Mother's Day contest at Bishop Orthodontics!

Mother's Day is right around the corner, and our staff at Bishop Orthodontics is currently running our Mother's Day patient contest through Friday, May 7! Here's how it works: Stop by our office, reach into our basket, grab a form and write down what makes your mom so special. The winner will win breakfast with mom, courtesy of Bishop Orthodontics!

While you're here, enjoy some Otis Spunkmeyer cookies ... we have chocolate chip, oatmeal, sugar and even white chocolate with macadamia nuts ... come in and enjoy!!

Summer is almost here!

Our staff at Bishop Orthodontics wanted to tell all our fantastic patients that we are gearing up for our 2nd annual patient appreciation party in July! So "Save the date" for Friday, July 16 - we are planning to show the premiere viewing of a great movie!

In other news, Dr. Bishop and team are are also gearing up for "Where in the world are you going this summer?" which is our BIG summer T-shirt contest!

Here's how it works: We are challenging our patients to send us photos wearing their Bishop Orthodontics T-shirt while on vacation or playing this summer to win great prizes! There will be prizes for all ages!

Dr. Bishop talks two-phase treatment

Usually patients in orthodontic treatment already have their permanent teeth – they are pre-teens, teens and adults. But in some cases we have to start treatment earlier, even before the patient’s permanent teeth come in. Dr. Bishop calls this “two-phase treatment.”

When we see patients with clear developmental problems at an early age, it’s best to start work when they are young, before the problems get bigger and more difficult to treat.

Examples include:
• An upper or lower jaw that is not growing correctly
• A mouth growing in a way that doesn’t leave enough room for all the permanent teeth to come in
• A severe malocclusion, or bad bite, which means the jaw doesn’t fit together correctly

In these cases we will start early and do one round of treatment – phase one – while the patient still has their baby teeth. Phase one usually does not involve braces, but can include a different type of appliance that helps the jaw grow into place properly. Our team at Bishop Orthodontics will follow up with phase two usually a few years later, when permanent teeth are in place. Generally phase two involves standard braces.

In order to catch early problems, we recommend that children have an orthodontic check-up no later than age seven (and so does the American Association of Orthodontics). However, if your dentist or pediatrician sees any sign that early treatment might be necessary, he or she may recommend your child visit Bishop Orthodontics even sooner.

Ask Dr. Bishop: When should my child come in for a check-up?

Many parents assume they must wait until their child has all of his or her permanent teeth to visit Dr. Alton Bishop and our team at Bishop Orthodontics, only to discover treatment would have been much easier if started earlier. The truth is, 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. Bishop and our team 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. Bishop 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 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 to schedule a consultation.