Age 7 is the magic number for an orthodontic check-up

Many parents assume they must wait until their child has all of his or her permanent teeth to see Dr. Berky for a consultation, only to discover treatment would have been much easier if started earlier. Did you know the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child have an orthodontic check-up no later than age seven?

That’s right—seven.

Ok, so what’s so great about age seven, you ask? Enough permanent teeth have arrived for Dr. Berky to make a determination about whether any problems are present. The first molars have come in, providing an opportunity to check for malocclusion, or “bad bite.” Also, the incisors have begun to come in, and problems such as crowding, deep bites and open bites can be detected.

Orthodontic evaluation at an early age provides one of two positive outcomes: For some, early identification or problems will lead to easier or shorter orthodontic treatment in the future. For others, a healthy prognosis will provide immediate peace of mind.

Early evaluation, of course, may signal a need for early treatment. For some children, early treatment can prevent physical and emotional trauma. Aside from spurring on years of harmful teasing, misaligned teeth are also prone to injury and are detrimental to good oral hygiene. So, if your child is nearing his or her seventh birthday, give us a call at our Greensboro or High Point offices to schedule an appointment.

3D Imaging and Orthodontics in Greensboro & High Point, NC

At Berky Orthodontics, we are dedicated to providing the highest quality, most technologically advanced treatment to our patients. One such innovation that we have incorporated into our practice is the use of 3 dimensional imaging with the i-CAT system. 3D imaging with i-CAT provides numerous benefits to our practice and our patients, and we are one of the only offices in the area to have this technology!

An article on the benefits of 3-D imaging and orthodontics was published just this week in the New York Times, and it is a great example of how technology has completely revolutionized the field of orthodontics. We do our best to be early adopters of technology if it benefits our patients, such as the i-CAT the high tech SureSmile system! With i-CAT, we are able to approach orthodontic cases from a more complete perspective- 3 dimensional imaging allows our treatment to be far more precise. Learn more about i-CAT, SureSmile, and other orthodontic innovations Dr. Berky & Team utilize by giving us a call!

Ask Dr. Berky: Why is it so important to have straight teeth?

Some people wonder why Greensboro & High Point, NC orthodontist Dr. Zoltan Berky and our team work tirelessly to give our patients straight teeth. Of course it’s nice to have a smile full of evenly aligned teeth, but did you know that straightening your teeth at Berky Orthodontics can keep them healthier? Straight teeth lead to better oral hygiene, increasing your chances of keeping your own natural teeth for a lifetime!

Straight teeth are less prone to decay, because they collect less plaque—the sticky colorless substance that forms on our teeth and leads to tooth decay; and they are easier to keep clean!

If you’re wondering whether your teeth might cause problems because they are out of alignment, please give us a call to set up a consultation. Dr. Berky can help you decide whether or not you will benefit from orthodontic treatment.