Open post
childs-teeth

Where Are My Child’s Teeth?

childs-teeth

Isn’t it amazing the way our teeth arrive as if on cue? Nature is so smart! Our baby teeth are designed to carry us through the first twelve years when our jaws are too small to fit the large permanent teeth. This first set of teeth allow us not only to practice taking care of our teeth, but are natural space savers while our permanent teeth develop.

The first phase of tooth transition occurs typically around kindergarten/first grade when the permanent first molars come in. These teeth do not replace any baby teeth, but erupt behind the last baby tooth. You’ll notice they are much bigger than the baby teeth and maybe a bit more yellow in color.

By around 3rd grade, the permanent incisors have erupted… we lovingly call this stage the “Ugly Duckling Stage.” Often the front teeth stick straight out with all sorts of spaces and twisty turns, resulting in a gap tooth, bucktooth, mess-of-a-smile that is absolutely adorable and completely NORMAL at this age.

Orthodontists like to evaluate these kids to ensure that the permanent teeth are on the path to normal eruption. Most do not need treatment, but if we detect an eruption issue it can often be easily addressed at this age. The goal here is not to give them a “Hollywood” smile for their 4th grade pictures but rather to set the stage for proper dental development later on down the road.

The tooth fairy gets about a two year break between ages 8 and 10. At this time, the remaining teeth begin to loosen and the permanent teeth replace them. This conveniently corresponds, in most cases, with the pubertal growth spurt. We like to time orthodontic treatment with these two events so that we can straighten all of the permanent teeth while taking advantage of the growth spurt.

Because dental development is different for every child, we like to begin evaluating your child at age 7. For most children, this is a time for us to monitor the development of the permanent teeth and anticipate any major problems.

If you have any concerns about the growth or the eruption of your child’s teeth, please ask us at your child’s next recall visit.

Open post
thumb-sucking

Thumbsucking: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

thumb-sucking

Few habits can be traced back to pre-birth activity, but thumb sucking is one of them. Many babies are caught sucking their thumb on their first ultrasound reflecting a child’s natural inclination to self-soothe. Most kids grow out of this habit by the age of five, but for others it can be very challenging to stop.

Thumbsucking is a benign habit until about the age of six when the permanent incisors break through. When these teeth come in, they continue to do so until they hit something. If that something is teeth— perfect! But if that something is a thumb, the front teeth will stop erupting prematurely resulting in an open bite. Continued thumb sucking will push the front teeth forward on the top causing the top front teeth to stick out with spaces between them. The suction created by the habit can also cause the palate to narrow and create a crossbite.

The number one rule for thumb sucking cessation is to get your child on board with WANTING to stop. If a child does not want to stop sucking their thumb, there is no appliance or technique in the world that can force them to stop. Begin talking about stopping the habit early, at about four years of age, so that they begin to associate removing their thumb habit as part of growing up and becoming a big kid.

Have your child be an active participant in trying to break the habit. Kids respond wonderfully to positive reinforcement. Display a large monthly calendar in a prominent area in your house. For every night that your child does not suck their thumb put a sticker on that day. Once they have 21 days in a row, plan a big celebration for them. Whether it’s going to see a movie, a concert, or maybe a treat at their favorite restaurant, talk about this event often and reinforce their efforts. This is a great teaching opportunity to show them that they can achieve a goal if they work at it.

Night time is the biggest trigger for thumb sucking. If a child uses a “lovie” or blanket to go to sleep, it may be reinforcing the habit. Try asking your child to put the “lovie” to bed in their own big kid spot to remove the trigger from the sleep environment.

There are several orthodontic appliances that can be used as reminders to help kids that need extra attention. These devices are only reminders and cannot force a child to stop sucking their thumb. Talk to your child about why they should want to stop to get them on board with the process. Involving your child, will make habit cessation much more successful and rewarding for you and your child.

If you have any questions or concerns, please call us to set up a time to chat!

Open post
live-longer

The Aging Smile

 

live-longer

As we move through the years, our bodies evolve and change.  Hair color and thickness, skin elasticity and bone density, even hormone levels in our bodies change.  Teeth are no different. They are subject to the same wear and tear the rest of our body experiences, arguably more!

Teeth that are graying, chipped or crooked instantly add years to your smile. See what new, modern orthodontic and dental techniques are available to make your smile all it can be. Let us use our magic to turn back the clock on your smile. Call us today for a FREE consultation.

