07/07/2026
Estie turned 7 this weekend! 🎉
Between celebrating with family, cake, and presents, I couldn’t help but feel a little extra excited that she reached a milestone I’ve been looking forward to as both an orthodontist and a mom: her first official orthodontic evaluation.
For what feels like forever, she’s been asking, “When is it my turn to come to the office?” As my daughter, she’s had a front-row seat to all the fun our patients have when they visit. Watching so many kids actually enjoy their appointments is exactly why she’s been so excited for her own turn.
While some children benefit from an earlier visit, age 7 is the ideal time for most children to have their first orthodontic evaluation. By this age, enough permanent teeth have erupted enough for us to identify concerns with jaw growth, crowding, and bite development—often before they become bigger problems.
The best part? For many children, an evaluation doesn’t mean treatment at all.
If treatment is needed, we’ll explain why and create a plan that is easy, comfortable, and fun. If treatment isn’t needed, we’ll simply continue to monitor your child’s growth and development at no cost until the timing is right, giving you peace of mind that we’ll step in only when it provides the greatest benefit.
We can’t wait for Estie’s visit—and we’d love to meet your 7-year-old, too. 💙
-Dr. Parnes
MainLineParent
