Top Reasons Parents Choose Chattahoochee Family Orthodontics for Their Family’s Orthodontic Services

As a parent, have you ever wondered why you should choose one orthodontist over another just a few miles down the road? How can you discern if one orthodontist is better than another? 

What do you need to look for in an orthodontist? How can your children benefit from being regularly seen by an orthodontist on a consistent basis?

All of these questions are vital for the health of your child and you’re not alone in asking them! We’re here to help make this process simple for you. 

In this article, we’ll uncover the top reasons why you should choose Chattahoochee Family Orthodontics as your family’s number one choice when it comes to finding the right orthodontist. 

We don’t want this process to be another source of stress or anxiety for you and your family when you’re looking for an orthodontist. We’ve brought together all the best information and put it in one place to help you make an informed and careful decision.

Scroll to learn more! And, as always, please reach out to us if you have questions. We are happy to help and we’re only a phone call away.

1. Location options!

One thing that will make your life easier is having orthodontic office locations closest to your home or your kid’s school. We have convenient locations in Cumming, Dacula/Hamilton Mill, and Suwanee, GA.

If you have any questions, please call us at the office nearest to you and schedule an appointment today.

2. Patient stories & reviews - See what other patients and families have to say about Chattahoochee Family Orthodontics!

The internet has made researching an orthodontist and orthodontic services easier than ever. We know that as you look for and research the best orthodontist for your kid, you’re going to investigate what other parents have had to say - and you should! 

Parents know better than anyone else which doctor and office are best. We are so proud that many of our patients come from the referrals of other families (check out our orthodontics referral program)!

We make it a goal to share personal testimonials from patients and families who have walked through our doors so you can hear what their experiences have been like from start to finish.

You can check out our patient reviews on the following links:

• Our Cumming, GA orthodontics office reviews

• Our Hamilton Mill/Dacula, GA orthodontics office reviews

• Our Suwanee, GA orthodontics office reviews

3. We know that everyone’s needs and situations are unique. We work with our patients on financing options!

We have families, too. We get that a big concern in choosing an orthodontist is cost. Don’t worry - that’s where we can help! We understand that no two families' situations are the same. 

We want to make quality orthodontic care affordable for you without compromising the quality of care that you receive.

To learn more about payment information, visit our webpage here. 

If you find that you have questions in regards to payment or financing, just give us a call! We’ll be ready to help you and work together towards a solution that suits you and your family.

4. We have office hours that work with your family’s schedule and we work hard to ensure a limited wait time before your appointment.

At Chattahoochee Family Orthodontics, we want to make sure we have flexible office hours to meet your family’s needs. This is also why we have short wait times at your orthodontic appointment. 

We get that your life is full and our desire is to have hours that work for you.

• Our Cumming, GA office hours: Monday-Thursday, 8-5pm

• Our Hamilton Mill/Dacula, GA office hours: Monday-Thursday, 8-5pm

• Our Suwanee, GA office hours: Monday-Thursday, 8-5pm

To schedule your appointment today, give us a call at the office nearest to you. We can’t wait to care for your family!

5. We offer comprehensive orthodontic services with compassionate care.

We want to set you and your family up for long-term, orthodontic success! We know that by creating and fostering a calm environment, with compassionate staff, and comprehensive orthodontic services, we can create experiences that limit dental anxiety and increase positive memories associated with going to the orthodontist.

Our orthodontic services include:

• Children’s orthodontics

• Invisalign® Teen clear braces

• Invisalign® clear braces for adults

• Traditional braces

• Clear braces

• And more!

It’s easy to see that we offer a number of services that will ensure you and your family receive the best orthodontic care possible. 

If you are interested in touring the office prior to your appointment, please don’t hesitate to ask! We want to help the process go smoothly and know that an office visit can assist in lessening the uncertainty of what’s to come.

Give us a call at the office nearest to you or visit our website to review our services.

6. We are accepting new patients!

We are excited to care for you and your family with affordable orthodontics. We know that the services we provide now will make a difference in your future. We want to get to know you and take care of any issues you may be facing while also preventing issues from materializing.

We take a focused and personalized approach to orthodontics. With us you will never be a number, but a face with a name. You have nothing to lose by choosing us to take care of your orthodontic needs and everything to gain in improving your oral health.

Call us today to get your appointment scheduled. We are accepting new patients and look forward to having you in our office soon!

