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Parents are usually well-versed in getting their child to the dentist early on. Establishing oral health routines for your toddlers is standard – but many parents have questions about getting their child set up with first orthodontist visit. What about their first visit to the orthodontist? When should they go? Is my child too young for the orthodontist? Is my child too young for braces? Luckily, all these questions have simple answers.

 The Lucky Number Seven

Age seven is the magic number for a orthodontist. This is because, at seven, your child’s first set of molars should have come in. This first set of molars erupts between ages six and seven and are in the lower jaw and do not replace any baby teeth.

The seven-year molars are a good indicator of future dental issues once they have fully grown in. Seeing your child right after this growth occurs allows your orthodontist to get a more accurate picture of your child’s mouth and treatment plan than if they were seen before the molars grew in but give them enough time to address possible issues before it’s too late.

 Benefits of Early Orthodontic Treatment – Short Term

Having crooked teeth or a skewed bite is hard on your self-confidence. Sadly, many children with these dental issues experience teasing and bullying from their peers. It’s the reason so many are eager to visit the orthodontist when the time comes. When treatment begins it can take a while to complete, but most patients tend to see gradual improvements well before their appliances come off.

It can be hard for kids to wait months or years for results, so some short-term benefits of early treatment that are equally as great as the long-term results are an easier time at the dentist. Better oral health will certainly help in that regard and improve self-esteem.

Seeing an first orthodontist visit for an initial evaluation does not necessarily mean treatment begins right away. Your orthodontist may recommend a treatment plan that starts a year down the road. The most important part is that your child’s mouth moves at its own pace to a beautiful and healthy smile!

Benefits of Early Orthodontic Treatment – Long Term

Early orthodontic treatment is a proactive step parents can take to promote their children’s long term oral health. Because early orthodontic treatment occurs when your child has a mixture of adult and baby teeth, there are countless issues in the long run that can be avoided. One example of this is early treatment can regulate the width of the dental arch before they progress into more serious orthodontic issues. The dental arch is the part of the jaw that houses your teeth. - in the treatment of problems in the dental arch and what is called malocclusions, or the improper alignment of the upper and lower teeth.

Proactive treatment also makes sure your child has fewer impacted teeth, fewer future tooth extraction procedures, and may resolve speech problems. Procedures to correct these issues once the teeth fully develop are costly and time-consuming. The early treatment approach may be the preventative measure that stops their occurrence.

What are the significant differences between traditional and minimally invasive spine surgery?

Open spine surgery is still the default choice for most cases of spinal disorders. However, there are some circumstances where minimally invasive spine procedures offer several advantages over traditional open techniques. Minimally invasive spine surgery is now considered the gold standard for treating herniated discs, degenerative disc disease, stenosis, scoliosis, and other common spine conditions.

The main difference between minimally invasive and traditional open spine surgery is its performance. Traditional open spine surgery involves making large incisions along the length of the spine. During this procedure, surgeons must cut through muscle, bone, ligaments, blood vessels, nerves, and organs. In addition, they often use retractors to hold the tissues out of the way while working inside the body. These incisions can cause significant scarring and prolonged healing periods.

Minimally invasive spine surgery, however, uses small incisions and less tissue trauma. First, surgeons work around the spine through tiny incisions, usually no larger than one inch. Then, they insert surgical instruments through those openings rather than cutting into the patient’s skin. This technique prevents extensive tissue damage.

There are many benefits of minimally invasive spine surgery over traditional open spine surgery.

Less Pain

Traditional open spine surgery requires patients to lie completely flat during the entire procedure. They lie flat, which causes extreme discomfort because the muscles surrounding the spine contract and pull against the bones. Patients report feeling intense pressure and pain throughout the entire process.

Minimally invasive spine surgery does not require patients to lie flat during the procedure. Instead, they remain seated upright. This upright position helps reduce the amount of pain caused by the contraction of the muscles.