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Orthodontic assessments at age 7-10 years old, when baby teeth are still present, can be thought of as a proactive evaluation to see if intervention could improve the overall orthodontic outcome and/or experience. Some typical goals of early assessment are attempting to reduce the risk of surgery, extractions, gum recession, or loss of tooth structure in addition to improved function and better overall esthetic results. Treatment options including Invisalign, braces or no treatment and a monitoring plan can be discussed at this visit.

Team Ekim Orthodontics is not just about orthodontics, we are a special place of dedicated working parents with a combination of expertise and compassion that creates a culture of trust, support and confidence. Going on our 15th year  in Prior Lake and 7th year in Burnsville, we are grateful for the relationships we have fostered over the years. Our team is blessed to hear about college graduations, engagements, weddings, new homes and growing families. We feel very blessed to do our jobs. Thank you to all our dental professionals and families for your trust in us!

Wax diagnostic set ups in orthodontics are now replaced with scans, 3D printing and digital orthodontic software. Dr. Ekim prefers the itero and aligntech software to manage orthodontic prediction, planning and communication with colleagues and patients. An easy 3-5 minute scan has now replaced the impression tray of alginate, plaster pouring, model trimming and sectioning teeth for a wax set up. Instead, Dr. Ekim can digitally plan orthodontic treatment options and demonstrate them to patients, their dental providers at in-person consults or live virtual meetings with shared screens!

A new and useful addition to our appointment menu is our virtual visit! Now new patients seeking out answers to their questions on getting started can benefit from visiting with a clinical expert prior to physically coming in! We have found it also useful for our Invisalign patients, progress consults, and appliance checks. We can even be between locations and with multiple people coming in from work, school or their cars. Our families and colleagues have many options for communication at Ekim Orthodontics.