May 12th, 2011
Many parents assume they must wait until their child has all of his or her permanent teeth to see Drs. Meade and Riolo for a consultation, only to discover treatment would have been much easier if started earlier. Did you know 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 Drs. Meade and Riolo to make a determination about whether any problems are present. The first molars have come in, providing an opportunity to check for malocclusion, or “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 at Meade & Riolo Orthodontics to schedule an appointment.
May 2nd, 2011
Drs. Meade & Riolo, your Ypsilanti, MI orthodontists, are excited to announce that our office is currently hosting a spring raffle. During checkup appointments, you can earn wooden nickels for wearing your Meade & Riolo Orthodontics t-shirt, maintaining good oral hygiene, not breaking anything and wearing rubber bands. Once you have earned five wooden nickels, we will enter your name into an office drawing for 4 Cedar Point tickets (The Roller Coaster Capital of the World!) or a new iPod touch. Anyone who "likes" our Facebook page will also receive a contest entry.
Our drawing will take place June 30, so don't delay in submitting your entry. Good luck, and thank you for connecting with our office online!
April 28th, 2011
At Meade & Riolo Orthodontics we know how important it is to protect your face while playing sports. The spring and summer months bring an increase in outdoor activities and a greater chance of damaging your precious mouth and pearly whites. Dr. Betsy Meade and Dr. Christopher Riolo also know sports-related injuries are common among children. According to the American Association of Orthodontists, 70 percent of parents said their biggest worry is that their child will get hurt while playing sports. Another 67 percent admitted their child doesn’t wear a mouth guard when playing sports such as football, basketball, baseball and soccer.
That’s why Meade & Riolo Orthodontics are doing our part to spread the word that facial sports injuries can be avoided simply by reminding your kids to wear mouth guards. Ask us—Dr. Meade and Dr. Riolo will provide a mouth guard for any patient in active treatment.
In addition, the AAO has provided the following tips for keeping your kids safe on the field. Please remind them to:
• Wear mouth guards during contact sports
• Wear a helmet
• Stretch before and after a game or practice
• Wear protective eye wear
• Wear a face shield to avoid scratched or bruised skin
• Be observant—even as a spectator
All of these can reduce injuries. Only by using a mouth guard and other forms of facial protection can kids with and without braces avoid serious sports injuries. Be sure to avoid mouth guards that custom form to your teeth as these will resist any tooth movements Dr. Meade and Dr. Riolo are trying to achieve. Lastly, please give us a call if you have any questions about mouth guards or your treatment at Meade & Riolo Orthodontics.
April 21st, 2011
Some people wonder why Ypsilanti, MI orthodontists Dr. Betsy Meade and Dr. Christopher Riolo work tirelessly to give our patients straight teeth. Of course it’s nice to have a smile full of evenly-aligned teeth, but did you know that straightening your teeth at Meade & Riolo Orthodontics can keep them healthier? Straight teeth lead to better oral hygiene, increasing your chances of keeping your own natural teeth for a lifetime!
Straight teeth are less prone to decay, because they collect less plaque—the sticky colorless substance that forms on our teeth and leads to tooth decay; and they are easier to keep clean!
If you’re wondering whether your teeth might cause problems because they are out of alignment, please give us a call to set up a consultation. Dr. Meade and Dr. Riolo can help you decide whether or not you will benefit from orthodontic treatment.
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