As you may be aware, a child's first trip to the dentist should take place no later than age two. Similarly, your child's first visit to the orthodontist should occur by age seven. This may surprise you because orthodontic treatment is usually associated with adolescence. Although treatment will not necessarily begin at this early age, an examination is important to ensure maximum dental health for your child. This gives you, the parent, peace of mind. When treatment has begun, it may take a short period for your adolescent to get used to their appliances. Don’t worry; the stigma that was once associated with orthodontics is gone. Look at your child’s classmates, chances are quite a few of them wear either retainers or braces! As well as getting used to the way the new braces look, your child may have a brief period of adjustment for the way they feel. While some people think braces hurt, that is generally a misconception. Tingling and pressure are more common; rarely a non-aspirin pain reliever might be necessary if your child feels uncomfortable. A school age patient won’t miss class due to pain associated with braces; many of our patients report no pain at all. We tell all our patients “It doesn’t have to hurt to work!” Many of our patients play musical instruments and participate in all kinds of sports. Orthodontics doesn’t need to interfere with your child’s normal activities. We recommend a mouth guard for sports. For your young musician, a brief period of adjustment and wax will be all they need to stay comfortable and creative!