As I have mentioned before, the AAO recommends that children be examined by an orthodontist starting at the age of 7. For young kids that need early Phase I intervention for one reason or another, this is great. But what about the majority of the kids who don’t need anything right now? In our office we have a complimentary Junior Observation program. Children who do not need a Phase I intervention are followed on a regular basis- often times yearly or every 6 months depending

Orthodontic treatment today is more streamlined, comfortable, and all around better than it ever was. As a result, orthodontists prescribe less permanent tooth extraction than perhaps many years ago. With that being said, a good portion of patients still benefit greatly from extracting permanent teeth. This doesn’t mean that the treatment plan is ‘old fashioned’. Tooth extraction is also not done to make treatment ‘easier’ for the orthodontist. It is quite the opposite I find