Drs. Claro & Ghafouri present: Age 7, the magic number in orthodontics

Many parents here in Irvine and surrounding Orange County believe they should wait until their child has all of his or her permanent teeth to visit Drs. Claro or Ghafouri for a complimentary orthodontic consultation, only to find that treatment would have been much simpler if started sooner. It's important to know that the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child have an orthodontic check-up no later than age seven.

You're probably thinking, "All right, what, exactly is sooo great about age seven?" Well, by then, enough permanent teeth have arrived for Drs. Claro or Ghafouri to make a determination about whether any problems are present. Also, by then, the first molars have come in, providing us an opportunity to check for malocclusion, or what we at Irvine Orthodontics call “bad bite.”

Early evaluation, of course, may signal a need for early treatment. For most 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 detrimental to good oral hygiene. So if your child is nearing age seven, please give us a call at (949) 954-5765 to schedule an complimentary consultation.

Patients with special needs at Irvine Orthodontics

At Irvine Orthodontics, we cater to our patients’ individual needs. Patients with autism and other special needs, conditions and disabilities are welcome, and although most parents are well-versed in their child's condition and special needs, we at Irvine Orthodontics take our cues from the parents of autistic children. Basically - look the child in the eye when you speak to them and smile. Give them much positive reinforcement. Include parents in your discussions. Tell, show, do for all of your child patients, especially the special needs patients, i.e. you let them know that you will touch their cheek to stretch it so that you can look at their teeth; show them your fingers or mirror and then touch them lightly to stretch them out, etc.

We also see our special needs children during the morning and early afternoon - never in the late afternoon when the office is very busy and hectic. Most times, we have a private room for them as well. We dedicate one (and sometimes two) assistants to spend the entire time with the patient (which means we schedule more time for them) - so that the child never feels abandoned. Lastly, we never go beyond 1 hour for the treatment time (and for some children the time is only 30 minutes) - so that no one is stressed beyond their capabilities.

We ask that parents be positive about visiting the orthodontist and not to say too much about the procedure, "tools," or anything that might make their child anxious. A good questions to ask before an initial orthodontic evaluation is to inquire when the most appropriate age for orthodontic treatment is. A good question to ask before any treatment procedure is if their child will need Tylenol or Motrin and what will transpire at today's appointment. During the treatment any question pertaining to their child and their treatment is appropriate.

Ask Drs. Claro and Ghafouri: Am I too old for treatment?

Of course not.

In fact, our staff at Irvine Orthodontics recently read a fascinating statistic: the number of adults getting braces has actually jumped 24 percent since 1996! Yes, braces help make your pearly whites strong, healthy and perfectly-aligned, but perhaps another reason for the spike in adult braces is this: people want to look and feel great.

In an age—and society—where looks matter as much as anything, and at a time when evenly-aligned teeth might be the difference between getting a job or a promotion, adults are choosing—wisely, we might add—to invest in orthodontics. Orthodontic treatment with Drs. Claro or Ghafouri can be successful at any age, and we know that adults especially appreciate the benefits of a beautiful smile.

If you’ve been thinking about getting that perfect smile, Drs. Claro and Ghafouri would love to have you visit for a consultation! Please give us a call to set one up!

Ask Drs. Claro and Ghafouri: Why are straight teeth so important?

Some people wonder why our staff at Irvine Orthodontics works tirelessly to give our patients straight teeth. Of course it’s nice to have a smile full of evenly aligned teeth, but did you know that straightening your teeth can keep them healthier? Straight teeth lead to better oral hygiene, increasing your chances of keeping your own natural teeth for a lifetime!

Straight teeth are less prone to decay, because they collect less plaque—the sticky colorless substance that forms on our teeth and leads to tooth decay; and they are easier to keep clean! At Irvine Orthodontics, we truly care about our patients. Drs. Claro and Ghafouri want to help every one of our patients achieve a healthy, beautiful smile that transcends the boundaries of their expectations and gives them a renewed sense of self-confidence. Plus, in California, we know the importance of having a great smile! We want to help you achieve the healthy, straight, confident smile that you’ve always wanted.

If you’re wondering whether your teeth might cause problems because they are out of alignment, please give us a call at (949) 786-7800 to set up a consultation. Drs. Claro and Ghafouri can help you decide whether or not you will benefit from orthodontic treatment.