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Many parents associate braces and orthodontics with their teen years but you may be surprised to learn that the best time for your little one to have their first orthodontic visit is around their 7th birthday. We know, we know – they’re still running around the jungle gym and definitely not exhibiting any tween behavior (at least we hope not for your sake!). That said, the American Association of Orthodontics recommends children be seen by an orthodontist at age seven and we at Dentalign Orthodontics absolutely agree. 

Why age seven?

By age 7, your child’s mouth has matured enough for a trained orthodontic eye to spot current and future issues. We can then make corrections that will help guide their jaw and teeth into a healthier place for an easier straight smile later on. 

There are many benefits to starting orthodontic treatment as a child; these include shorter treatment time, fewer impacted permanent teeth and reduced chance of needing to remove teeth. That’s because with early orthodontics we can:

• Guide teeth into desired positions early 
• Guide jaw growth
• Minimize crowding/creating room for erupting teeth
• Correct the results of oral habits like thumb and finger sucking 

At Dentalign Orthodontics, we think of early orthodontics as a two phase solution. 

• Phase 1 works with your young child to make space for his or her permanent teeth. 
• Phase 2 begins once those teeth have arrived.

If you recommend early orthodontics for my child, does that mean they won’t need braces as a teen? 

Early treatment (phase 1) can begin the correction of significant problems, prevent additional problems from developing, and simplify future treatment, but oftentimes, additional treatment is still necessary. That said, children who have undergone early orthodontic treatment typically wear braces or Invisalign for a shorter period of time in the teen years than those who have not undergone early intervention. This makes life easier for both them, and you, as both of your schedules get busier and busier.

If I bring my child to you at age 7 are you definitely going to recommend early orthodontics?

Nope! Every child is different and we customize every treatment plan to the individual. Early treatment does not necessarily benefit all children. Certain types of orthodontic problems can be more easily and efficiently corrected in the teen years when all permanent teeth have come in; some skeletal orthodontic problems should not be addressed until growth is more advanced or complete. Dr. Manisha Jindal develops a customized treatment plan based on each individual child’s needs.

In order to create a custom treatment plan for your child, we need to see you! Click below to schedule a complimentary consultation with us. We can’t wait to meet you and your seven year old! 

Click below for an in-person consultation with Dr. Manisha Jindal. We can’t wait to meet you!

Don’t forget to check out our Facebook page for more information about our practice and to read patient reviews!

Let’s face it: Bullying can be an inevitable and terrible part of growing up. While we should focus on anti-bullying strategies, we also need to focus on our teen’s self confidence and well-being. We know that sometimes bullies are lashing out as bravado because they lack their own self-confidence, or they are seeking attention that they might not be getting elsewhere. They unleash that frustration on their peers in negative ways damaging the victim’s self-confidence in the process.

A child’s self-confidence is precious and fragile, especially in the tween and teen years. As anyone who has gone through those years in braces knows, this can just add to what is an already awkward time.

At Dentalign Orthodontics, we see our job as not only creating healthy, beautiful smiles for our tween and teen patients but also caring for their overall well-being. Our goal is to become an active part of our patients’ support system. By opening conversations with our patients and building relationships we are often able to root out problems and help them come up with strategies to overcome them. 

We also have a secret weapon in our back-pocket when it comes to self-esteem: Invisalign Teen clear aligners.

A recent study found that only 22% of teens who get braces feel a boost in self-esteem; whereas, nearly half of teens wearing Invisalign feel more confident. . Likewise, 40% of teens reported that wearing braces negatively impacts their self-confidence during treatment; whereas, merely13% of teens reported feeling the same about wearing Invisalign aligners. (Not surprisingly, after conversations with our adult patients, we think the findings would be similar.)

We know that our teens are super conscious about their image. Just look at how many selfies they take, and how much time they spend liking, commenting and sharing their friends’ photos on Snapchat, Facebook and Instagram. That’s why when teens come to us for orthodontic treatment, we want to be sure we have options for them, to ensure their confidence stays high while their smile improves.

Increasing self-image and minimizing the chance that your child will experience bullying allows us to positively impact their lives not only throughout treatment but in the years to come.

Before making a decision, consider having an in-person consultation with Dr. Manisha at Dentalign Orthodontics. Our friendly team is waiting to answer any of your questions and start you or your child on a path to a gorgeous smile!

Click below for an in-person consultation with Dr. Manisha Jindal. We can’t wait to meet you!

Don’t forget to check out our Facebook page for more information about our practice and to read patient reviews!

These days you can do almost anything with the click of a button. Order school supplies. Get a ride across town. Watch your favorite movie.  Order food delivery. It seems like every day there’s a newer and easier way to do almost everything. We’ve been programmed to accept that anything can be ordered online and delivered right to your front door. However, at Dentalign Orthodontics, there is one thing that we believe has no easy replacement: orthodontic treatment. There is no match for a trained, experienced professional when it comes to your dental health. 

The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) agrees. They recently issued a Consumer Alert listing key questions to ask about direct-to-consumer orthodontic companies. You can download a print-friendly version here.

