Our Blog

Because Dr. Kathleen Tavarez can spot subtle problems with jaw growth or teeth while a child still has primary or “baby” teeth present, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends all children get a check-up with an orthodontic specialist no later than age seven.

Some problems are not so subtle, and you may notice them early on. If you see any of the following signs in your child, please make an appointment with Dr. Tavarez immediately. (If your child is younger than seven, it is not necessary to wait till his or her seventh birthday to visit our office.) We want to identify any problems as early as possible so that we can implement the appropriate treatment at the appropriate time for your child’s individual needs.

1. Early or late loss of baby teeth
2. Difficulty in chewing or biting
3. Mouth breathing
4. Finger sucking or other oral habits
5. Crowding, misplaced, or blocked-out teethhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
6. Speech difficulty
7. Jaws that shift or make sounds
8. Biting the cheek or biting into the roof of the mouth
9. Teeth that stick out too far
10. Teeth that meet in an abnormal way or don't meet at all
11. Upper and lower jaws that don’t line up
12. Grinding or clenching of teeth

If your child is displaying any of these signs, please contact us at our Menlo Park or San Carlos office and set up an appointment!

If you recently completed treatment at Tavarez Orthodontics, our entire staff would like to congratulate you, again! Now that your braces have been removed, Dr. Kathleen Tavarez will provide—or has provided you—with retainers. After braces are removed, teeth can shift out of position if they are not stabilized. Retainers, however, provide that stabilization. They are designed to hold teeth in their corrected, ideal positions until the bones and gums adapt to the treatment changes. Wearing retainers exactly as instructed by Dr. Tavarez is the best insurance that the treatment improvements last for an entire lifetime.

To learn more about the advantages of wearing retainers after your orthodontic treatment, please visit our website for instructions and read this helpful article about retainers from KidsHealth. You may also give us a call at our San Carlos or Menlo Park office!

We hope you all have a great weekend!

Dr. Kathleen Tavarez and team understand not everyone is always thrilled about visiting their orthodontist. But here at Tavarez Orthodontics, we strive to bring you the best and most comforting experience at each visit. Today, we’d like to know: What is it about our Menlo Park or San Carlos offices that makes you comfortable or puts you or your child at ease? Is it something about our pleasant environment? Our courteous staff? Dr. Tavarez herself?

Let us know by posting on our Facebook or by giving us a call!

Ask us, and our staff at Tavarez Orthodontics will always tell you that braces are cool, hip and pretty fun nowadays. In fact, new technologies such as Invisalign and invisible ceramic braces, advanced computer software, color options, and even popular celebrities—Tom Cruise, Serena Williams and Dakota Fanning, to name a few—sporting stylish braces are making orthodontic treatment more comfortable, fashionable and cool for today’s kids.

The study, conducted on behalf of our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists for February’s National Children’s Dental Health Month, found 86 percent of moms reporting that braces are cooler today than when they were children. Sixty-nine percent of moms also said wearing braces makes their children feel cool, and 81 percent reported their children’s experience with orthodontic treatment as either positive or extremely positive.

Has your child visited Tavarez Orthodontics for a consultation? If not, please give us a call and let Dr. Kathleen Tavarez help you or your child begin the journey to a beautiful new smile this summer!