When Should Your Child See an Orthodontist?

Ahh, braces. They were the bane of our existence in junior high and high school. Maybe we were reluctant to smile, or our classmates poked fun of us and called us “metal mouth,” and we had to be constantly vigilant of what goes in our mouth and to clean our teeth so thoroughly after every meal. But when they came off – oh, sweet freedom!

Perhaps you are now at that time in your life in which your children, who have been “blessed” with your teeth, may be ready to visit the orthodontist to talk about braces and other orthodontic care. But how can you know for sure if your child needs braces? And how early is “too early?”

It's best for the orthodontist to see children by age 8 to advise if orthodontic treatment is required. Permanent teeth begin to erupt and emerge from the gums, which is also the best time to pinpoint any dental issues such as crossbites, crowding, and other problems. It’s always better to see someone at a young age to find that no treatment is needed at the time than to try to fix the problems of someone who should’ve been seen at an earlier age.

Does age 8 seem a bit young to you? Are you asking yourself, “Well, I got braces when I was in my preadolescent years, so why does my child have to go so much earlier than I did?”

There are quite a few big advantages to being screened at an early age and (potentially) receiving orthodontic treatment. For one thing, early orthodontic treatment corrects problems that would otherwise worsen in the adult years. The corrections can also be done more easily at an early age since the bones are still growing.

Braces, which actually harken back to ancient times (yes, that’s right – some unearthed mummies had wires wrapped around their teeth to give them a prettier and more efficient smile!), are put in place to slowly straighten the teeth in one’s mouth. Braces put steady pressure on the teeth and help them stay in place for a certain amount of time.

So how do you know if your child is in need of braces? Naturally, we’ll screen your child to see if he or she needs treatment right now or in the near future, but you can also keep a lookout for these other signs:

*your child lost baby teeth early or late.

*your child’s teeth don’t meet at all.

*your child has trouble chewing or biting.

*your child’s upper front teeth protrudes and is more than 25% past the bottom teeth.

*your child sucks on his or her fingers beyond age five or six

*your child’s teeth are otherwise poorly positioned.

Remember, the goal of all orthodontic treatment is to give the person a good bite; that is, we want to give them straight teeth that mesh well together. With straight teeth, one can chew, bite, and talk much more easily, and the person’s dental health and overall health (and definitely self-esteem) is enhanced.

If you think you’re ready to visit an orthodontist for your child, then it’s time to stop by Mastroianni Orthodontics! We love to give people amazing smiles that they’ll have for the rest of their lives! Visit our website at www.amazingsmiles.com or call 618-288-0600 to make an appointment today!

See Why Mastroianni Orthodontics is Right For YOU!

Orthodontist.

Does this singular word strike fear into your heart? Are you sweating and biting your nails as you read this now?

Guess what? You don’t have to feel that way! In fact, the word “orthodontist” will wind up being your new favorite word once you come visit us here at Mastroianni Orthodontics!

At Mastroianni Orthodontics, we care about our patients and cater to their every need. Unlike the other guys, we go above and beyond to make your experience with us spectacular, enjoyable, and one-of-a-kind.

Your experience begins as soon as you set foot inside our office. Our office is big, bright, comfortable, and best of all – sparkling CLEAN! We have nice, comfortable seating once you arrive for your appointment with us as well. You’ll feel like you stepped into one of your friend’s house, waiting for them to serve you some cookies.

That reminds us – you know that horrible, unpleasant “office smell” that you experience every time you set foot in a doctor’s office? Well, you won’t smell that here! Every morning we take the time to bake fresh, gooey, delicious Otis Spunkmeyer cookies, just for you! That’s right – you can have your cookies and eat them, too, in our office in Glen Carbon!

While you wait, you can enjoy our Internet café and big screen television so you can keep up with the latest news. And guess what, kids? We have a video game room for you to play in while you wait to see Dr. Jeff (Oh, and Mom and Dad, if little Johnny is getting his teeth looked at, your other children are free to use the game room, too!)!

Speaking of waiting – you know how you typically arrive at an appointment only to wait and wait well past your appointed time? Good news – we, unlike many other medical professionals’ offices, run ON TIME. We find it unacceptable to make you wait past your appointed time. We make keeping our schedule on track one of our top focuses!

Oh, and remember the days when you had to sit in a cramped waiting room, filling out all of your patient information on an old clipboard? Those days are long gone here at Mastroianni Orthodontics! You can now fill out all your patient information ONLINE in the comfort of your own home! You’re also free to return to the form at any time if you need to take a call, find out your family health history, or simply go to bed because it’s late!

All in all, a practice isn’t great without an excellent team. Here at Mastroianni Orthodontics, we believe we have the best of the best. Our dedicated team will do anything to keep you happy and comfortable! Whether it’s a quick phone call or an hour-long visit, we want to make your experience with us pleasant and enjoyable. Dr. Jeff has a zany sense of humor and a caring demeanor, and you will feel right at home in his office. Our staff is also super friendly, and we all know your name and welcome you to our office as if you were family.

Are you ready to make that first step in orthodontic treatment? Want to see what we’re all about? Don’t delay! Pick up the phone and call us here at 1-618-288-0600 or visit us online at www.amazingsmiles.com to make an appointment today!

Remember - at Mastroianni Orthodontics, you are NEVER thought of as simply “an appointment!” Call us today!