The issue is that many direct-to-consumer orthodontic companies do not involve the in-person evaluation and/or in-person supervision of your treatment we provide at Dentalign Orthodontics. This type of supervision is important because there is more to creating a healthy, beautiful smile than moving the visible portions of your teeth. If not done correctly any dental work can lead to potentially irreversible and expensive damage such as tooth and gum loss, changes to your facial profile, and other issues.  

An orthodontist like Dr. Manisha Jindal has many tools in her arsenal to help create your beautiful smile – Invisalign is just one of them. It’s important to have a fully qualified and certified orthodontist involved when making any changes to your teeth.

The Top 8 Questions To Ask

The AAO advises that when researching orthodontic treatment (including treatment models from direct-to-consumer companies like SmileDirectClub, Candid Co., Smilelove, SnapCorrect, Orthly, etc), you should consider many key questions, some of which include:

1. As part of your treatment, are comprehensive diagnostic records like x-rays taken before your treatment?
2. As part of your treatment fee, do you receive any in-person visits to a dentist’s or orthodontist’s office during your treatment?
3. Is only one treatment type offered (such as invisible aligners or a certain appliance)?
4. What are the possible risks (financial, health, etc.) associated with your orthodontic treatment?
5. Who is responsible for detecting any issues that may occur during your orthodontic treatment? Is it you? If it is a doctor not associated with your treatment, who pays for those check-ups?
6. If an emergency arises, does the company have a dentist or orthodontist in your area that you can see in-person? If not, who would cover the costs associated with seeing a dentist or orthodontist in your area?
7. If you have a dispute involving your orthodontic treatment, how is it handled?
8. Does the treatment model comply with the dental laws in your state? To check your state’s dental laws, click https://www.aaoinfo.org/state-laws-and-regulations. Information for your state dental board can be found at https://www.aaoinfo.org/aao/state-dental-board-info. 

Where You Receive Your Health Care Is A Very Important Personal Decision

Remember that orthodontic treatment is not a product or device – it is a professional, medical service. Dr. Manisha Jindal completed her education at the University of Western Ontario, first earning her undergraduate degree in Biology, then her Doctorate of Dental Surgery, and finally her Masters in Clinical Dentistry. She regularly attends continuing education to stay current on all research and advancements in the dental field, ensuring that her patients get the state-of-the-art care they deserve. She also teaches at the University of Western Ontario’s Dental School in the orthodontic and pediatric dental departments.

Before making any decision about orthodontic treatment, consider doing some research and having an in-person consultation with Dr. Manisha at Dentalign Orthodontics. Our friendly team is waiting to answer any of your questions and start you or your child on a path to a gorgeous smile!

Click below for an in-person consultation with Dr. Manisha Jindal. We can’t wait to meet you!
Don’t forget to check out our Facebook page for more information about our practice and to read patient reviews!

We all know the saying, “don’t judge a book by it’s cover”, but the reality is: we all do. First impressions are really important and your smile says a lot about you. That’s why at Dentalign Orthodontics, we care about not only helping our teens, but helping adults as well. A straight smile is crucial to making that first impression count…and metal braces as an adult isn’t necessarily the most desired look. Because of this we offer Invisalign Adult! The clear alternative to metal braces.

In a recent study by Invisalign, confirms that “people with straight teeth are perceived more likely to be happy, successful and second date worthy.” Speaking of dating, 55% of respondents said that a straight smile had a better likelihood of attracting potential partners on a dating site by their picture alone.

Already found your partner but still think straighter teeth would have a strong impact on your life? You’re right! 58% of respondents said that they perceive people with straight teeth to be more successful in business and their professional lives. That means a straight smile can be a big component of your interview kit, rocking your next presentation or winning that next sale.

So how does Invisalign Adult work?

During a consultation at Dentalign Orthodontics, Dr. Manisha determines the exact movements necessary to get your teeth into the correct position. Then the Dentalign Orthodontics team has a custom-made series of aligners created for you and only you. As you replaces each Invisalign aligner with the next in the series, the teeth will gradually and gently shift-little by little, until they have straightened to the final position Dr. Manisha has prescribed.

Other than a great first impression once you’ve finished, Invisalign offers a great first impression whileyou’re working to achieve that great smile:

Clear: Invisalign aligners are virtually invisible. No hiding your smile in meetings, engagement photos or school pick-ups and no closed-lipped selfies here!

Comfortable: Invisalign aligners are extremely comfortable made out of smooth, sleek plastic.

Removable: Don’t want your date to know you’re working on your smile? Take them off for the evening…just remember to put them back in before you go to sleep! It may not seem like it, but they’re constantly working while you go throughout your day.

Convenient: Fewer visits to the orthodontist, meaning fewer interruptions of your busy schedule. You only need to visit us at  Dentalign Orthodontics about once every 2-3 months to ensure that your treatment progress is on track.

Cost Effective: At Dentalign Orthodontics, Invisalign comes at an affordable price tag. No need to shell out extra cash to avoid metal mouth.

First impressions are super important to us too – click below for a complimentary consultation with Dr. Manisha and assess if you are a good candidate for Invisalign Adult.  We can’t wait to meet you!