7. We help you save money for your orthodontic services!

Chattahoochee Family Orthodontics offers 3 ways to save on orthodontic services that will benefit your family:

1. Patient Referral Program: get rewarded for each friend you refer to us. Read the details here.

2. S.P.O.T. Savings Plan: create a custom savings program that allows you to start planning for your child’s future orthodontic treatment at an early age, in order to help minimize the financial impact it may have. Learn more here.

3. Homeschool Advantage Plan for Orthodontics Care: offering customized office hours and a $400 orthodontic treatment plan discount. Read the details here.

And if you have any questions, don’t hesitate to contact us. In addition to these 3 programs, don’t forget to inquire about orthodontic financing options that may be available to you.

8. Safety is a top priority and always will be.

Chattahoochee Family Orthodontics orthodontists and staff care deeply about your safety and well-being. That’s why we make sure we follow all of the safety guidelines outlined by:

• http://www.cdc.gov/

• http://www.ada.org/

• https://www.osha.gov/

• https://www.aaoinfo.org/  

We hope this has helped! 

Our goal for orthodontics at Chattahoochee Family Orthodontics in Georgia is to ensure that you and your family receive the best care possible. Our belief is that this can be achieved through providing convenient locations and services with offices and staff who are willing and ready to help every step of the way.

We are excited to begin the journey of orthodontic health alongside you and your family! Call us today at the office nearest to you to schedule your appointment. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Our New Normal

Providing you with the ultimate dental experience is our why. Our team’s passion for oral health and education is why we come to the office every single day. We truly love getting to know your family, establishing relationships with your kiddos and watching them develop and grow strong oral hygiene habits that keep their mouths healthy. How do we continue to provide that same experience while maintaining Covid-19 safety measures? 

We have been developing our “new normal” plan since January 2020 in order to be prepared for this exact event. It is so important to us that you know we are taking every single measure possible to keep your family safe while in our office, but that does mean there will be some significant changes. 

Curb Side Check In – The day before your appointment a member of our team will call to confirm your appointment date and time. You will be given a “check in time” that is approximately 15-20 minutes earlier than your scheduled appointment time. Once you arrive at your check in time, there will be a table set up outside that you will check in at, in order to practice correct social distancing, we will have an “x” showing you where to stand. During your check in process, we will take the temperature of every person entering our office as well as screening them with a medical questionnaire. We are asking that parents wait in their car during their child’s appointment time in order to keep our office as clean and sterile as possible. If you are uncomfortable with waiting in your vehicle, you may wait in our lobby that has been set up with seats 6 feet apart. 

Duration of appointment – In order to practice safe social distancing (6 feet apart), each patient will be seated at least 6 feet apart. Only one parent will be allowed back with each child and a mask must be worn. If you are planning on going back to the clinical area with your child, please bring a mask to this appointment. 

If your child has a dental symptom that you are concerned about, we will continue to use our Teledentistry protocol, we will not be seeing problem focused exams in office. To schedule a Teledentistry evaluation, please call our office directly and a team member will assist in scheduling an evaluation with one of our doctors. If our doctor finds that treatment is necessary, we will schedule your in-office appointment from there, it will be at this appointment that treatment is completed. 

Due to limited appointment availability during this time, if your appointment has not been confirmed at least 24 hours before your scheduled appointment time, your appointment will be canceled, and another appointment will take its place. Please bear with us as we are trying to accommodate all patients that missed appointments in March and April. If you do not show up for your appointment, you will not be able to reschedule the appointment until Fall of 2020. 

During this time, all toys and gaming systems will be removed/shut down from our office. This measure has been taken to minimize spread of germs and bacteria. 

We are currently adding extended hours and adding days to our schedule in effort to see our patients whose appointments had to be cancelled during our temporary closure. Please bear with us while we iron out all the details. As soon as they become available, we will let you know. 

If you have any questions or concerns about our new procedures, please call our office directly and one of our team members will be happy to answer any questions and ease any concerns you may have. 

Posted by Chattahoochee Family Orthodontics

PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)

I’m sure you all have heard the term “PPE” quite a bit recently. We have seen thousands of social media posts, news reports, and heard whispers from random people in the grocery stores talking about their PPE. The first thing you probably think of when you hear PPE is most likely masks and gloves but is that really what PPE is? PPE is short for Personal Protective Equipment and just because you are wearing a mask and gloves, doesn’t necessarily mean you are being protected or that you are protecting others. In order to keep our team members and our patients healthy, we are following all rules set in place by the CDC (Center of Disease Control), OSHA, Department of Public Health and the Board of Dental Examiners. So, what exactly is our office doing to keep you and our team members safe?

