Naugatuck Parents’ Guide: Orthodontic Care at Age 7 (No Referral Needed!)

December 19th, 2023

As parents, ensuring our children’s health and well-being is a top priority, and this includes their current and future dental health. According to the American Association of Orthodontists, age 7 is the ideal time for an initial evaluation with an orthodontist. This blog highlights the benefits of seeing the area's leading orthodontist near Naugatuck for an early consultation, where no referral is needed and your orthodontic assessment is completely free.

Happy new braces patient outside Aronson Orthodontics
A happy new braces patient at Aronson Orthodontics near Naugatuck, CT.

Why age 7 for the orthodontist?

The reason age 7 is a magical time in orthodontics is because this is an age where children typically have a mix of baby teeth and permanent teeth. This unique dental stage features lots of growth and is also a time where making accurate growth predictions is possible. If orthodontic treatment is recommended for patients at this stage, the role braces play is actually different than many people think. Braces are not used simply to straighten teeth, but rather to help make optimal jaw growth possible and prevent foreseeable future dental issues!

Phase I Orthodontics Near Naugatuck: The Benefits of Early Treatment

Early treatment in orthodontics is also sometimes called "interceptive" treatment, because it allows the orthodontist to work with your child's growing jaw to address several issues, including:

Guiding jaw growth: Early orthodontic treatment can positively impact jaw growth to help make space for permanent teeth that have not come in yet.

Preventing more severe problems: Early detection and interception of potential problems can simplify later treatments.

Correcting harmful oral habits: Habits like thumb sucking can cause dental issues if they continue past a certain age. Visiting the orthodontist at age 7 can help fix this habit and put a stop to the skeletal disruption it can cause.

Improving self-esteem: If your child is self-conscious about a dental issue, addressing it early can help boost their confidence during an important social and psychological phase.

Personalized, Expert Care - No One-Size-Fits-All Treatment

At Aronson Orthodontics, we view age 7 as a very helpful guideline and an important time to come in and be seen by Dr. Aronson for a full and complementary orthodontic evaluation. However, we also understand that every child is different and we make our treatment recommendations based on what would truly benefit the person in the chair. Dr. Aronson is a board certified orthodontist who takes honesty and clear communication very seriously. If early orthodontic intervention would not benefit your child, he will tell you. Rest assured that by booking a consultation, you are booking a personalized and honest assessment that is fully focused on the best outcome for your child’s growth and development.

Easy, Friendly, and Accessible Consultations

Orthodontic treatment can dramatically improve a person’s life. We see it every day in our orthodontic office near Naugatuck, which is why we firmly believe that access to orthodontic care should be straightforward and hassle-free. To make things as easy as possible for you and your family, we offer free consultations to patients of all ages and do not require a referral. Our doors are open for you to seek professional advice without any obligation.

Schedule Your Free Orthodontic Consultation Near Naugatuck, CT

Bringing your child for an orthodontic evaluation at age 7 is a proactive step towards ensuring their oral health. With Dr. Aronson’s expertise, you have access to the area’s leading board-certified orthodontist near Naugatuck to ensure your child’s dental growth and development are on the right track. Remember: an orthodontic assessment at age 7 is not about getting braces - it's about allowing you to make informed decisions about your child’s care. 

Book your child’s free consultation today - no referral needed - and take the first step towards a lifetime of healthy smiles.

Why Age 7 Is the Right Time to See an Orthodontist

May 11th, 2023

Are you surprised that age 7 is the ideal time to see an orthodontist? It seems like your child just started losing their baby teeth, doesn't it? Families in and around Southbury, Middlebury, and Waterbury, CT, have the opportunity to be proactive about their children's smile and jaw growth by scheduling a no-cost consultation with Friedman Aronson Orthodontics at the right time.

Little girl smiling with a missing front tooth
At age 7, children have a mix of baby teeth and permanent teeth.

Guiding optimal growth

Surprising though it may be, the fact that your child now has a mix of baby teeth and permanent teeth (AKA mixed dentition) is precisely the reason that age 7 is the best time for an orthodontic consultation. At age 7, your child is also growing rapidly. Although orthodontists are perhaps best known for their role in straightening teeth, their work goes well beyond making a beautiful smile. Orthodontists are specialists in optimizing the relationship of the teeth and jaws. By taking your child to the orthodontist at the right time, it is possible to spot and address potential growth concerns.

The window of opportunity

Your child’s mouth and face are still developing at age 7, which means there is time to identify and intercept problems to guide optimal growth. Of course growth does not end once your child turns 8, but the window of opportunity for guiding optimal growth can be quite narrow, depending on the issue. Once face and jaw bones have finished growing, it can be very hard (and sometimes not possible) to achieve the same results that early orthodontic interventions allow.

Intervention isn't always needed

However, do not be alarmed! A consultation at Friedman Aronson Orthodontics does not mean your child will start treatment. Dr. Aronson is a firm believer in conservative, evidence-based orthodontics. At age 7, he is specifically looking for issues related to jaw size, poor placement of permanent teeth, and harmful oral habits. If any of these are present, intervention or ongoing observation may be recommended. If all is developing as it should, he will happily give you that reassurance along with some fun chapstick as our thank-you for stopping by his orthodontic office in Southbury or Waterbury, CT.

Consultations are free at Friedman Aronson Orthodontics

A view of the clinic at Friedman Aronson Orthodontics with patient chairs and big windows with natural light
Dr. Aronson is a board certified orthodontist practicing in Southbury and Waterbury.

Friedman Aronson Orthodontics offers no-cost consultations to people of all ages and offers appointments at two convenient locations: 33 Bullet Hill Road, Suite 311 in Southbury, CT, and 650 Chase Parkway #2 in Waterbury, CT, along the Middlebury town line.  Our orthodontic services are available to children, teens, and adults, and include all types of braces, clear aligners (including Invisalign), early treatment, orthognathic surgical cases, and retention.

Consultations are an opportunity for our board certified orthodontist to evaluate the health and function of your child's bite and the relationship of their teeth and jaws, as well as discuss any other concerns you may have. We proudly serve patients throughout New Haven and Fairfield counties, including Newtown, Southbury, Middlebury, Woodbury, Waterbury, Oxford, Naugatuck, and Watertown.

Book an appointment online today or call us at (203) 573-8034 to schedule a free consultation with Dr. Aronson. We look forward to helping your child achieve the best possible early orthodontic care!

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