Is this question one that you’ve ever wondered about? Orthodontic treatment timing can sometimes be confusing. There are so many people voicing opinions about why their child needs braces now and why others say they’ve been told to wait until their kids are older. Some are waiting for their dentist to tell them when it’s time to start looking into orthodontic treatment. These opinions are all well-meaning, but how do you know if they really pertain to your kids? I know you want the best for them but what is best?

I’ve recently written about the importance of kids having their first orthodontic exam around the age of 7 years old, whether their dentist refers them or not. This is a great starting point and is recommended by the American Association of Orthodontists too. Some kids do need early treatment during these younger years to intercept problems that could become more severe if not treated early. Sometimes this is referred to as “Phase I” treatment. But what about those kids who have their 7-year-old exam but don’t have any problems that require braces yet?

Yet another great question. At Coleman Orthodontics, we have a free, valuable and fun program called the “CSI Kid’s Club”. For these kids not yet ready for orthodontic treatment, this program enables us to keep a close eye on them with follow-up appointments every six months in the office to evaluate their growth and development, watch for unexpected problems that may arise, and decide the right time to start braces. It takes all the worries and concerns out of your hands. Who wouldn’t like to worry less about their kids’ health? Just be sure to keep those appointments and we’ll take care of the rest. And remember, these regular follow-ups are free of charge.

I’ll wrap this post up by answering the final question; “When is the best time for kids to get braces?” If your child had their first consultation around age 7, was not ready for treatment, and became a member of the Kid’s Club, you can expect that girls will be ready to start their braces on average between the ages of 11-13, and for boys, between the ages of 12-15. There are always exceptions to that estimate, but this is what we typically see.

Hopefully, that clears up any confusion you might have related to these questions. Keep in mind that you don’t need a referral from your dentist for you or your child to be seen in our office for a free consultation. Give us a call any time if you have questions – we’re always more than happy to help!

Keep Smiling,

Dr. Coleman

The post When Is the Best Time for Kids To Get Braces? first appeared on Coleman Orthodontics.

“I am a 40-year-old woman and mom of four kids, who just finished her Invisalign treatment with Coleman Orthodontics and I could not be happier. 

I spent the past 10 years unhappy with my smile. Whenever I looked at pictures, all I noticed was the crookedness of my teeth. I also noticed as I was getting older, they were getting worse.

 I knew there were options, but they felt overwhelming, difficult to maintain and impractical for my stage of life.  I worried about so many things; would it be painful? Would it be difficult to take them out and put them in? How would I look as an adult with “retainers”? Could I keep track of the Invisalign with the busyness of my day? Could I fit another appointment into my life? Would I like how they turned out? 

It took 14 months to complete. The Invisalign aligners were not painful. They were easy to take in and out. I kept the case in my purse and had no problem while I was out and about removing them and putting them back in. I barely noticed them when I had them on; they were very comfortable. 

Dr. Coleman was so amazing to work with. He listened to my concerns and was so easy to work with. His staff is also amazing. I could always find an appointment that worked, I never had to wait and they got me in and out quickly and efficiently. I never had any issues or concerns arise, but I knew if I did, they would be available. I couldn’t believe how great my Invisalign treatment was. My only wish was to have done it sooner. 

I have absolutely loved my new smile and I’m so grateful to Dr. Coleman and his staff.”

The experience that Wendy had in our practice embodies what we strive for every day as a team. We believe that the process of creating each unique smile should be fun, rewarding and life-changing. We really are passionate about building lasting relationships and exceeding expectations. As a patient in our practice, you are more than just a person to us – you are part of us. We invite you to enjoy the kind of experience Wendy shared. Schedule a free consultation to learn about how we can help! Call us at 801-614-9090.

Keep Smiling,

Dr. Coleman

The post One Patient’s Story Navigating Adult Orthodontics With Aligners first appeared on Coleman Orthodontics.

• Crowding of the upper front permanent teeth
• A “shift” of the lower jaw sideways (which is the only way the child can bite and chew food)
• Crooked lower jaw growth
• Abnormal tooth wear
• Breathing and airway problems

This is an 8-year-old that we treated recently. Notice how her upper jaw is shaped narrower than her lower jaw. Even though her upper front teeth have spaces between them, a closer look shows that there isn’t enough room for her side teeth, the lateral incisors to grow in. When she is biting her teeth together you can see that her upper and lower midlines don’t line up with each other and she has a crossbite on one side in the back.

She was treated with an upper expander retainer to widen her upper jaw which helped with the crossbite correction. We also used upper and lower limited braces to align the crowded front teeth.

Here’s her results showing a much wider upper jaw, straight upper teeth and lower front teeth, a better bite in the back on both sides and a great big confident smile!

Keep in mind that kids who need early treatment will almost always need a final phase of treatment when they are older to align all the other permanent teeth that haven’t grown in yet. But she now has the benefit of more room for those permanent teeth to fit and most importantly, normal jaw growth growing forward because of the crossbite and growth correction that was completed.

Remember that the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that all kids 7 and older have an orthodontic consultation. You don’t need a referral from a dentist for that appointment. Feel free to call us at 801-614-9090 to schedule! And don’t forget to…

Keep Smiling,

Dr. Coleman

The post See How We Corrected This Crossbite In an 8-Year-Old Patient at Coleman Orthodontics! first appeared on Coleman Orthodontics.

Most kids from the ages of 7-10 years old don’t need braces or other orthodontic treatment. But kids whose dental problems fall into certain categories can definitely benefit from early orthodontic treatment and many difficult problems can be solved or alleviated with orthodontic intervention. Some of these problems include:

• Crowding of the upper and lower front teeth
• Crossbites
• Missing teeth
• Extra teeth
• Early loss of baby teeth
• Breathing and airway problems
• Jaw growth problems

Orthodontists are experts in the early diagnosis of orthodontic problems in children. In our office, we use high-tech digital X-rays to see the upper and lower jaws and all of the teeth, even the permanent ones that haven’t come in yet. Many problems go undiagnosed without these special X-rays. You might think your child has perfect baby teeth and a cute smile and won’t need to see an orthodontist until all those baby teeth come out. But you never know what problems a child might have sitting right underneath those perfect baby teeth.

Consultations in our office are free. And no, you don’t need to have a referral from your dentist to make an appointment or be seen for a consultation. These appointments take about an hour and you’ll leave well-informed and with a plan going forward, whether that means treatment now or well into the future.

So, the short answers:

• “When should my child be seen by an orthodontist?” Age 7 is ideal.
• “Isn’t my child too young to have braces then?” No, but only if they have certain problems.

I am a firm believer that the best early treatment is to do nothing. I am also a firm believer that the best early treatment is to do something if there is a very good reason to do so. If you have any questions about early orthodontic treatment or otherwise, please call our office. We are passionate about helping people understand more about the benefits of orthodontic treatment!

Keep Smiling,

Dr. Coleman

The post What Is The Right Age For My Child To See An Orthodontist? first appeared on Coleman Orthodontics.