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We are super excited that summer is just around the corner. Our team members are already gearing up for summer adventures! Some are planning camping trips, visits to the lake or beach, and cherished moments with family. There’s excitement in the air as kids return home from college, ready to enjoy their break.

To mark the start of summer we are celebrating with a raffle in the office to win a gift basket filled with goodies to help you enjoy the summer! The gift basket includes a beach bag, water bottle, beach blanket, towel, books, sun protection products, and floats. To enter the contest, like and follow us on social media and enter a comment about what you are looking forward to this summer.

Now that everyone is starting to get out of school, scheduling appointments may become a bit harder, especially if you are planning on going on vacation. If you plan on getting any major dental work done this summer, we recommend having a few days between a large adjustment and going on vacation. Give yourself some time to adapt to any new appliances and for the soreness to subside before going on a big trip. While away, be careful not to chomp down on hard, crunchy foods or sticky, chewy foods. Bring some extra wax in case something becomes loose or starts poking.

Our practice will be closed for July 4th, but appointments will be available from Monday to Thursday during July. Remember to see your general dentist twice a year for checkups and cleanings. Summer is a popular time for older teens to have their wisdom teeth evaluated. 

And before you leave for vacation this summer, remember:

1. During the sunny months, lips can easily get sunburned. Remember to apply lip balm with sunscreen and stay well-hydrated, especially when outdoors for extended periods.
2. Consistent oral hygiene is crucial, even while traveling. Ensure you brush and floss daily, particularly after indulging in sweets or sugary drinks.
3. A travel toothbrush and proxy brush can be your best companions on the go.
4. Instead of sugary frozen treats, opt for healthy, cool summer snacks. Enjoy cucumbers with hummus or yogurt, celery with peanut butter, and the season’s bounty of fruit like berries, cherries, peaches, melons, and mangoes.

Enjoy the season with good oral health habits and make the most of your summer plans!

Many developing orthodontic problems can be intercepted and corrected if diagnosed and treated at an early age. Dr. Kathleen Chan and Dr. Ivy Chen and our team at Chan & Chen Orthodontics recommend children have their first orthodontic evaluation no later than age seven, or younger if the front four permanent teeth have replaced the baby teeth. Early treatment, also known as interceptive treatment or Phase I treatment, provides both timely detection of problems and greater opportunity for more effective treatment. Early intervention guides growth and development, preventing serious problems later.

If your child is showing these signs, it may be time to think about early orthodontic treatment:

• Early or late loss of baby teeth (your child should typically start losing teeth around age five or six, and will have all their permanent teeth in around age 12 to 13)
• Difficulty chewing and/or biting
• Mouth breathing
• Sucking his or her thumb
• Speech impediment
• Protruding teeth (the top teeth and the bottom teeth extend away from each other)
• Crowded front teeth
• Teeth that don't come together in a normal manner or even at all

Early intervention will greatly reduce the severity of your child’s case, and therefore reduce the length of treatment time and cost for a second phase of treatment when all of his or her permanent teeth have erupted. An evaluation at our Andover office will determine if your child’s dental and skeletal growth is proceeding properly or if interceptive treatment is needed. Many times, a more severe problem can be corrected using sophisticated removable appliances instead of traditional orthodontic treatment.

To schedule a consultation for your child to visit with Dr. Kathleen Chan and Dr. Ivy Chen, please give us a call! We will provide your child with an initial exam, and discuss with you the best steps to take toward caring for your child's smile.

As we start our summer, our team at Chan & Chen Orthodontics wants to remind our patients who have completed treatment that it is very important to wear your retainer as prescribed even while away for vacations and summer camps.

If you are away from home and only wearing your retainer at night, here is a helpful tip: after removing and brushing your retainer in the morning, place it back in the case and then put it with your PJ’s or on your pillow. That way you have a reminder to put your retainer back in at night.

Remember, retainers should be worn every night, not just some nights.

We wish you safe travels and adventures this summer!

You might be surprised to learn that Dr. Kathleen Chan and Dr. Ivy Chen and our team recommend an orthodontic appointment even before your child has had that last visit from the Tooth Fairy. In fact, orthodontic assessments at our Andover office can be beneficial at many stages of your child’s life. Let’s look at some of the reasons why.

The Right Spaces

There’s a reason why we recommend that every child see an orthodontist by the age of seven. If there’s room enough in your child’s mouth to accommodate all the permanent teeth that will be arriving soon, you’re good to go. But if it looks like there won’t be enough space for those adult teeth, there are solutions we can offer to make the transition from baby teeth to adult teeth a smoother one.

• If your child’s mouth is small, the permanent teeth might have too little room to fit in when they arrive. We may recommend gently enlarging the upper dental arch with the use of a palatal expander. This device will provide room for the adult teeth, and could potentially shorten second phase treatment time.
• Too much space can also be a problem. If a child loses a baby tooth too soon, too much space between the remaining teeth can cause them to shift out of position, leaving the wrong spot open for the adult tooth to come in. We might recommend a space maintainer so that there is no shifting of the teeth, and there is room for the adult tooth to erupt in its proper spot.
• If there is a bite problem, early treatment can prevent more serious problems down the road.

If no treatment is necessary immediately, we can monitor the development of your child’s teeth and bite during periodic visits.

(Stay in) The Right Places

Once your child has achieved that perfect smile, it’s time to maintain it. Teeth actually move and shift throughout our lives, whether we have had orthodontic treatment or not. But with orthodontic treatment, the bone tissue and ligaments around the teeth remodel over time to hold the teeth in their new and improved positions. That’s why it’s often important to wear a retainer constantly for several months after the braces come off, as bone and ligament become a firm, strong anchor for the newly aligned teeth and bite.

But there’s no one expiration date on retainers! Worn nightly as needed, they help teeth stay securely in their new positions for a lifetime of beautiful smiles.

Healthy Smiles Mean Happy Faces

If you think your child is ready for any phase of orthodontic work, give us a call. We will be happy to make sure there is ample room for permanent teeth to erupt in their proper spots even during the baby teeth years. If braces are indicated at a later date, we will analyze any potential alignment and bite problems and present all of your treatment options. Finally, after the orthodontic work is completed, we want to make sure your child knows the best way to maintain that beautiful smile with conscientious retainer wear.

If you have any concerns about your child’s teeth or bite, even before the permanent teeth arrive, give our Andover office a call. Early treatment can often prevent future problems and might even lead to faster orthodontic results. At each stage of your child’s growth, we are here to provide your best options for healthy, happy smiles.