Face Shields – Healthcare workers' faces have been reported to be the body part most commonly contaminated by splashes, sprays and spatter of body fluids. A face shield provides a barrier protection to the facial area and related mucous membranes (eyes, nose, lips). Our clinical team will be wearing face shields during the duration of your dental appointment to lower the risk of contamination. All face shields will be cleaned and sanitized after each patient.

Disposable Gowns – Our teams will be wearing disposable gowns instead of lab jackets. Jackets and gowns are used to protect team members from contamination by splashes, sprays and spatter. 

Hand Sanitizer – In addition to washing our hands frequently, our team will be using hand sanitizer during the duration of patient care hours. In order for hand sanitizer to be fully effective, each team member has been instructed to use the proper amount of hand sanitizer and rubbing all over the surfaces of both hands until hands are dry. 

Antiviral Mouthwash (Peroxyl) – Before each appointment begins, every patient will be instructed to rinse their mouth with Peroxyl mouth rinse. Peroxyl is used to provide a whole mouth cleanse before the dental appointment begins. 

Thermometer – Each person entering our office will have their temperature taken to make sure there is no current fever. Any person running a fever will be unable to enter the office and any scheduled patient who is running a fever will have their appointment rescheduled to another date. 

KN95 Masks – KN95 masks are filtration masks that protect our clinical team from airborne particles like viruses, bacteria and dust. Our doctors and clinical team members will be wearing KN95 masks for all dental procedures that create aerosolization. In addition to wearing the KN95 mask, our doctors and clinical team members will also wear a surgical mask over the KN95 mask. 

Additional Protective Measures – No team member will be allowed to work if they have a fever or any other symptoms of COVID-19. We will also be screening every person entering our office including having their temperature taken. 

Our patients and team members health is our number one priority, if you have any additional questions about the PPE our practice is using, please feel free to contact our office directly and one of our team members will be happy to answer and ease any of your questions or concerns. 

Posted by Chattahoochee Family Orthodontics

Our New Cleaning Protocol

Even before our practice closed for the Covid-19 pandemic, we began developing a comprehensive reopening plan in the case that our office would need to temporarily close. We have devoted countless hours researching, talking with the experts, getting your opinions and planning how to reopen our practice while keeping your health and our teams health our number one priority. As much as we would love for life to go back to the normal, we are used to, we know that isn’t going to happen for a while. 

Before Covid-19 was a household name everybody knew, our team had been trained on how to properly clean and sanitize our orthodontic equipment and our practice. Each member of our team owned daily cleaning tasks and made sure they were completed throughout the day. Covid-19 has changed the way our team will be cleaning and sanitizing moving forward. 

In order to reopen, our practice will undergo a “deep clean” that follows CDC guidelines, our cleaning team has been trained how to appropriately disinfect and sanitize all surfaces. This is a long and rigorous process that includes hand washing all surfaces to make sure all dirt and debris have been lifted. Cleaning works by using soap (or detergent) and water to physically remove dirt and impurities from surfaces. This process does not necessarily kill germs, but by removing them, it lowers their numbers and the risk of spreading infection. Once the cleaning process has been completed, the disinfecting stage will begin. Disinfecting works by using chemicals to kill germs on surfaces or objects. Our cleaning team will be using hospital grade disinfectant to ensure germs and bacteria are killed. Each team member who will be working in our office will be following the CDC guidelines which include wearing gloves, masks and practicing social distancing during the cleaning process.  

Our clinical and administrative teams have been trained on new sanitizing procedures that will be completed hourly once our office reopens. We have also created a cleaning schedule for all common areas that will need to be cleaned and sanitized more frequently. We are fully stocked on all appropriate cleaning supplies that kill germs and bacteria on surfaces. 

Our patients and their health are our number one priority. Our teams volunteered their time to be trained in how to properly clean and sanitize our office so they can continue to treat our patients. We can’t wait to see you. 

If you have any questions about our cleaning and sanitation process, please call our office directly and one of our team members will be available to answer your questions. 

Posted by Chattahoochee Family Orthodontics

Invisalign for Teenagers: What Parents Need to Know

“Mom, Dad?”

