Early Treatment: The Age 7 Foundation In Staten Island

Identify and intercept developmental dental issues before they become permanent skeletal discrepancies. By utilizing Phase I & Phase II Growth Guidance, our Board-Certified team can monitor the relationship between erupting permanent teeth and jaw development, often preventing the need for future tooth extractions or invasive surgical interventions.

Orthodontic excellence is defined by the timing of intervention. While many parents believe that treatment should wait until all permanent teeth have erupted, the most effective window for structural change often occurs much earlier. At Salvatore R. Indelicato, D.M.D., P.C., we provide Staten Island Board-Certified Orthodontics that focuses on the physiological development of the young jaw. By evaluating a child’s bite while the bone is still pliable, we can use Specialized Orthodontic Expansion Appliances to create the space neededfor crowded teeth. This proactive approach ensures that the foundation of the smile is correctly aligned, simplifying any necessary alignment in the teenage years.

Catching Small Issues Before They Grow

In our Staten Island office, we frequently observe adults who are finally ready to fix a long-standing crowding issue but worry that braces will interfere with their professional image. As a Board Certified Orthodontist, Dr. Indelicato uses advanced Invisalign clear aligner protocols to achieve the same precise tooth movement as traditional brackets, often in a shorter timeframe than patients expect. Achieving the status of a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO) requires a commitment to clinical excellence and a rigorous peer-review process that only a fraction of practitioners complete. This level of expertise is applied to every Diplomate-Level Smile Design, ensuring your treatment plan meets the highest standards in the field.

Invisalign: Discreet Adult Alignment

For busy professionals in Richmond County, the Invisalign Diamond Provider Suite offers a nearly invisible solution for orthodontic correction. These custom-milled, clear plastic trays are removable, allowing you to maintain your normal diet and oral hygiene routine without the restrictions of metal wires. This method is particularly effective for correcting minor relapses from childhood braces or addressing long-term crowding. By using Clear Esthetic Aligner Systems, we provide a sophisticated treatment experience that fits seamlessly into an active social and professional life.

Adolescent Braces & Self-Esteem

A Teen’s Smile is a major developmental milestone that impacts self-confidence and social integration. We offer modern, low-profile braces that are more comfortable and efficient than the appliances of previous generations. This approach focuses on the precise biomechanics of tooth movement, ensuring that we achieve a balanced profile and a healthy bite. By starting Early Orthodontic Treatment when indicated, we can often shorten the duration of this adolescent phase, allowing our young patients to achieve their ideal results faster.

Retainers: The Lifetime Insurance

The completion of active tooth movement is only one half of the orthodontic journey. Teeth have a natural tendency to shift back toward their original positions, a phenomenon known as physiological relapse. Our approach includes a comprehensive Post-Orthodontic Retention Suite to protect your investment. Whether we utilize fixed lingual retainers or removable clear appliances, the goal is to stabilize the teeth in their new, healthy positions forever. Consistent retainer wear is the only way to ensure that your Board-Certified results remain stable for a lifetime.

Give your child the advantage of a healthy, aligned foundation. Contact Salvatore R. Indelicato, D.M.D., P.C., today to schedule a Board-Certified consultation in Staten Island.

What Are Some Reasons Your Child May Need Early Orthodontic Care?

Orthodontic care for kids doesn’t always begin with braces when they’re preteens or teens. Some kids need earlier intervention to help prevent more complex problems from occurring. At Salvatore R. Indelicato, D.M.D., P.C., our orthodontists in Staten Island, NY, provide early orthodontic care. We may recommend this approach for your child for any of the following reasons.

Correct Bite Problems

When your child’s jaws don’t line up right, they can develop an underbite, overbite, open bite, or cross bite. These problems can affect their appearance and make it harder for them to speak and eat.

Reduce the Risk of Complex or Severe Issues

Early orthodontic treatment in Staten Island, NY, helps reduce the chance that your child will need more complex and costly treatment as they get older. Taking care of issues now can ensure that your child’s jaw and teeth grow and develop properly.

Create Space for Permanent Teeth

When there isn’t enough room for permanent teeth, they can end up crowding together and overlapping. This creates discomfort and oral health issues, since it’s harder to brush and floss between them. Early orthodontic treatment helps make room for all of your child’s permanent teeth.

What Are Signs Your Child Might Need Early Orthodontic Treatment?

Our orthodontists will check for physical signs that indicate orthodontic issues, like protruding teeth or misaligned jaws. Other signs may include problems speaking or difficulty chewing food. If your child sucks their thumb, we also check for early orthodontic problems related to this behavior.

Schedule Early Orthodontic Treatment Today!

Does your child need an orthodontic evaluation or early treatment? Our orthodontist at Salvatore R. Indelicato, D.M.D., P.C. offers early orthodontic treatment in Staten Island, NY, to address issues earlier rather than later.

How Can You Help Your Child Adjust to Wearing Braces?

Getting braces is a great way to correct problems that affect jaw alignment. But it’s not always easy for kids when they start wearing them. Our orthodontists in Staten Island, NY, at Salvatore R. Indelicato, D.M.D., P.C. offer the following tips on what you can do to help your child get used to having them on their teeth.

Stock Up on Soft and Cold Foods

Braces cause some soreness at first, so offering your child soft foods that are easy to eat, like mashed potatoes, is helpful. Cold foods, such as ice cream or yogurt, can also help soothe aches and pains.

Offer Orthodontic Wax and OTC Medicine for Soreness

Use this kind of wax on wires and brackets that are causing irritation to help protect vulnerable areas, such as the tongue and inner cheeks.

Show Them How to Brush and Floss

After getting braces in Staten Island, NY, your child will need to make some adjustments to brushing and flossing. We’ll show you how it’s done, so you can teach your child at home.

Encourage Smiling and Boost Self-Esteem

It’s natural for kids to feel self-conscious about having braces on their teeth. Remind your child that this is a common treatment for kids, so they’re not alone. Have them practice smiling and talking to feel more confident in front of others.

Discuss Food Limitations

Go over the foods that your child will need to avoid while wearing braces, like popcorn and anything that’s hard or sticky.

Visit Our Orthodontists for Braces

Does your child have orthodontic issues? Our team at Salvatore R. Indelicato, D.M.D., P.C. offers braces in Staten Island, NY, for children with alignment problems and other orthodontic conditions. We can provide additional advice for helping your child adjust to their new braces!