Age 7, the magic number in orthodontics

Many parents here in Levittown and Long Island believe they must wait until their child has all of his or her permanent teeth to visit our office, only to find that treatment would have been much simpler if started sooner. But did you know the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child have an orthodontic check-up no later than age seven?

"All right," you think to yourself, "what’s so great about age seven?" Enough permanent teeth have arrived for Drs. Ostreicher or McAndrews to make a determination about whether any problems are present. Also, by then, the first molars have come in, providing an opportunity to check for malocclusion, or what we like to call “bad bite.” Also, the incisors have begun to come in, and problems such as crowding, deep bites and open bites can be detected.

Early evaluation, of course, may signal a need for early treatment. For some kids, early treatment can prevent physical and emotional trauma. Aside from spurring on years of harmful teasing, misaligned teeth are also prone to injury and detrimental to good oral hygiene. So if your child is nearing age seven, please give us a call to schedule a complimentary orthodontic consultation.

Hoping you're enjoying the weekend!

Ask Dr. Ostreicher: why is continuing education so important?

Dr. David Ostreicher is one of the most highly educated orthodontists in the country. After receiving his dental and orthodontic degrees from Columbia University School of Dental Medicine, he continued his education and earned a Masters of Nutrition and a Masters of Public Health at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health. Dr. David is a professor emeritus of Preventive Dentistry (Columbia University), of Nutrition (University of Bridgeport) and Public Health (University of New Haven).

Dr. David currently serves on the Orthodontic Advisory Board of Proctor and Gamble (the manufacturers of Crest toothpaste), and is a speaker for the Bone Alliance. Dr. Ostreicher has lectured worldwide for Align Technology (the manufacturer of Invisalign). He has authored dozens of journal articles, and two books, Brush Your Teeth! and other simple ways to stay young and healthy and Seven Reasons to Straighten Your Teeth.

Not only is Dr. Ostreicher a teacher, he is a student as well. While New York State requires every dentist to take 15 continuing education credit hours annually, Dr. David takes about three times that amount!

Isn't it nice to know you have a complete dental expert in Dr. Ostreicher taking care of your perfecting your smile?

What do you love about Dr. Ostreicher and team?

From your very first visit the office of Dr. David S. Ostreicher, our professional team strives to provide you with superior treatment in a pleasant, friendly atmosphere.

Serving Levittown, Nassau County, and Suffolk County, Dr. Ostreicher and Dr. Bronwyn McAndrews provide our patients with the highest quality of orthodontic care in a comfortable and relaxing environment. Dr. Ostreicher, Dr. McAndrews and our knowledgeable staff believe in a whole health oriented orthodontic practice where patients are more than just teeth.

Today, we thought we’d ask you, our wonderful patients: Have you been especially impressed by Drs. Ostreicher or McAndrews? Did our dedicated team go out of their way to make your day? Are you in love with your new smile?

Whether you’ve just come in for a consultation or your family has been visiting our office for years, we’d love to hear your feedback. Or, you can tell us by posting on our Facebook page or by giving us a call!

Ask Dr. Ostreicher: Is Invisalign® really customized for each patient?

Yes, it is, and that’s part of what makes it work. To find out if you are the right candidate for Invisalign treatment, the first thing we do is to take an impression of your teeth as they are now and digitize it. Using special software, we look at the current positioning of your teeth and compare it to the way your teeth should look.

Next we use special software to map out the exact path your teeth will take from the beginning of your treatment to the end. Based on the results, a set of custom aligners are created just for your teeth. Throughout the course of treatment, you will be required to wear these clear, removable aligners one at a time; each one moving your teeth closer and closer to their final, perfectly aligned position. The best thing about it all? Nobody around you will even know you are wearing braces!

Dr. Ostreicher is an Elite Premier Invisalign provider, making him one of the top providers in the country! If you have questions about Invisalign, or would like to find out if you are a candidate for Invisalign treatment, please give us a call.