“Yes, Jonathan?”

“I know when I went to the dentist a couple of weeks ago she mentioned that I may need braces, but high school is hard enough already without braces.”

“Well son, if you don’t get them now, the problem will just get worse.”

“I know that. Dad. I don’t mean I don’t want to do anything. I actually want to talk to you both about Invisalign. I heard about it on TV and I think it could really work for me.”

Have You had a Similar Conversation with Your Teenager?

If so, you need to learn the facts about Invisalign. While the nearly invisible alternative to traditional metal braces can work for some teens, it isn’t for everyone.

At Chattahoochee Family Orthodontics, we know that you care about your child’s dental and orthodontic health. We know you want to make an informed decision that will benefit your teenager. In this article we’re going to reveal 7 things all parents should know when considering Invisalign for teenagers.

1. It’s Normally a Great Braces Alternative for Teens with Mild to Moderate Issues

Invisalign actually makes a product exclusively for teens called Invisalign Teen. It’s normally a great alternative to braces for teenagers that have only mild to moderate crowding or spacing issues.

Obviously “mild to moderate” is a bit vague, which is why it’s impossible to know whether or not your teenager is a good candidate for Invisalign without scheduling a consultation (which you can do right here on our website).

Once we are able to evaluate your teen during his or her Invisalign consultation, we’ll be able to provide more details on treatment and recommend the specific type of Invisalign treatment that is best for your teenager (there are different “types” of Invisalign treatment).

2. Your Teenager Will Have to Make a Commitment

When it comes to the success or failure of Invisalign treatment for teenagers, compliance is essential. While some teenagers only have to wear their aligners for a few months, more often than not, it’s going to be somewhere between a 1-3 year commitment.
While you don’t have to wear your Invisalign aligners all the time (more on this below), it does require a bit of responsibility.

However, that’s a good thing! Nothing wrong with using Invisalign to teach your teenager a little more responsibility. They will be better off for it as an adult.

3. Aligners Must be Worn Most of the Time

One of the benefits of Invisalign aligners over traditional metal braces is that Invisalign aligners are removable. While that’s great, it can present a bit of a “catch 22” situation at times.

Your teenager must have the self-discipline to wear the aligners most of the time, understanding that if they don’t, they are only hurting themselves. At our orthodontics practices in Cumming, Suwanee, and Hamilton Mill, GA we recommend that teenagers wear their Invisalign aligners for 22 hours a day.

Yes, 22 hours is a lot, and in reality if your teenager falls a little short and only wears them for 20 or so hours per day, they will be fine. Again, Invisalign aligners are great for teenagers because they can take them out while eating, going on dates, going to prom, and things of that nature.

4. It Will Require Regular Visits to the Orthodontist

Most orthodontists (ourselves included) are going to want to see your child about every 6 weeks.

Each set of aligners is worn, on average, for about 2 weeks, so seeing an orthodontist every 6 weeks or so to check on your progress is very important.

Some parents may see this as a minor inconvenience, but at our practice we will schedule your child’s 6-week Invisalign checkups well in advance so you can adjust your schedule accordingly.

Our goal is to work with you and your teenager to be as efficient as possible with our time and yours, while providing your child with a great outcome for their Invisalign treatment.

5. It’s Not Always More Expensive Than Traditional Metal Braces (Hint: Affordable Monthly Payments)

A lot of parents don’t consider Invisalign because they’ve heard it is very expensive. While Invisalign was quite expensive when the treatment first came to market, that is no longer the case.

At Chattahoochee Family Orthodontics, we are often 20-40% lower than our competitor’s pricing, and will beat any price you are quoted from any of our local competitors by 5%.
We are committed to being the top Invisalign provider in the North Atlanta area, so if you are in the Cumming, Suwanee, or Hamilton Mill areas of Georgia, give our office a call. You’ll be surprised at how low (sometimes less than $100/month) our payments for Invisalign Teen treatment can be!

For more information on Invisalign Teen and what Invisalign for teenagers will cost, click the link below:

https://www.chattahoocheefamilyortho.com/invisalign-teen

6. Your Teen will Have More Confidence (Invisalign is “Cool” These Days)

It’s not fair, but metal braces can have a bit of a social stigma attached to them, especially during the teenage years.

This simply isn’t the case with Invisalign. The clear, invisible aligners are actually trendy, meaning your teenager probably won’t mind wearing them more often than not.

