One of our favorite aspects of our practice at Ragan Orthodontics is the privilege of working with kids. We get the opportunity to watch children grow up and connect with their families in the process. Let’s go over some wise ways to prepare your child for their first orthodontic appointment, so you can both know what to expect!
The Significance of Age Seven
According to the American Association of Orthodontists, your child should have an orthodontic screening by age seven. Parents often wonder why it’s necessary to visit so early. There are numerous benefits, since an early evaluation allows Dr. Ragan to:
- Identify developing orthodontic issues right away
- Determine if early Interceptive (Phase 1) treatment is necessary
- Plan the most effective timeline for future treatment
- Evaluate the airway and need for intervention via ortho or medical specialist
By catching problems early, Dr. Ragan can guide teeth and jaw development in ways that may prevent more serious complications later on into adolescence and adulthood.
What is Early Treatment?
You may not have heard of Interceptive or “Phase 1” treatment until now, which is perfectly okay. It’s an orthodontic approach that’s reserved for kids, due to their developmental stages. Interceptive treatment sets the stage for Comprehensive (Phase 2) treatment (braces) before all teeth have grown in.
Here are a few of the advantages of early treatment:
- Create space for crowded teeth
- Guides permanent teeth into better positions
- Prevents more severe bite problems later
- Avoids tooth extractions in some cases
- Reduces the chance of trauma to protruding teeth
- Helps correct habits like thumb sucking
One tool we use in early treatment is called the Carriere Motion 3D Appliance, a low-profile device that is used to correct bite issues like underbites, overbites, and crowded front teeth without headgear or intrusive appliances. It uses elastics to gradually shift the jaw and set the stage for future braces or aligners.
Comprehensive Patient Wellness Approach:
This is not just about the teeth! We will do an overall look and evaluation of your child’s health, growth, and Orthodontic needs combined.
A Potential First Visit
We’ll do our very best to cater to your individual child’s needs during their first visit. You can contact us ahead of time, for instance, if you have any particular concerns about anxiety. But generally speaking, a first visit to Dr. Ragan will look like this:
1. A Warm Welcome: We’ll start with a tour of the office and introductions to our friendly team. We never want our practice to feel clinical or impersonal—we want to get to know you! Creating a fun and relaxed environment is a top priority at Ragan Orthodontics.
2. Digital Photo and Scan of the Whole Mouth: We use our iTero Digital Scanner to get an incredibly detailed, 3D view of your child’s entire mouth without needing to take any manual impressions (aka, the part with the putty).
3. A Thorough Exam: Dr. Ragan will examine your child’s bite, jaw alignment, and the way their teeth are erupting. He’ll be looking for early signs of potential orthodontic issues like:
- Crowding or spacing
- Overbites, underbites, or crossbites
- Protruding front teeth
- Thumb sucking habits
- Abnormal speech or swallowing patterns
- Airway-related issues
4. 3D X-rays (as needed): We use the latest 3D CBCT x-ray technology to take an in-depth look at teeth and the jaws. But it is more than that, as we take a look from the outside in to look deeper into the causes of the bite issues and crowding. We look at the jaws and growth centers in the spine. We draw out a 3D rendering of the airway and take a deep dive into the airway complex. There is an evaluation of the Adenoids and Tonsils, Lingual Tonsil, sinuses, and nasal complex.
5. A Personalized Discussion: Our Goal is to normalize the anatomy for both tooth, jaw, and airway harmony. We’ll review the findings with you and your kiddo and answer all your questions. If treatment isn’t needed right away, your child can join our Rock N’ Roam Club for Kids, where we continue monitoring their development every 6-8 months with the DentalMonitoring app.
Preparing Your Child Mentally and Emotionally
New environments and experiences can always be a little nerve-wracking for kids (or really anyone!), but there are many thoughtful steps you can take to help foster a positive first visit to our office.
- Talk About What to Expect: Explain that the first appointment is just to take pictures, get to know the orthodontist, and look at their smile. Emphasize that there won’t be any pain involved.
- Use Positive Language: Think carefully of the words you use to help keep the atmosphere lighter for your children. Try to avoid too much clinical language and remind them that Dr. Ragan and our team are friends who are here to help!
- Bring a Comfort Item: Let your child bring a favorite toy or stuffed animal. Familiar items can provide extra comfort during a new experience.
- Encourage Questions: Let your child ask anything they want about the visit. Answer as honestly and positively as possible, and remind them that you’ll be right there with them.
Into the Swing of Things
We can’t always promise that your child’s first appointment will be absolutely perfect, but we can promise that we will do everything in our power to make it go well! Please come see us soon at Walnut Hill or Inwood.
