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Though an orthodontist can enhance a smile at any age, there is an optimal time period to begin treatment. Beginning treatment at this time ensures the greatest result and the least amount of time and expense. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that the initial orthodontic evaluation should occur at the first sign of orthodontic problems or no later than age 7. At this early age, orthodontic treatment may not be necessary, but vigilant examination can anticipate the most advantageous time to begin treatment.
Early evaluation provides both timely detection of problems and greater opportunity for more effective treatment. Prudent intervention guides growth and development, preventing serious problems later. When orthodontic intervention is not necessary, an orthodontist can carefully monitor growth and development and begin treatment when it is ideal.
Some of the most direct results of interceptive treatment are:
- Creating room for crowded, erupting teeth
- Creating facial symmetry through influencing jaw growth
- Reducing the risk of trauma to protruding front teeth
- Preserving space for unerupted teeth
- Reducing the need for tooth removal
- Reducing treatment time with braces
Braces aren't just for kids anymore. Tooth alignment can be changed at any age if your gums and bone structure are healthy. We offer a variety of treatments that are designed for different age groups – including adults. A new smile can begin today.
Orthodontic treatment at later stages in life can dramatically improve your personal appearance and self-esteem. Improving the health of your teeth and gums is equally important. Crooked teeth and a bad bite can contribute to gum and bone loss, tooth decay, abnormal wear of the tooth enamel and surfaces, headaches and jaw joint (TMJ/TMD) pain.
Good news! The new techniques and appliances we use greatly reduce discomfort levels, decrease the frequency of visits, shorten treatment time and may allow you to choose from several options. Your options may include metal braces, translucent braces or transparent aligners that can be worn to improve mild cases of misaligned teeth.
During the initial examination, we will be able to determine the best possible treatment for your individual needs. During this initial examination, we can outline the treatment plan, time of treatment expected and the approximate cost.
A large percentage of our patients are adults, and they agree that it's never too late to improve their greatest asset - their smile.
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The pediatric dentist is the specialist who is dedicated to the oral health of children from infancy through the teen-age years. The very young, pre-teens and teenagers all need different approaches in dealing with their behavior regarding dental care, guiding their dental growth and development, and helping them avoid future dental problems. The pediatric dentist is best qualified to meet these needs.
Pediatric dentists have had special training which allows them to provide the most up-to-date and thorough treatment for a wide variety of children's dental problems. They are trained and qualified to treat special patients who may have emotional, physical or mental handicaps. Because of this specialized training and commitment to oral health, many parents wisely choose a pediatric dentist to treat their children.
It is very important that primary teeth are kept until they are lost naturally. They serve a number of important functions. They help maintain good nutrition by permitting your child to chew properly. They are important in allowing good pronunciation and speech habits; and they help your child feel good about the way he/she looks to others.
Primary teeth also help guide the proper eruption of the permanent teeth. When primary teeth are lost too early, the space that is left should be maintained by a "space maintainer" to ensure that there will be enough room for the permanent teeth when they erupt. Your pediatric dentist has the knowledge required to apply both preventive and corrective techniques which will maintain the health of your child's teeth. Many times he/she can make a minor correction that will eliminate major dental work later.
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Teeth begin forming in your baby even before birth. All 20 primary teeth - also called baby teeth - are present in the jawbones at birth. The lower two front teeth are the first to break through the gums, sometimes as early as 6 months after birth. As a rule, all of your child's primary teeth appear by the age of 3.
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When the element fluoride is used in small amounts on a regular basis it helps to prevent tooth decay. It encourages "remineralization", a strengthening of weak areas on the teeth. These areas are the beginning of cavity formation. Fluoride occurs naturally in water and in many different foods, as well as in dental products such as toothpaste, mouth rinses, gels, varnish and supplements. Fluoride is effective when combined with a healthy diet and good oral hygiene.
Do you need to test your child's drinking water? Yes. All drinking water contains some fluoride, which is a naturally occurring element. Regionally, the fluoride in well water and bottled water varies greatly. Some, but not all, communities add fluoride to drinking water supplies if natural amounts are found to be deficient. However, the age of a municipal water system and multiple water treatment plants within one community, as well as the use of in-home water filters, can vary the fluoride ion levels for families within the same community. You should have the fluoride level in your child's primary source of drinking water tested to maximize the benefits of fluoride while minimizing the risk of fluorosis (white spots on the teeth).
An orthodontist is a dentist who has completed an American Dental Association accredited graduate program in the specialty of orthodontics. A dentist who graduates from a specialty program becomes an orthodontic specialist who is eligible to become board certified through the voluntary examination process of The American Board of Orthodontics (ABO). Involvement in the certification process is a demonstration of the orthodontist's pursuit of continued proficiency and excellence.
The certification process involves a thorough Written Examination covering all areas of information on which an orthodontist should be knowledgeable. Successful passage allows the orthodontist to present treated cases which will be evaluated by expert examiners of the Board during a Clinical Examination. Certification is now awarded for a time-limited period and the orthodontist must re-examine on a periodic basis to retain the board certified status.
Orthodontic specialists who are current Diplomates of The American Board of Orthodontics can be found at
Find an ABO Diplomate.
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Tooth decay (cavities or caries) is a progressive disease which often begins in very young children. Decay is a result of the interaction between bacteria, which are normally on our teeth, and sugars in the everyday diet. The bacteria use those sugars to produce acid. A tooth exposed to those acids will lose minerals, and that loss is the first step toward tooth decay.
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A sealant is a plastic material that is applied to the chewing surfaces of healthy, cavity-free back teeth (premolars and molars), where decay occurs most often. The sealant acts as a barrier, protecting the decay-prone areas of the back teeth from plaque and acid attacks. Pits and fissures are depressions and grooves in the chewing surface of the back teeth.
When should thumbsucking stop?
Children should have ceased sucking by the time their permanent front teeth are ready to erupt. Usually, children stop between the ages of two and four years. Sucking often gradually lessens during this period as children spend more of their waking hours exploring their surroundings.
Can problems result from prolonged thumbsucking?
Yes. After the permanent teeth come in, sucking may cause problems with the proper growth of the mouth and alignment of the teeth. It can also cause changes in the roof of the mouth.
The intensity of the sucking is a factor which determines whether or not dental problems may result. Children who rest their thumbs passively in their mouths are less likely to have difficulty than those who vigorously suck their thumbs. When the thumb is removed from the mouth of active thumbsuckers, a "popping" sound is often heard.
Some aggressive thumbsuckers may cause problems with their primary (baby) teeth. If you notice changes in your child's primary teeth, consult your dentist.
Serving the communities of
Ansonia • Bridgeport • Cos Cob • Darien • Derby •
Easton • Fairfield • Greenwich • Milford • Monroe • New Canaan • Newtown • Norwalk •
Orange • Oxford • Redding • Ridgefield • Rowayton • Saugatuck • Seymour • Shelton •
Stamford • Stratford • Trumbull• Weston • Westport • Wilton • Woodbridge and
surrounding areas.
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