While I’m sure you aren’t too concerned whether your teen is “cool” or not, Invisalign certainly won’t hurt their self-esteem in the same way that traditional metal braces might.

7. It’s Worth It

As a parent, the most important thing to you is that your teenager is healthy and happy. Invisalign Teen accomplishes both of these goals by giving your child a healthier, straighter, and more confident smile.

We’ve yet to talk with a parent who regrets bringing their teenager in for an Invisalign consultation! The teenagers and parents get the result they want (straighter teeth) without having to wear traditional metal braces.

So What is the Next Step?

We hope the 7 points above have shed a little more light on the Invisalign treatment process for teenagers.

As mentioned above, the only way to know for certain whether or not your teenager is a candidate for Invisalign is to schedule a consultation with our orthodontist, Dr. Patrick Barnes.

Dr. Barnes is experienced in providing Invisalign treatment and recommendations to teenagers. If you would like to schedule your Invisalign consultation with Dr. Barnes at our Cumming, Suwanee, or Hamilton Mill location, please call us today or request your appointment on this page here.

Posted by Chattahoochee Family Orthodontics

What Happens if My Child Doesn’t Get Braces?

There are some cases where it is obvious that a child needs braces. As a loving parent or guardian it’s a no brainer at that point; you visit an orthodontist and get braces.

However, there are some cases where getting braces isn’t necessarily a cut and dry decision.

After all, even though braces have become more affordable in recent years (especially with the financing options available at Chattahoochee Family Orthodontics), it can still be a challenging financial decision if your child is “on the fence” regarding whether or not braces are needed.

So if you’re a parent or guardian reading this, and you aren’t sure whether or not you should get braces for your child, here are our thoughts.

Also, if you’ve visited another orthodontist and the feeling just wasn’t quite right, we recommend calling our practice closest to you (locations in Cumming, Hamilton Mill, and Suwanee, GA). If you would like to read more about our orthodontists, links to their bios are below:

We don’t always recommend braces…

It’s true! Obviously, the majority of patients who visit an orthodontist will need some form of orthodontic care, otherwise they wouldn’t be here.

That being said, we evaluate each patient carefully and recommend the correct treatment option to provide the best possible outcome for your child. That may be traditional metal braces or a different orthodontic appliance.

Here are some early signs your child may need braces

If your child is experiencing any of the following problems, it would be a good idea to take them to an orthodontist. As mentioned above, we are happy to provide a second opinion for you!

• Teeth that do not meet correctly (gaps in teeth or teeth that overlap)

• Teeth that are crowded

• An underbite, overbite, or crossbite

• Jaws that make a clicking or popping sound when chewing (this could be due to jaw misalignment)

• Speech problems such as a lisp (this could be due to a jaw or teeth issue)

And more.

If you’ve noticed anything out of the ordinary (or if your child has complained about anything regarding their teeth or mouth), it’s a good idea to see an orthodontist for an evaluation, especially if your child is approaching the age of 7 or already past it (That’s when the American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first orthodontic appointment).

What happens if I pass on braces and there is a chance my child needs them?

House/rent payment, clothes, bills, food, etc…we get it. Life is expensive and believe us, we’re not saying that you shouldn’t put a lot of thought into it before your child undergoes orthodontic treatment.

A lot of team members at Chattahoochee Family Orthodontics have children and grandchildren, so we definitely understand and empathize with how much money it takes to raise a child (or multiple children) these days.

However, orthodontic care is an important and essential part of your child’s overall health and well-being; it isn’t really optional if your child needs it.

While a straight smile and correct bite are not only healthier, orthodontics will actually make your child feel better both physically and emotionally. Physically, not getting braces can lead to other more complicated dental and orthodontic issues down the road, including potential (costly) surgery to fix more extensive damage.

In addition, if a child needs braces and doesn’t get them (even if they are on the fence, so to speak), it can lead to bad headaches (due to a misaligned jaw or poor bite) down the road.

From an emotional standpoint children, teenagers, and adults with a crooked smile tend not to smile as much, which can lead to poor self-esteem and confidence issues that could hinder your child throughout life.

Need a second opinion? Or want to make sure braces are right for your child?

We are not a “braces factory.” Our number one goal is to ensure that your child gets the orthodontic treatment they need; even if that is no treatment at all!

