Did you know that your child should see an orthodontist by age 7? No? Well, that’s ok. Fortunately for you and your family, Dr. Diana and Dr. Neil have been helping 7-year-olds smile for a long time! New England Orthodontic Specialists has offices in Beverly, Lynn, Salem, South Hamilton, and Topsfield. We make patients of all ages (7 years old and beyond!) smile. Early orthodontic visits let our team catch and treat possible problems before they get worse. Here’s what concerned parents need to know.
Why Age 7 is Ideal for Orthodontic Evaluation
Evaluations for 7-year-olds let us keep your child’s smile on the up and up. Orthodontic intervention helps them set the stage for better overall oral health.
Early Detection of Issues
By age 7, your child’s mouth has a mix of baby and grown-up teeth. Believe it or not, that makes it easier for Dr. Diana and Dr. Neil to point out concerns. Our team can detect Issues like crowding, crossbites, and jaw misalignment while they’re not (yet) a big deal. The sooner we can see a problem, the sooner we can intervene. Early detection means more straightforward, less invasive treatments and better results for your child’s future smile.
Optimal Growth Period
Children’s jaws are still growing at age 7, which is why it’s an ideal time for our New England Orthodontic Specialists team to get involved. At this age, your child’s bones are more pliable, and we can guide them more easily to their correct positions. Because kids’ jaws are so flexible, we can correct alignment issues more easily. Treating these problems while the jaw develops can prevent more severe issues later. That lightens the load on your wallet because your kids will be less likely to need complex treatments later.
Addressing Harmful Habits
At age 7, children may still have habits like sucking their thumb or tongue-thrusting that can negatively impact their dental development. An orthodontist, like Dr. Diana or Dr. Neil, can provide solutions to preemptively curb these habits. In orthodontics, like in life, habits compound. Today’s mountain is tomorrow’s molehill. That works for both good and bad habits. If we deal with bad habits sooner, we can help your child develop better habits that will help their smiles thrive.
Preventing Severe Problems
Remember those compounding habits? Correcting orthodontic issues early can prevent them from becoming severe. Your child’s whole body will continue to grow. That’s not the question. You can’t stop kids from growing. What we do at New England Orthodontic Specialists is make sure that your child’s jaw, mouth, and teeth grow correctly. For example, addressing a misaligned bite at age 7 can prevent future uneven wear on teeth and jaw pain.
Peace of Mind for Parents
For parents, taking a child to see Dr. Diana and Dr. Neil by age 7 provides peace of mind. That’s really what we want for your family. We want you to be able to relax in the knowledge that your children are in competent, capable hands. Our team is experienced in working with young patients and making the process comfortable and stress-free.
Kids’ Orthodontic Options in Our Offices
Now you know why Dr. Diana and Dr. Neil advise orthodontic treatment for your 7-year-olds. We’ve got that squared away. But now you need to know what specific treatments we offer. Look no further!
Metal Braces
For 7-year-olds, good old-fashioned metal braces are the most common appliance we use. They’re stainless steel metal brackets that the doctors affix to your child’s teeth. We connect the brackets with a thin archwire, which needs periodic adjustments to help your child’s teeth keep on moving.
Benefits for 7-Year-Olds:
- Dependability: Metal braces can take a beating (not that we recommend that!). But they can keep up with horseplay and roughhousing.
- Real Results: Stainless steel metal braces are here to work. They produce real results that last a long time.
- Cost-Effective: For the most part, metal braces are very budget-friendly.
How They Work:
- Initial Placement: Our team attaches brackets to each of your child’s teeth tooth using a special adhesive.
- Regular Adjustments: Keep your appointments! We need to do adjustments every 4-6 weeks. Dr. Diana or Dr. Neal will tighten the archwire to motivate the teeth to keep shifting.
- Oral Health: Brush, rinse, floss, and repeat. Your child must embrace a solid, thorough oral health routine.
Clear Braces
You might sometimes hear clear braces referred to as “ceramic” braces. They work like their stainless steel variants. But instead of metal, they use clear or tooth-colored ceramic brackets.
Benefits for 7-Year-Olds:
- Very Valid Visuals: The less obvious appearance can increase your child’s confidence, especially in social settings.
- Equal Effectiveness: Clear braces yield the same great results as metal braces in treating orthodontic issues.
How They Work:
- Initial Placement: Our team places clear ceramic brackets on your child’s teeth and connects them with an archwire (sound familiar?).
- Regular Adjustments: Similar to metal braces, adjustments are made regularly to keep those teeth moving.
- Care: Clear braces require extra care to maintain their appearance, as they are more susceptible to staining.
Invisalign
Now a household name, Invisalign is a sequence of custom-made, clear plastic aligners. Each one moves your child’s teeth a little closer to greatness. These aligners are removable and virtually invisible.
Benefits for 7-Year-Olds:
- Incredibly Invisible: Invisalign aligners are almost impossible to see. If your kiddo is worried about how they look, invest in Invisalign.
- Comfort: Made from smooth plastic, they are more comfortable than traditional braces. No risk of brackets or wires irritating your child’s mouth.
- Removability: Aligners can be removed for eating, brushing, and flossing. So, oral health just got a whole lot easier.
How They Work:
- Initial Consultation: Our team takes digital scans or impressions of your child’s teeth to create a treatment plan just for them.
- Custom Aligners: A sequence of aligners are made to fit over their teeth. Your child will wear each set of aligners for about two weeks before moving on to the next set.
- Regular Check-Ups: Regular visits to New England Orthodontic Specialists keep your kids’ treatment on track.
Orthodontic Treatment For Kids in New England
We have offices in Beverly, Lynn, Salem, South Hamilton, and Topsfield. Dr. Diana and Dr. Neil can answer your questions about treatment for 7-year-olds. Schedule your free consultation here at New England Orthodontic Specialists, and start smiling today!