Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Kids getting braces at a younger age

Dr. Allen will tell you that braces were originally considered to be best appropriate for teens. But these days, kids as old as seven are beginning their orthodontic treatment. Because preadolescent kids are typically not self-conscious, our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists suggest it could be a good idea to start early.

Experts, however, say it depends on the treatment required. Some children who get braces at an early age end up in a second phase of treatment, and end up having braces well into their teenage years despite starting young.


Most orthodontic treatment begins between ages nine and 14, and the folks at AAO estimate most orthodontic treatment lasts from one to three years, with two years being the average. It’s important, however, that children be screened no later than age seven for Dr. Allen to assess what the best age for treatment is.

Hope this helps! Give us a call if you have any questions about your child’s treatment!

Thursday, September 9, 2010

Back to school with North County Orthodontics

Here in Oceanside and Fallbrook, CA kids and parents are beginning to stock up on pencils, spiral notebooks, and binders because it’s back to school time! To kick off the fall season, our team at North County Orthodontics will be hosting a September contest. Guess how many "Dr. Michael Allen" pencils are in the jar and you could win a $100 gift card to Barnes & Noble!

Be sure to schedule your next appointment soon, so that you can submit your guess for a chance to win. We hope you have a very successful school year!