Dr. Ferry asks: Is your child nearing their seventh birthday?

Many parents assume they must wait until their child has all of his or her permanent teeth to see Dr. Mike Ferry for a consultation, 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. Mike Ferry to make a determination about whether any problems are present. The first molars have come in, providing an opportunity to check for malocclusion, or “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 Ferry Orthodontics to schedule an appointment.

Ask Dr. Ferry: What’s so bad about nail biting?

We’ve all heard that biting your nails is an awful habit, but you many wonder- really- what’s so bad about it? Recently, our team at Ferry Orthodontics found an interesting article that discusses how biting your nails affect your teeth and oral health.

Nail biting, or Onychophagia, is a common habit that is generally triggered by stress and often decreases with age. That being said, nail biting is unsanitary, unattractive, as well as unhealthy for your teeth!

Here’s why:

• It’s unsanitary. Your nails are dirty, almost twice as dirty as your fingers! Hence, biting your nails is just asking for germs and bacteria.

• No good things come to your teeth. Nail biting causes your teeth to constantly be chewing, which is not good for them. This excessive motion wears your teeth down faster than a non-nail biter’s and puts a large amount of stress on your front teeth- contributing to teeth misalignment.

• Braces don’t love it either. Braces already put pressure on teeth, nail biting ads unnecessary pressure, further stressing your teeth and weakening their roots.

• It can be costly. Nail biting can result in up to $4,000 in additional dental bills over one lifetime, according to the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD). Yikes!

What can you do about it? Now that you know how harmful nail biting can be, it’s time to take action to break your nail biting habit. Try to be conscious of your fingernails and to keep them looking good- this will help you resist the temptation. Ask Dr. Mike Ferry or visit this article for tips on how to break a nail biting habit.

Good luck!

Your friends at Ferry Orthodontics

Have you seen the Ferry Orthodontics Wakefield office?

Check out this great video for your own personal tour of the Ferry Orthodontics Wakefield, RI office! We'll show you our waiting area, the kid corner, brushing station, kitchen, offices, and more! Give us a call today to schedule your next appointment at this great new location! We look forward to seeing you soon.

-Ferry Orthodontics

Dr. Mike Ferry recommends retainers!

If you recently completed treatment at Ferry Orthodontics, we’d like to congratulate you! Now that your braces have been removed, Dr. Mike Ferry will provide—or has provided you—with retainers. After braces are removed, teeth can shift out of position if they are not stabilized. Retainers, however, always provide that stabilization. They are designed to hold teeth in their corrected, ideal positions until the bones and gums adapt to the treatment changes. Wearing retainers exactly as instructed by Dr. Mike Ferry is the best insurance that the treatment improvements last for a lifetime.

To learn more about the advantages of wearing retainers after your orthodontic treatment with Ferry Orthodontics, please read this helpful article about retainers from KidsHealth or give us a call!