DOG Kids Club

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Age 7 and Up DOG Kids Club

At Dorfman Orthodontic Group, all children Ages 7 and Up can join our DOG Kids Club! 

As part of our complimentary DOG Kids Club, we offer: 

• FREE orthodontic check-ups every 6-12 months to monitor dental development and growth of the jaws. (includes x-ray if indicated)

• Fun prizes and contests

• Cool LDO swag

Why Age 7? We're glad you asked.

By the time a child turns 7, typically their first adult molars have erupted into place and we can evaluate their bite. This is also about the time the adult front teeth start to come in, and before the jaws and other facial bones are finished growing. Our main goal is to monitor a child's dental development and jaw growth to educate parents on what to expect in the future regarding orthodontic treatment. 

Most of the time, we continue to simply observe a child over the course of several years until the proper time for them to begin orthodontic treatment in their early teenage years. 

Sometimes, a child's teeth and jaws grow completely normal and no treatment is recommended...but we still become friends!

Occasionally, a child would benefit from Early Interceptive treatment such as a palatal expander or an early phase of braces. Phase 1 or Early Interceptive Treatment can prevent a more serious orthodontic problem from occuring in the future or can help to make the second phase (Phase 2) of orthodontic treatment simpler. 

As part of our LDO Kids Club, you can feel at ease knowing that a Board Certified orthodontist is monitoring your child's dental development and jaw growth. To join our DOG Kids Club, schedule a complimentary consultation for new patients. This easy appointment will allow you to feel fully informed about your childs teeth and bite. 

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More specifically, Early Treatment allows your orthodontist to:

• Correct and guide the growth of your child's jaws to encourage normal jaw relationships
• Help the permanent teeth come in straight
• Regulate the width of the dental arches (expander)
• Correct malocclusions causing trauma or damage to the teeth and gums 
• Create more space for crowded teeth
• Potentially avoid the need for permanent tooth extractions later in life
• Correct thumb sucking and help improve minor speech problems
• Eliminate any social issues related to the position of teeth 

Here are a few things to look for that may mean your child needs to see an orthodontist:

• Early or late loss of baby teeth
• A hard time chewing or biting food
• Mouth breathing
• Finger sucking, thumb sucking, or other oral habit
• Crowded, misplaced, or blocked teeth
• Jaws that make sounds when opening and closing
• Teeth that come together abnormally, or do not come together at all
• Jaws and teeth that are not proportionate to the rest of the face
• Crowded front teeth around age seven or eight
• Underbite or overbite 
• Crossbite
• Receeding (low) gums