are at camp, so you’ll want to pack an extra packet of rubber bands for them. Again, you don’t want one week at camp to set them back on their braces journey.

Lastly, you’ll want to make sure to pack them floss picks and proxabrushes to get where their toothbrush can’t. Some numbers suggest that you miss 40% of your mouth by brushing without flossing. Make sure your child is cleaning their entire smile by sending them with all of the tools they need! 

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