The perfect age for a child to be evaluated by an orthodontist is age seven. It is a common misconception that children should lose all of their baby teeth before visiting the orthodontist. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends age seven as it is the optimal time to spot any jaw or eruption issues that could otherwise go unseen. All evaluations and growth checks are complimentary!
Dr. Defay will continue to monitor your child’s development and growth every 6-9 months. This will help him to properly understand your child’s facial patterns, bite and symmetry. Through x-rays and exams, Dr. Defay will be able to pinpoint the best time to begin treatment, resulting in more efficient treatment times and possibly avoid more invasive and costly procedures.
Our Super Smiles Kids Club is our way of keeping your child’s complimentary growth and development check-ups something to look forward to. Exclusive members only parties, prizes and more!
No, it is not. Many of our patients are referred by their dentist, yet many other patients schedule an examination themselves.
When you are ready to be seen for a complimentary consultation, simply call our office, send us an e-mail or fill out our appointment request form online. We will be happy to schedule an appointment for you. When you call to schedule your appointment, our welcoming team will guide you through the process.
When you arrive you will be greeted by our welcoming team and given a tour of our state-of-the-art office. We will take some photos of your mouth and take an X-Ray that will allow Dr. Defay to properly evaluate your child’s growth and development. One of our Treatment Coordinators and Dr. Defay will then explain his findings.
There are five essential questions that we will cover during the initial examination:
Yes. Some orthodontic problems are significant enough to require early intervention. In fact, many times patients not losing their baby teeth at the optimal time can be a sign of significant orthodontic problems.
Although the majority of children 7-11 will not require early braces, there are a few cases where it is in the child’s best interest to treat with limited braces and/or appliances for a time to avoid more involved and invasive treatments in the future. These treatments are typically needed in situations involving jaw growth, bite, or crowding issues in which delaying orthodontic treatment could be detrimental to your child’s dental health.
Breaking the treatment up into an earlier and later phase typically does not result in added treatment time or expense, and when it is performed in these needed situations it will provide your child with the most predictable, comfortable, and cost effective approach possible.
We proudly serve patients at two convenient locations, making it easy for you to access expert orthodontic care close to home.
