OFFICE LOCATIONS 7501 Fort Hamilton Parkway Brooklyn, NY 11228 Phone: 718.833.0672 Fax: 718.833.6639 60 Cromwell Avenue Staten Island, NY 10314 Phone: 718.987.2320 Fax: 718.667.8589 Created by Ortho Sesame

A LIFETIME OF BEAUTIFUL, HEALTHY SMILES Encouraging good dental health habits and providing professional dental care at an early age produce benefits that will last your child a lifetime. Remember, your child should begin regular visits to the family dentist at age 2. At age 7, or earlier if a problem is suspected, your child should have an orthodontic examination. This allows the orthodontic specialist maximum opportunity to prevent serious problems from developing and to provide corrective treatment at the best age for your child to have the most beautiful and healthiest smile possible. WHY AND WHEN TO SEE AN ORTHODONTIST SPECIALIST Age 7: An Important Visit The AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ORTHODONTISTS recommends that every child first visit an orthodontist at age 7. This may surprise you because orthodontic treatment is generally associated with adolescence. An early examination, however, is very important to ensure maximum dental health for your child. The following early warning signs may indicate that your child should have an orthodontic examination as soon as possible: Difficulty in chewing Open-mouth breathing Thumb or finger sucking Overlapping or crowding of erupting permanent teeth Jaws that tend to click or pop A developing underbite, overbite, protruding front teeth, or other abnormal bite development Although age 7 is the best time for the majority of children to have their first orthodontic examination, a visit at an even younger age is advisable if a particular problem has been noted by the parent, family dentist, or child's physician. Adult Orthodontics: The Best Smile For Your Best Years! "You are never too old to be your best" —Orthodontic treatment is always a change for the better regardless of your age. One of every five patients in orthodontic treatment is over 21. Jaw surgery is more often required for adult orthodontic patients because their jaws are not growing. Adults also may have experienced some breakdown or loss of their teeth and bone that supports the teeth any may require periodontal treatment before, during and/or after orthodontic treatment. Bone loss can also limit the amount and direction of tooth movement that is advisable. The biological process involved in tooth movement is the same in both adults and children. Adult treatment can lead to more than just a beautiful smile. Crooked teeth and improper bites can seriously affect general oral health and sometimes jaw joints (TMJ problems). Crowded teeth are hard to clean and maintain and in time may contribute to tooth decay, gum disease and eventual tooth loss. Improper bites can also result in abnormal wear of tooth surfaces, difficulty in chewing and damage to supporting bone and gum tissue. The Benefits of Early Diagnosis Orthodontists can improve smiles at any age, but there is usually a best age for treatment to begin. An early examination allows the orthodontic specialist to determine how and when a child's particular problem should be treated for maximum improvement with the least time and expense. In some cases, early treatment achieves results that are unattainable once the face and jaws have finished growing. The Importance of Treatment Every parent wants their child to have a beautiful smile - and every child ought to have a healthy one. The orthodontist's goal is to achieve both for the patient. Untreated malocclusions may contribute to conditions that cause tooth decay, diseased gums, bone destruction, loss of teeth, and jaw joint problems. The increased cost of dental care to treat these problems after they develop may actually exceed the cost of orthodontic treatment. THE PSYCHOLOGICAL BENEFITS OF TREATMENT The Importance of Physical Appearance What is beautiful? Standards of beauty vary from culture to culture, but most people place a premium on well-balanced facial features, especially in the region of the mouth. The mouth is a focus of attention because we consistently communicate and express our feelings through it. People are very aware of how teeth look, although this awareness may be unconscious. In a study of 75 children, ages 9 to 14, each child was shown facial drawings that varied from protruding "buck" teeth, to retruding lower jaws, to ideal occlusions where the teeth meet properly. Each child was asked to select the drawing that looked most like him or herself and, invariably, the picture of the child with the ideal "bite" or smile was chosen. Orthodontics is one way to improve a person's looks and self-esteem, besides improving the health of the teeth. Orthodontic treatment give a person a sense of control because it provides the patient an opportunity to participate in the improvement of his or her appearance. Increased self-confidence often is observed even before treatment is completed. An improved appearance through orthodontic treatment can greatly enhance one's self-esteem. An enhanced self-esteem improves the quality of life itself. THE ANTICIPATED BENEFITS OF TIMELY ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT A more attractive smile Reduce appearance-consciousness during critical developmental years Better function of the teeth Possible increase in self-confidence and interpersonal effectiveness Increased cleanability of the teeth Improved force distribution and wear patterns of the teeth Guide facial growth for a more attractive profile Better long-term health of teeth and gums Reduce or eliminate the need for future jaw or facial surgery Guide permanent teeth into more favorable positions Reduce the risk of injury to protruded front teeth To possibly shorten the treatment time required for comprehensive braces Eliminate the need to replace missing teeth Aid in optimizing other dental treatment Less strain on the muscles/jaw joints