We care for each and every one of our patients as if they were one of our own children, and put the need of the patient before profit. At Chattahoochee Family Orthodontics, we’re going to recommend the right treatment for your child, not just the one we think we can sell.

If you’re looking for an orthodontist who will be honest with you about your child’s orthodontic needs, give our location nearest you a call today.

Posted by Chattahoochee Family Orthodontics

Braces Options for Teens: What is Best for Your Child?

While we treat patients of all ages, teenagers are the most common here at Chattahoochee Family Orthodontics. This is because orthodontic treatment is ideal for teens. It is a time of quick growth and change for them, which means it’s easier to shape their smile and bite.

If your child is in need of braces, you’re probably both wondering what the best option is. Teens can get nervous about the way they look and what others will think of them.

The good news– the options are far better than they used to be. In this article, we’ll discuss the different braces options for teens so that you can learn more about the best treatments.

Why do Teens Need Braces?

Braces can solve a number of oral health issues, including:

• Overly crowded and crooked teeth

• Gaps between teeth

• Overbite (where the upper teeth bite over the lower teeth)

• Open bite (where some teeth cannot properly touch each other)

• Underbite (where the lower teeth stick out ahead of the upper teeth)

• Crossbite (where both the lower and upper teeth are misaligned)

Fixing these issues carries several benefits. First, it improves the way your teen’s smile will look. Many studies have shown that people with healthier smiles have more confidence and often enjoy more success in work and in their communities.

But it’s not just about the way your child’s teeth look. Having a good smile also has several health benefits, such as:

• Teeth are easier to clean and therefore less likely to get cavities or decay

• Bad bites can create unnecessary pressure on certain teeth – this can lead to chipped teeth or sore jaw muscles

• Straighter teeth contribute to more clear speech

We often recommend braces in a patient’s teenage years because it is a time of change. This means the treatment can happen more quickly than in their adult years, and they’ll also be surrounded by other teens who have braces.

Now we’ll discuss the most common types of braces for teens.

Metal/Traditional Braces

When most people think of braces, they think of metal or traditional braces. If you had braces as a teen, you probably had metal braces, but you should know they have progressed since then and are now lighter in weight and structure than when you were a teen.

They are made from metal brackets that are attached to each tooth and then connected by a thin archwire, which pushes and pulls on the teeth to slowly move them into the correct position.

The archwire is connected to the brackets using tiny elastics known as ligatures or o-rings. Braces need to be tightened occasionally to keep the teeth moving into the appropriate place. These elastics come in many different colors, which many teens actually love. They can choose the colors of their high school, their favorite professional sports team, or seasonal colors to go along with upcoming holidays.

Metal braces are a great choice because they are the most economical. They are also the ideal choice for younger teens because they are the most flexible and can change with your child’s needs. The downside is that they stick out the most; if your teen is really nervous about how they look, it might be worth considering the following two options.

Ceramic Braces

Ceramic braces work the same way as metal braces. The primary difference is that the brackets are made from a clear, transparent ceramic material. This means the braces are far less noticeable and blend in better with your child’s teeth.

Ceramic braces are more expensive than metal braces and can stain if not taken care of properly, but they could be a great choice for teens who don’t want shiny metal flickering from the front of their teeth.

Invisalign

One method that is growing in popularity is the use of invisible aligners. Treatment with invisible aligners can take anywhere from a few months to 2 years. Your orthodontist takes impressions of your teeth and creates a plan to correct the bite and alignment of the teeth over time. Every two weeks, your teen will receive a new, clear, plastic mouthpiece that they wear on their teeth. Each one slowly helps move the teeth towards the finished smile.

There are a few great benefits of invisible aligners. They are clear and not nearly as noticeable as traditional braces or even ceramic braces. They can also be removed, which makes dental care and eating a much easier process for teens. The problems— invisible aligners typically cannot fix severe problems and tend to be the most expensive.

What Option is Best for Your Child?

Now the question remains– which option is best for your child? Perhaps the best way to determine this is to discuss your options with an orthodontist you trust. You’ll want to understand your teenager’s concerns about getting braces and consider your budget. After your orthodontist examines your child’s mouth, they can recommend what they think is best.

If you’re looking for an orthodontist you can trust in the Cumming, Hamilton Mill, or Suwanee Georgia areas, then look no further than Chattahoochee Family Orthodontics.

Dr. Barnes is an accomplished orthodontist with years of experience and a passion for working with families and teens to provide great smiles that last a lifetime. Our priority is to make a positive impact in your child’s life by enhancing self-confidence, self-esteem and overall dental health.

