When does my child need to see an orthodontist?

The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends that a child should get an orthodontic check-up at age 7. While most kids do not need treatment at this early age, some will benefit from early treatment (or Phase I treatment) to prevent more serious problems from developing at a later age. Through an early orthodontic evaluation, you will be giving your child the best opportunity for a healthy, beautiful smile.

Here are some reasons for Early Treatment:

• Unfavorable jaw growth
• Underbite
• Severe overbite
• Protruding (flared) upper front teeth – increased risk of trauma
• Severe crowding of front or back teeth
• Early loss or delayed loss of baby teeth causing problems with adult teeth coming in
• Oral habits – thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, or mouth breathing
• Crossbite of back teeth – may cause the lower jaw to shift and grow unfavorably
• Difficulty chewing or biting
• An embarrassing appearance

If your child is experiencing these conditions, please schedule a consultation with Dr. Peter to evaluate if your child will benefit from early interceptive treatment.

Wear your braces with confidence!

If you’re a teen, you deserve the confidence to carry you through the best years of your life, and a beautiful, healthy smile is just the ticket to get you there. Braces for teens are more comfortable than ever and we’ve got all the fun colors for you to show off your unique style.

You want options? We’ve got them!

Choose from traditional metal braces, clear braces, or Invisalign ® Teen. If you are active with sports, Invisalign ® Teen may be the option for you. Experience the confidence boost of a great smile without the restrictions of traditional metal braces. Plus, your friends may never even know you are changing your smile.

It’s never too late for brighter and healthier smile!

Many of our patients are adults. So, if you think you are too “old” for braces, think again! A beautiful, healthy smile provides many rewards in life no matter how old you are.

Having a healthy, straight smile provides many rewards at a later stage in life:

• Improvements to personal appearance and self-esteem
• Better oral health while decreasing the chances of gum disease and bone loss (periodontitis), tooth decay, and abnormal wear of tooth enamel and surfaces
• May provide relief to headaches and jaw joint pain (TMJ/TMD)

Don’t want metal? No worries! At NELA Orthodontics, we offer a variety of adult orthodontic treatment solutions like clear braces and Invisalign ® to get you smiling without all the metal.