"Hey, Dr. Stein! When should my kid come in for a visit?"

Many parents in New Port Richey and Palm Harbor assume they must wait until a child has all of his or her permanent teeth to visit Dr. Stein, only to find that treatment would have been much easier if started sooner. Some orthodontic problems are easier to correct while the jaw is still growing. Consequently, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child have an orthodontic check-up no later than age seven.

That's right - you read that correctly: age seven.

So, what’s so great about age seven, you ask? Enough permanent teeth have arrived for Dr. Stein 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. Stein calls “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 at least two positive outcomes for our young patients: 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 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, give us a call to schedule an appointment.

Today is Earth Day! Are you making a difference?

Earth Day, which is designed to inspire awareness and appreciation for our environment and ecosystem, marks its 40th anniversary today.

Whether lending a helping hand to plant trees or getting out to volunteer in various projects in Palm Harbor or New Port Richey, today is our opportunity to get involved in making our year-round impact in the community. Are you making a difference today? If so, what are you up to? How long have you participated in helping our community and our planet?

If you’d like to join the millions of people around the world who are making small but important changes to help sustain our ecosystem, try these helpful environmental tips, courtesy of the United States Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA.

Happy Earth Day!

10 Facebook tips for parents

We know many parents tend to sign up for Facebook accounts and ‘friend’ their kids, often as a way to keep an eye on their online activities. But then what? Most parents in this digital age are still lost when it comes to monitoring their kids online.

Last fall, parenting author Vicki Courtney wrote a helpful post on the things parents should and shouldn’t do while on Facebook. Dr. Stein and our team thought you might benefit from reading Vicki’s interesting piece.

Here is the list of the Top Ten Facebook No-Nos for Parents, designed specifically for those moms and dads who aren’t sure whether they’ve crossed the line in monitoring their kids’ presence online.

We hope you find this article informational. Please let us know what you think!

Play it safe this spring, from Dr. Jeffrey Stein

Nearly 60,000 people injure their faces annually while participating in sports activities, and teenagers account for 80 percent of all sports-related trips to the emergency room. And for Dr. Stein and team, that's simply not acceptable.

You see, April happens to be National Facial Protection Month, and it’s a good time to remind our young athletes about staying safe on the field this spring. The above video from our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists outlines some basic ways you can save face this April and spring.

Dr. Stein will tell you protective gear is vital for anyone engaging in tooth or mouth-threatening activities. If you have any further questions about any of these AAO tips, please contact our office. Have a great weekend!

Retainers, retainers, retainers...

If you recently completed treatment with Dr. Jeffrey Stein, our professional team would like to congratulate you! Now that your braces have been removed, Dr. Stein will provide—or has provided you—with retainers. After braces are removed, teeth can shift out of position if they are not stabilized.

Retainers provide that stabilization. They are designed to hold teeth in their corrected, ideal positions until the bones and gums adapt to the treatment changes, Dr. Stein says. Wearing retainers exactly as instructed is the best insurance that the treatment improvements last for a lifetime.

If you have additional questions about retainers or your treatment with Dr. Stein, please give us a call. Have a great weekend!