Ask Duffin Adams Gimlen: Who benefits from braces?

Braces aren’t just for pre-adolescents and teenagers anymore! Drs. Adams, Gimlen or Duffin will tell you that anyone, at any age, can benefit from orthodontic treatment; whether it’s correcting a problem not treated in your younger years, or catching a problem early.

To ensure the best overall treatment, the American Association of Orthodontists, or AAO, recommends that children receive an orthodontic consultation as early as age seven. If a problem is evident, taking action early can spare a lot of treatment and expense down the road.

If you never received orthodontic treatment when you were young, don’t worry! You’re never too old for a beautiful smile. Set up an appointment for a consultation and find out how adult orthodontics will transform your smile, and your life! Happy Monday!

Mouth guards and sports injuries, with Duffin Adams Gimlen Orthodontics

At Duffin Adams Gimlen Orthodontics we know how important it is to protect your face. The spring months bring an increase in outdoor activities and a greater chance of damaging your precious mouth and pearly whites. We also know sports-related injuries are common among children. According to the American Association of Orthodontists, 70 percent of parents said their biggest worry is that their child will get hurt while playing sports. That’s why the team at Duffin Adams Gimlen Orthodontics are doing our part to spread the word that facial sports injuries can be avoided simply by reminding your kids to wear mouth guards. Ask us—Drs. Adams, Gimlen or Duffin may recommend the best mouth guard for you.

In addition, the AAO has provided the following tips for keeping your kids safe on the field. Remind them to:

• Wear mouth guards during contact sports
• Wear a helmet
• Stretch before and after a game or practice
• Wear protective eye wear
• Wear a face shield to avoid scratched or bruised skin
• Be observant—even as a spectator

All of these can reduce injuries. Only by using a mouth guard and other forms of facial protection can kids with and without braces avoid serious sports injuries. Be sure to avoid mouth guards that custom form to your teeth as these will resist any tooth movements we are trying to achieve. Lastly, please give us a call if you have any questions about mouth guards or your treatment at Duffin Adams Gimlen Orthodontics.

Ask Duffin Adams Gimlen: When should my child come in for a check-up?

Too many parents assume they must wait until their child has all of his or her permanent teeth to visit Duffin Adams Gimlen Orthodontics, only to find that treatment would have been much easier if started much sooner.

Did you know the American Association of Orthodontists, AAO, recommends that every child have an orthodontic check-up no later than age seven?

It's true. Enough permanent teeth have arrived for Drs. Gimlen, Duffin or Adams to make a determination about whether any problems are present. The first molars have come in, providing an opportunity to check for “bad bite,” or malocclusion. 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 detrimental to good oral hygiene. So if your child is nearing age seven, give us a call at Duffin Adams Gimlen Orthodontics to schedule an appointment.

Have a great week!