Ask Dr. Moravec: When should my child come in for a check-up?

Many parents assume they must wait until their child has all of his or her permanent teeth to visit Dr. Steven Moravec to begin treatment, 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. Moravec to make a determination about whether any problems are present. The first molars have come in, providing an opportunity to check for malocclusion, or what Dr. Moravec and our team call “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 Moravec Orthodontics to schedule an appointment.

At Moravec Orthodontics, a pursuit of excellence

At Moravec Orthodontics we make every effort to provide you with the best orthodontic treatment. For us that means achieving consistently great results. There are many things that help Dr. Moravec do that. Some of them are:

1. Using the most up to date and proven technologies available
2. Spending time and resources on continuing education to stay current and relevant
3. Training our entire team on new techniques
4. Educating our patients about the pursuit of excellence

If you or a family member has been thinking about orthodontic treatment, please give us a call. Dr. Moravec and our team look forward to seeing you.

Have a great weekend!

Protecting your mouth during sports, with Dr. Moravec

At Moravec Orthodontics, we know it's difficult to believe spring is on its way (we're almost there!). The spring months, however, bring an increase in outdoor activities and a greater chance of kids damaging your precious mouths and pearly whites. If you play sports, it's important that you consult Dr. Moravec for special precautions. A protective mouth guard is advised for playing spring sports such as baseball and soccer. Be sure to avoid mouth guards that custom form to your teeth as these will resist any tooth movements we are trying to achieve.

In case of any accident involving the face, check your mouth and the appliances immediately. If teeth are loosened or the appliances damaged, please schedule an appointment with Moravec Orthodontics. And don’t forget to ask us—Dr. Moravec may recommend the best mouth guard for you.

Only by using a mouth guard and other forms of facial protection can kids with and without braces avoid serious sports injuries. Please give us a call if you have any questions about mouth guards or your treatment at Moravec Orthodontics.

Access your account anytime with Moravec Orthodontics

At Moravec Orthodontics, we embrace new technology, whether it is through the innovative (and 21st Century) orthodontic treatments that we offer, our high-tech web site and social networks, or our modern office conveniently located in Plainfield.

Did you know that patients of Dr. Moravec have access to their account, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, on our web site? You can look up your appointments and all of your account details at your convenience, from the comfort of your own home! You can even receive appointment reminders through email or text messages! Just see what some of our patients are saying about Ortho Sesame!

"I liked being able to show my huband the page about the doctor since he hasn't met him personally. I like seeing our next appointment to verify I've got it correct on my calendar." ~ Todd. L.

"I can access Sesame any time for my information, whereas I work days and cannot always make phone calls." ~ Lynne V.

"It has helped me keep track of the important things that matter such as being on track with Jonathan"s appointment and my finances." ~ Sonia L.

"This service is very convenient for me, and it is nice to have so much information readily available to me at any time." ~ Ralph V.

You can sign up for this convenient service on our web site by clicking the "Patient Login" button on our homepage. Please call the team at Moravec Orthodontics if you have any questions!