Sending you smiles!

Open post
attractive-smiles

Attractive Smiles Are More Successful

 

attractive-smiles

As parents, we want to give our children every possible benefit to succeed in life. If there was one thing that was proven to boost confidence, increase success and improve future relationships, wouldn’t you find a way to give it them? Of course you would! Giving your child the opportunity to straighten their teeth and improve their bite is truly the gift of a lifetime and has never been easier or more affordable. Let us show you how we can make a bright smile and a bright future possible for your family.

Set your child up for success! Call us today for a FREE consultation.

Open post
lifetime-gift

Give Your Child the Gift of a Lifetime

lifetime-gift

As parents, we want to give our children every possible benefit to succeed in life. If there was one thing that was proven to boost confidence, increase success and improve future relationships, wouldn’t you find a way to give it them? Of course you would! Giving your child the opportunity to straighten their teeth and improve their bite is truly the gift of a lifetime and has never been easier or more affordable. Let us show you how we can make a bright smile and a bright future possible for your family.

Set your child up for success! Call us today for a FREE consultation.

Open post
younger-smile

Smiling Makes You Look Younger

Could smiling really be the elusive fountain of youth? It appears so. According to a recent study, the simple act of smiling makes people appear on average 2 years younger. A group of 154 adults guessed the age of men and women depicted in photographs making different facial expressions. Those with happy expressions had their age vastly underestimated. Bring on the smiles!

Smiling has such a profound effect both on our appearance and our interaction with the people around us. Why not make your smile all it can be? Call us for a FREE consultation.

Let’s make your smile something to smile about.

Open post
confident-smile

Boost Confidence In Your Child

confident-smile

We all want to give our kids the best jump start on life. We research the best schools, spend hours at endless sporting events, and nag them to do their homework. In all the craziness of school-aged life, don’t neglect to address their smile. Going through life with crooked teeth not only inhibits the function of your teeth, but affects their confidence and self-image. Having a beautiful smile gives teens the confidence they need to tackle life’s challenges and inspires them to accomplish their dreams.

At Summerville Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, we have two locations and convenient hours to help fit orthodontics and dentistry into your busy life. Call us today to see how we can give your child a smile that will carry them through life!

Open post
love-your-smile

Love Your Smile

love-your-smile

Technology is ever evolving and making it easier than ever to keep up with friends and family whether near or far. Facebook, Instagram, and other social media outlets has given us the ability to keep up with old friends and colleagues miles away that only a decade ago we might have lost touch. With all these constant pictures and posts, our smiles are on display now more than ever!

Is your smile everything you want it to be? Is there something holding you back from reaching out to old friends?

Why are you waiting! Come in for a FREE consultation to see how we can address whatever it is that is keeping you from sharing your smile with the world.

Open post
straighten-teeth

How Can I Afford to Straighten My Teeth?

straighten-teeth

Ready for that perfect smile but not sure how to fit treatment into your budget? There are so many options available to help make orthodontic treatment accessible and affordable for you and your family. One option is to use a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) or Health Savings Account (HSA) to finance your treatment. These accounts allow you to use pre-tax dollars toward health care expenses such as orthodontics. Using pre-tax dollars can save you more than $600 a year on orthodontic treatment! If used in conjunction with orthodontic insurance, you could see your out of pocket expenses greatly reduced.

Call us today to talk with us about treatment options so that you can set up your FSA/HSA and utilize this tax free benefit.

Open post
first-ortho-visit

When Should My Child See the Orthodontist?

first-ortho-visit

I’m often asked, “when does my child need to see an orthodontist?” The American Association of Orthodontists recommends being evaluated at 7 years old, and most likely you are wondering why, since the child still has so many baby teeth. Seeing an orthodontist at 7 does not mean your child will need braces in second grade or even in the future. An early evaluation is a great benefit to both you and your child. At your child’s initial evaluation, we will be able to see if your child has missing teeth, teeth not erupting properly, too little or too much space for the permanent teeth, or problems with the way the teeth fit together.

For the vast majority of children, no treatment is indicated at this age and our doctors will let you know if treatment will be needed in the future. Then your child will be seen briefly every six months to monitor the eruption and development of his/her teeth. These are complimentary appointments and a great opportunity for you to get all of your dental questions answered. And did I mention we have free ice cream?

Make your evaluation appointment today!  We can’t wait to see you!

Posts navigation

1 2