Contact us today to schedule an appointment…we’d love to meet you.

Posted by Chattahoochee Family Orthodontics

How Braces Can Give Your Child More Confidence Later in Life

Most kids aren’t too excited about getting braces. To them, braces means years (which seems like a lifetime if you’re 10) of metal in their mouth, not getting to eat candy, and having to spend extra time brushing their teeth.

But while the braces might not be their favorite experience, the investment will pay incredible dividends throughout the rest of their life. Many studies have shown the benefits that braces can provide to your child as they grow into adults.

In this article, we’ll explore those benefits, especially how braces can actually give your child more confidence later in life.

Why your child might need braces

Braces are a common treatment for a few different oral health issues, including:

Correcting bad bite (or malocclusion)

• Bad bite often creates unnecessary pressure on specific teeth, which can lead to chipped or damaged teeth

• Bad bite can also cause stress on your chewing muscles, which can lead to TMJ syndrome or headaches

Overcrowded teeth

• Overcrowded teeth will make cleaning certain areas of your teeth more difficult, which makes tooth decay and destruction more likely

• Overcrowded teeth can also lead to gum disease and/or the loss of teeth

Providing braces to correct these conditions at an early age sets your child up for a healthier and happier smile later in life. Having chipped, damaged, or no teeth is never good for your smile or confidence.

You can help prevent this for your child by taking action today. Not only that, you can save your child from some pain later in life from things like tooth decay and TMJ.

Early treatments reduce treatments in later years

For most people, they want braces less and less as they get older. Teens are more self-conscious of the way they look than children, and adults can be even more self-conscious. For instance, most adults don’t want to attend a board meeting with metal in their mouth (fortunately, there are some other options for adults wanting braces).

By reducing the amount of time your child will need orthodontic treatment later in life, you can help provide them with more confidence in the future. Many people are surprised to learn that the American Association of Orthodontics (AAO) recommends a child start visiting the orthodontist at the age of 7.

While treatment isn’t always required at this age, it’s still an ideal time to evaluate a child. This is because bones are still growing and we can determine if any orthodontic treatment is needed now or in the future.

Treating things early, while those bones are still growing, can make treatment later in life as a teen much easier for your child. Things like overcrowding are far easier to correct while your child’s jaw is already growing.

A good smile affects happiness

If you look at pictures on social media, you might find a lot of people who hide their teeth when they smile. This might be because they have crooked, chipped, missing, or discolored teeth. Rather than show those imperfections to the world when they smile, they simply keep their lips sealed.

But if your child covers up their smile, it could actually hold them back. One study by psychologist Paul Ekman, PhD showed that the simple act of smiling actually makes people happier. If your child goes through life hiding their smile, then life will be more challenging for them.

A good smile affects perception

Another study explored how people perceive others with good smiles. They surveyed over 1,000 Americans about images of men and women with both straight and crooked teeth. Respondents were not told about the differences, but were asked to give their honest opinion about them.

Here are a few discoveries made by the study:

• 29% of respondents said that another person’s teeth is the first characteristic they typically notice on someone’s face.

• Respondents believed that those with straight teeth were 45% more likely to get a job than those with crooked teeth (when skill set and experience were the same).

• People with straight teeth were seen as 57% more likely to get a date (based on their picture alone).

• People with straight teeth were 21% more likely to be seen as happy.

• People with straight teeth were 47% more likely to be viewed as healthy.

• People with straight teeth were 38% more likely to be perceived as smart.

As you can see, having a good smile will drastically improve the way your child is perceived by others. Whether this is right or wrong, it is the way the world operates.

Giving your child braces at a young age makes it far more likely that they’ll have greater confidence later in life, and it also means other people will notice.

Next steps

If your child is older than 7 and hasn’t been to the orthodontist, it’s time to schedule an appointment. Remember, starting treatment earlier makes it easier later in life.

If you’re in the North Atlanta area, we recommend you schedule an appointment with us here at Chattahoochee Family Orthodontics. We have three convenient locations in Suwanee, Hamilton Mill, and Cumming, GA.

Our team has extensive experience working with children, teens, and adults who are looking to improve their smile and confidence. We take great pride in the results we’re able to deliver, so contact us today to see how we can help transform your smile.

Posted by Chattahoochee Family Orthodontics