About Us

For Children

Age 7 – A Year to Remember

Many orthodontic problems can be treated earlier and much easier by working with the growth that takes place in younger children. We follow the American Association of Orthodontists' recommendation that every child have an evaluation by age 7, or even earlier, if a problem is detected.

Visible problems, such as when midlines of the upper and lower teeth don't line up or when upper or lower front teeth protrude, might indicate the need for early treatment. Improving the relationship of upper and lower jaws allows more normal future growth and development, and may also reduce the need for extraction of permanent teeth in the future.

Interceptive treatment is performed for problems that, if left untreated, could lead to the development of more serious dental problems over time. Examples of this kind of orthodontic treatment may include correction of a thumb and/or finger-sucking habit, guiding permanent teeth into desired position through removal of primary teeth, or using a space maintainer to hold needed space for permanent teeth.

While your child's teeth may appear straight to you, orthodontists have been trained to spot subtle problems with jaw growth and emerging teeth while some baby teeth are still present. Early detection may indicate taking action or it may be a "wait-and-see" approach. Periodic visits to check your child from time to time to monitor how the permanent teeth come in are done at no charge. These checkups ensure that treatment is begun at the ideal time to achieve the best possible results.

In many cases, the positive orthodontic results achieved with early interception would not be possible once the face and jaw have finished growing. That makes age 7 an especially "lucky number"!

Observation Program

Just like many things in life, there is an optimal time for starting orthodontic treatment. By enrolling your 7 year old in our Observation Program, you can be assured that if orthodontic treatment is necessary, it will begin at the ideal time. Our Observation Program includes:

• Monitoring growth and development
• Interception of potential problems at an early age
• No charge for photos, x-rays, and checkup visits
At your first visit, a Treatment Coordinator will take a set of digital photographs and a panoramic x-ray of your child. Dr. Harter will then perform an oral exam while the Treatment Coordinator charts the information. These procedures give us a baseline to monitor changes as primary teeth fall out and the permanent teeth come in. By checking your child periodically (usually once a year), we can make sure everything happens in the proper sequence and intercept any potential problems.

Having periodic orthodontic checkups allows parents to be proactive instead of reactive when it comes to their favorite little smiles!