When to Start Having Braces
Most kids can have braces at about 11 or 12 years of age, when most of the permanent teeth are already out. At this age it is easier to move teeth, as the bones are softer at a younger age than in an adult. However it would be best to start to consult an orthodontist by the age of 7. Braces may not be placed at this age but then corrective measures may already be done to prevent problems from happening or prevent them from getting worse. When problems are detected early and treated promptly during childhood, this may minimize or eliminate the need to have comprehensive treatment (braces on the upper and lower teeth) later on.
Adults Can Have Braces Too
No one is too old to have braces. There is no age limit to having braces, as long as the teeth and its supporting structures are healthy. There are some people as old as 60 having braces because teeth can still be moved to its proper positions.
Not All Dentists Can Place Braces
Not all dentists can start and successfully treat a case. Only dentists who have had additional training or formal education after six years of dental medicine, can successfully treat most cases. There are even some specialists who have undergone 2 to 3 years of full-time university based postgraduate residency training (as what Dr. Tuano has accomplished) in order to learn the special skills required to deal with the complexities of orthodontic treatment. Choosing the wrong person could do harm to your teeth and your appearance, and may sometimes lead to irreparable damage. So make sure that the doctor treating you is qualified, and not just someone who has taken a weekend course on the subject.
ABOUT THE DOCTOR
Dr. Tuaño is a graduate of the University of the Philippines College of Dentistry (1994) and was a topnotcher (third) in the board exams the following year. The doctor completed an externship program in general dentistry at V. Luna Medical Center in 1996 and graduated from the Graduate School of the University of the Philippines Manila in 1999 with a Certificate of Proficiency in Orthodontics. In addition, Dr. Tuaño has a Master’s degree in Dentistry, major in Orthodontics from the same school. Dr. Tuaño is a faculty member of the Graduate Program in Orthodontics of U.P. Manila. Moreover, Dr. Tuaño is an orthodontist at the Our Lady of Peace Hospital and the Smiletrain Craniofacial Center, both of which are centers which specialize in the treatment of patients with cleft lip and palate and other craniofacial anomalies. The doctor has been a lecturer in conventions of the Philippine Dental Association and the Association of Philippine Orthodontists. Dr. Tuano frequently participates in continuing education to remain aware of advances in her profession. Dr. Tuaño is a fellow of the Association of Philippine Orthodontists and has been in the exclusive practice of Orthodontics since 1998.
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