Preparing Your Child’s Orthodontic Health for Back to School

Summer is a great time to take your kids to the orthodontist! It ensures their oral and orthodontic needs are addressed prior to the start of the busy school year so they can focus on their studies. As an orthodontist in Richardson, TX, Dr. Patty Fleming specializes in children's orthodontics and will help your children have the confidence they need to head back to class with a smile.  

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Reasons to Prepare Before Going Back to School

Preparing your child’s orthodontic health during the summer rather than waiting for school to start again can benefit your child for many reasons. Including a back-to-school dental checkup and orthodontic treatment during the summer is the perfect way to get your kids’ new school year off to a great start!

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Keep Appointments Without Missing School

Orthodontic treatment includes regular appointments for checkups, adjustments, procedures, and maintenance. Attending these visits during the summer means your child won’t have to miss school or any after-school events. This can be especially important for junior high and high school age kids who have more classes packed into their day. Making orthodontic appointments during the summer helps them avoid missing pop quizzes, last-minute assignments, or practice for sports, band, and other extracurricular activities. It can also reduce stress for your child if they’re concerned about missing school for other reasons such as illness or family needs.  

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Allows Time for Adjustment to Treatment

If your child is just starting out with orthodontic treatment, summer is the perfect time to begin. Orthodontic treatments such as braces, Invisalign, and palatal expanders require time for your child to adjust. Braces and other orthodontic equipment can cause discomfort and even make it difficult for your child to eat for the first week or so after treatment begins. Starting this process before going back to school can give your child the time they need to adapt without trying to maintain a busy class schedule, homework, and after school engagements at the same time. It will also give their mouth a chance to adjust so they can resume their normal eating and speaking patterns before being back in a school environment. This can provide an extra boost of confidence and help make the transition more comfortable.

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Allows Time for Healing

Some children’s orthodontics treatments require surgery or procedures before braces can be used. These procedures can include:

• Surgery for severe bite issues

• Surgery for jaw abnormalities

• Extracting one or more teeth to reduce overcrowding

• Extracting impacted teeth

If your child requires a surgical procedure prior to receiving braces, it is best to have it completed during the summer. This will give your child plenty of time to recover, to attend follow-up appointments, and to receive any necessary pain management medication without having to be in school. It will also provide them with comfort and peace of mind knowing they won’t have days of classwork to make up upon their return.

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Allows Time to Implement New Dietary Changes

Orthodontic treatments such as braces can require a change in your child’s diet and oral hygiene routines. Some popular foods your child may no longer be able to eat once their braces are in place include:

• Popcorn

• Hard candies

• Gum

• Hard pretzels

• Crunchy fruits and vegetables

• Sticky foods like dried fruits and caramels

• Tough or chewy meats

• Ice

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These foods can break a wire or loosen a bracket on your child’s braces resulting in an extra trip to the orthodontist and in some cases, even an emergency orthodontist visit. It may take some time for your child to adjust to the list of foods they should avoid while wearing braces and giving them the summer to get used to it will make going back to school easier.  

Dr. Fleming of Fleming Orthodontics will make sure that you and your children are comfortable and informed throughout the entire treatment process. She is dedicated to going the extra mile to ensure that a beautiful smile emerges from each orthodontic treatment. As one of the best Richardson orthodontics practices, Fleming Orthodontics will help your child start their school year right! Call to schedule your appointment today!

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