It's November and before you know it, we will be celebrating New Year. As we close the year, questions on when is the best time to start orthodontic treatment can come up. The first visit is recommended to be by 7 years old by the American Association of Orthodontists. In general, between 7 to 10 years of age is a great time for the first visit with a visit by 12 years old highly recommended if not already started monitoring. Orthodontic problems can be things such as: crowded teeth, impacted teeth, crossbites, deep bites, open bites, excess overjet, underbites, extra teeth, missing teeth and more. As you plan the end of the year, it may also be a good time to visit your orthodontic office to help plan for braces, Invisalign or retainers.
As the weather cools down and the beautiful colors of the Minnesota trees transform, families find ways to fit in their orthodontic appointments into their busy school, work, and sports schedules. Orthodontic visits can involve simple adjustments, adding braces, checking your retainers, Invisalign checks and now even live virtual appointments are available too. There are so many ways to help your patients progress through treatment. Regular visits are needed for progress towards the end goal of alignment and a beautiful smile.
Tooth alignment and bite correction can be accomplished through various orthodontic methods, styles and philosophies. The important part is to define the goals, what treatment methods are possible, the compliance needed to accomplish those goals and any compromises or limitations that are pre existing. There are many options available that are discussed at your new patient exam - braces, Invisalign, treatment time, retainers. Patients that have pre existing conditions like periodontal support loss, tooth implants, crowns and bridges, missing teeth, tooth size differences, skeletal discrepancies etc. will gain an understanding of what their options are with an orthodontist evaluation. Orthodontics is not only a science and specialty, it is an art.
With the upcoming summer months and change in daily routines, a few things to keep in mind for a successful orthodontic journey to a beautiful smile. Schedule your new patient exam ahead of time. This is a popular time of year for exams to evaluate your orthodontic options since kids are out of school. Whether your choose Braces or Invisalign, you'll learn about how the process works in your life. Modifying certain foods, snacking time, beverages, oral hygiene habits are just a few things you can plan around to make your orthodontic results fantastic!
