If you, your spouse, or both of you had braces growing up, then there is a good chance that your children will need braces, too. But you might be wondering when is a good time to have your child evaluated?
We welcome and encourage you to make an appointment at Smile Specialists if you live in or near New York City after your son or daughter’s 7th birthday. Dr. Marvin Lagstein and the rest of our staff are great with children (and parents), and we would love to help your child have the best smile possible.
To sign up for your FREE consultation, all you have to do is fill out our online contact form or call (212) 287-1282.
The First Visit
Many parents wait until their children are teenagers before they start considering orthodontic treatment.
We mentioned earlier that if you wore braces, then there is a good chance your children will need them, too. It is something that can be passed along through your genes, just like your kids’ eye and hair color.
You know what you went through with your braces. You would probably like to make your child’s experience to be as easy as possible.
By bringing your child to see Dr. Lagstein between the ages of 7 and 10, there are ways we may be able to eliminate or minimize the need for braces as they get older.
During your child’s initial visit, Dr. Lagstein will examine his or her jaw and teeth. By identifying problems early, we can use dentofacial orthopedics to guide your child’s oral development.
Before the age of 10, your child’s jawbone is softer. This creates opportunities to guide that jaw development. We may be able to create space for his or her permanent teeth to erupt correctly.
We also might be able to use our “Magic Mouthguard” to provide some direction as your child’s teeth emerge.
To find out more about what’s possible, call Smile Specialists NYC at (212) 287-1282.
Traditional Orthodontic Care
After age 10, we are more likely to look into traditional orthodontic treatments, which are sometimes called Phase II orthodontics.
As more of your child’s permanent teeth come in, his or her jawbone will harden as well. At this point, we will look into the best treatment for your son or daughter. Our goal is to give your child the best smile possible with the least problems along the way.
And if you come to Smile Specialist NYC, we have several options available to help:
➤ Fastbraces® are a great option for many patients. For many patients, Fastbraces can straighten their teeth in six months or less.
➤ Traditional braces are still a great option for many families, and you can get them here.
➤ Ceramic braces are like traditional braces but without the metal brackets.
A Dentist For Kids & Families
Dr. Lagstein is unique for a lot of reasons. One of them is because he worked as a pediatric dentist before he was trained in orthodontics.
To be more specific, Dr. Lagstein graduated from University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine. After serving in the US Army for two years, he continued his training to become a pediatric dentist at the Eastman Dental Center in Rochester.
He practiced as a pediatric dentist for years before making the transition to orthodontics. Today, he incorporates the knowledge that he has gained from his experience into every patient interaction.
That means he understands both how to work with children and how to meet their orthodontic needs. We’ve seen what he can do. Not only can he improve your child’s smile, but he can help feel more confident as well.
If you notice any signs that your child may need orthodontic treatment — early loss of baby teeth, crowding, teeth, bite problems, or jaws that pop or shift unnaturally — please make plans to visit us around his or her 7th birthday.
The Right Time To Be Evaluated
Don’t wait until your child is a teenager before you bring him or her to see Dr. Lagstein. Smile Specialists NYC has multiple ways to help guide his or her jaw and tooth development to help you child have the best smile possible.
We are happy to do what we can to minimize or eliminate the need for traditional orthodontic treatment.
Scheduling an appointment is as simple as calling (212) 287-1282 or you can sign up for your free consultation online right now. We look forward to meeting you and your family soon.