DR. BRIAN LEE JOINS AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ORTHODONTISTS IN RECOMMENDING ORTHODONTIC CHECK-UPS FOR CHILDREN NO LATER THAN AGE 7

 (Forest Hills,  Queens NY)— Although many people associate orthodontic treatment with adolescence, Forest Hills orthodontist, Dr. Brian Lee of Braces and Smiles, says that orthodontists can spot subtle problems with jaw growth or with the teeth much earlier, while the primary or “baby” teeth are present.

Parents may incorrectly assume they must wait until a child has all of his or her permanent teeth.  However, the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) and Braces and Smiles recommends that every child get check-up with an orthodontist no later than age 7.

“I can’t emphasize how important it is that parents understand the value of an orthodontic check- up,” says Dr. Lee.  “By age 7, enough permanent teeth have arrived for an orthodontist to evaluate relationships developing between teeth, jaw and bite.  Orthodontists can determine what, if anything, is awry.

“A visit to the orthodontist can ease a parent’s mind, too,” notes Dr. Lee.  “Our recommendation may simply be ‘let’s wait and see’ while the face and jaws continue to grow.”

Some of the more readily apparent conditions that indicate the need for an examination include:

• early or late loss of baby (primary) teeth
• difficulty in chewing or biting
• mouth breathing
• thumb sucking habits
• crowding, misplaced or blocked-out teeth
• jaws that shift or make sounds or noise
• speech difficulties
• biting the cheek or the roof of the mouth
• teeth that meet abnormally, or don’t meet at all
• facial imbalance or asymmetry
• jaws that are too far forward or back
• grinding or clenching of the teeth

Dr. Lee notes that protrusive teeth can be prone to injury.

For more information, visit Braces and Smiles website, http://bracesandsmiles.com, or call 718-268-3666 to schedule your free orthodontic consultation.  Braces and Smiles is the best orthodontic clinic for Invisalign and Braces located in Forest Hills, Queens NY

Dr. Lee graduated from University of Pennsylvania School of Dentistry and completed an additional two and a half year, advanced educational program in orthodontics at University of the Pacific Orthodontic Residency Program.

Dr. Lee is a member of the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), which has 17,000 members in the United States, Canada and abroad. Orthodontists are uniquely qualified specialists who correct improperly aligned teeth and jaws (bad bites).  They receive an additional two to three years of specialized education beyond dental school to learn the proper way to align and straighten teeth.  Only those with this formal education may call themselves “orthodontists,” and only orthodontists are eligible for membership in the AAO.  Visit the AAO online at www.mylifemysmile.org or Braces and Smiles at http://bracesandsmiles.com