Age 7 is the magic number for an orthodontic check-up

Many parents assume they must wait until their child has all of his or her permanent teeth to see Dr. McFarland for a consultation, only to discover treatment would have been much easier if started earlier. Did you know the American Association of Orthodontists 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. 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 Dr. Richard McFarland to schedule an appointment.

A few patient reviews for Dr. Richard McFarland

Dr. Richard McFarland, serving Flower Mound & The Colony, Texas and surrounding areas, has been receiving some great patient reviews lately! Check out what our current patients are saying about Dr. McFarland and team!

"Extremely friendly and personable. He's very easy to talk to. I am also very impressed with the many ways that he finds to provide comfort, convenience, and amenities to his practice. Going to the ortho is no longer something to dread...well, dread as *much*. Good job!" ~Kevin

"Very customer friendly staff. You try to make an unpleasant process fun for the kids and pleasant for the waiting family members. I like the use of technology." ~David

"The office runs extremely efficiently. Even though there are many patients being helped at the same time, my son never felt ignored." ~Dirk

Smile, and you might just live longer!

Those that smile ear to ear may actually live than those who don’t, according to a March 2010 study at Michigan’s Wayne State University. Dr. McFarland has known for quite some time that positive emotion has been linked to both physical and mental health, but researchers at the university did something quite interesting: they looked at photos of 230 ball-players who began their careers in baseball prior to 1950 and studied their smile intensity (ranging from big smile, no smile or partial smile). The players' smile ratings were compared with data from deaths that occurred from 2006 through 2009. The researchers then took into account other factors that impact life longevity, including body mass index, career length and even college attendance.

The results? Researchers found that players who weren't smiling in the photos died at the average age of 72.9 years. Players with partial smiles lived to be 75. Those with big smiles, however, lived on average to be 79.9 years old.

The take-away from the new study? Smile now, smile often, and show those pearly whites- you might just live longer! Have you been perfecting your smile by visiting Dr. R.A. McFarland, DDS, MS for treatment? If not, give us a call for a complementary consultation!

Dr. McFarland, protecting you from heat stroke this summer

With the heat wave sweeping through Flower Mound, Texas this weekend, we want you to be extra cautious when you’re out of the house. Yesterday morning, Dr. Richard Besser on Good Morning America discussed the ways you can protect yourself from heat stroke and other heat-related conditions this summer.
Dr. MacFarland and team encourage you to watch this short clip and remember to always have a bottle of water handy when heading out!