Surrey Orthodontist Discusses Losing Baby Teeth and Early Orthodontics

SURREY, BRITISH COLOMBIA -- When your child loses his or her first tooth it's a big rite of passage. But in addition to leaving money, the Tooth Fairy should also remind parents that it's a good time to emphasize the importance of good dental care. "Those new teeth must last for the rest of your child's life," says Surrey orthodontist Dr. Aly Kanani.

You may not know this, but baby teeth fall out in the order in which they first grew in. The front two bottom teeth- the lower central incisors- are the first to go, followed by the front two upper teeth. Most children start losing teeth by 6 or 7, and girls are usually earlier than boys. All baby teeth are usually gone by age 13. Most children experience no pain with losing baby teeth. But if erupting molars give them discomfort, you can give them acetaminophen or a topical pain killer.

"When your child has a loose tooth, tell them they can wiggle it carefully. But they shouldn't try to pull it out before it's ready," says Kanani, a Surrey invisible braces provider. "If you remove a tooth prematurely, the broken root could become infected."

The new adult teeth are quite a bit larger than the baby teeth. They may have clearly defined ridges and can be less white. But these features will change when you child starts using them for chewing and biting. The Canadian Association of Orthodontists advises that seven-year-olds who have started losing baby teeth should receive an evaluation with an orthodontist, notes Kanani, a Surrey orthodontics and Invisalign provider. The orthodontist can evaluate whether the child's jaw has enough room for all the adult teeth. If not, appropriate measures can be taken.

"Many orthodontic problems can be fixed without a lot of fuss if they are noticed early -- before a child's jaw has stopped growing," says the Surrey braces provider.

Addressing these issues while children are young might shorten their time in braces and obviate the need for later surgery. At these initial visits orthodontists can also address issues such as thumb sucking, mouth breathing, and tongue thrusting - which can cause orthodontic problems in the future.

Langley invisible braces provider, Dr. Kanani, also notes that the time around when a child loses a first tooth is a good time to prepare for a lifetime of good dental health. Be sure to:

Learn More about Surrey Orthodontists and Braces

To learn more about Invisalign and braces, visit the Web sites for Surrey invisalign provider Dr. Aly Kanani and his team: http://wwwguildfordorthodontics.com/, http://www.langleyorthodontics.com/, or http://www.vancouverorthodontics.com/. To speak with a staff member or schedule a consultation, call 1-604-589-2212. For the Vancouver orthodontics practice, call 1-604-629-0452. For those seeking an orthodontist or Invisalign provider in Langley, B.C., Dr. Kanani can be consulted at Langley Orthodontics: 1-604-533-6696.

About Dr. Aly Kanani, Certified Specialist in Orthodontics

Dr. Aly Kanani was born and raised in the Lower Mainland Area. He has a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc) degree in Physiology from McGill University and received a Masters of Science (M.Sc) from the London School of Economics in England. He received his Doctor of Dental Medicine degree (D.M.D.) and also completed his Masters in Education degree (MS.Ed) at the University of Pennsylvania. Furthermore, he has nearly completed his Masters in Public Health degree (M.P.H.) from Johns Hopkins University. Dr. Kanani graduated from the University of Detroit Mercy with a Masters of Science degree in Orthodontics (MS.Ortho) and a Specialty Certification in Orthodontics (Cert.Ortho).

Dr. Kanani previously taught clinical orthodontics to dental students at the University of British Columbia Dental School. He has also taught in various capacities at both McGill University and at the University of Detroit Mercy. His research has been published in the premiere journal of orthodontics in North America, the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics.

He was the recipient of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation Scholarship to conduct oral health research in New Delhi; the prestigious Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award (presented to him by His Royal Highness Prince Phillip, The Duke of Edinburgh); and has achieved status as a Board Certified Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics, a recognition held by fewer than 15% of practicing orthodontists worldwide. Furthermore, he is a Premier Provider Elite of Invisalign in BC (British Columbia) placing him in the top 1% of Invisalign experienced orthodontists and dentists in North America.

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