Ask Dr. McFarland: When should my child first visit the orthodontist?

At McFarland Orthodontics we know that it isn't always obvious to know at what age children should first visit an orthodontist. Many parents assume they must wait until their child has all of his or her permanent teeth to see Dr. Richard McFarland for a consultation, only to discover treatment would have been much easier if started earlier. Did you know the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends that every child have an orthodontic check-up no later than age seven?

That’s right—seven.

Ok, so what’s so great about age seven, you ask? Enough permanent teeth have arrived for Dr. Richard McFarland to make a determination about whether any problems are present. The first molars have come in, providing an opportunity to check for malocclusion, or “bad bite.” Also, the incisors have begun to come in, and problems such as crowding, deep bites and open bites can be detected.

Orthodontic evaluation at an early age provides one of two positive outcomes: For some, early identification or problems will lead to easier or shorter orthodontic treatment in the future. For others, a healthy prognosis will provide immediate peace of mind.

Early evaluation, of course, may signal a need for early treatment. For some children, early treatment can prevent physical and emotional trauma. Aside from spurring on years of harmful teasing, misaligned teeth are also prone to injury and are detrimental to good oral hygiene. So, if your child is nearing his or her seventh birthday, give us a call at the office of Dr. Richard McFarland to schedule an appointment.

June is National Smile Month!

June may almost be over, but not before we remind you that June is National Smile Month! With summer finally here, it's a good time for Dr. Richard McFarland and our staff to remind all our patients to practice good oral hygiene between your visits to our office.

Below are a few simple steps you can take to improve your oral health. If you have questions about any of these tips, we encourage you to give us a call.

* Brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste. Here's a helpful video showing you how to brush with your braces on.
* Floss everyday to clean between your teeth.
* Reduce your intake of sugary foods and drinks during your orthodontic treatment with Dr. McFarland.
* Visit your dentist regularly (usually every six months apart).

Share your summer plans with Dr. McFarland!

As the school year wraps up for a lot of our patients, the days get longer and the sun begins to warm up, there’s no better way to beat the heat than jump into a pool or cool off under the shade with a cold beverage. For most of Dr. McFarland's patients, summer brings with it a chance relax and take a break from homework and other activities.

How about you?

What are your summer plans? Do you have any interesting plans for a summer vacation? Our staff would be interested in how you are all spending your summer vacations. If you’re going some place exotic, great! If you're going camping, we'd like to hear about it! Even if you're staying at home, let us know!

Feel free to share your summer plans and experiences with Dr. McFarland and team on our Facebook page as the summer rolls on!

What are happy patients saying about Dr. McFarland?

At the office of Dr. Richard McFarland, we love our patients and our patients really, really like us! Check out what some of our past patients have said about their treatment with The Colony and Flower Mound orthodontist Dr. McFarland!

"Great set up! Child is empowered to take over some of the responsibility of signing in, getting chart, etc. Do not have to sit in waiting room waiting to be called!" ~ Scott T.

"What we like about the orthodontist is the friendly staff and the kid friendly atmosphere. Great set up for allowing kids to participate in the care of their teeth." ~ Taylor S.

"My 3 children have been under Dr. McFarland's care beginning about 10 years ago. So far great job." ~ Michael W.

"Very patient with a mother full of questions. Office staff incredible. Office runs extremely efficient. Even though there are many patients being helped at the same time, my son never felt ignored. He was always very comfortable and actually happy even though braces were his worst social nightmare." ~ Dick M.

"They are good with kids. They stress the importance of brushing to my son, even though he continues to not brush properly. They have been up-front about what will happen next and how long he will have to wear his braces. They always do a complete exam." ~ Ben R.