What’s on your reading list this summer?

Traveling this summer? Heading on a camping trip? Lying on a hammock resting in your backyard?

Whatever you're up to, summer is a great time for kids to continue learning, maintain the skill level and prepare for the school year. With summer only weeks away, some of us at Stevens Orthodontics have been thinking increasingly about the importance of reading, which we encourage for all our patients.

Out of ideas? Ask us for suggestions, and Dr. Lucas Stevens and team would be happy to provide a few titles. You may also ask a librarian here in Tallahassee for some ideas or check out these summer reading lists we came across this past week.

We hope you all had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!

Ask Dr. Stevens: When should my child come in for a consultation?

Thanks for asking! Dr. Lucas Stevens will tell you that braces were originally considered to be best appropriate for teens. But these days, kids as old as seven are beginning their orthodontic treatment. Because preadolescent kids are typically not self-conscious, our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists suggest it could be a good idea to start early.

Experts, however, say it depends on the treatment required. Some children who get braces at an early age end up in a second phase of treatment, and end up having braces well into their teenage years despite starting young.

Most orthodontic treatment begins between ages nine and 14, and the folks at AAO estimate most orthodontic treatment lasts from one to three years, with two years being the average. It’s important, however, that children be screened no later than age seven for Dr. Stevens and our staff to assess what the best age for treatment is.

We hope this helps, and invite you to give us a call if you have any questions about your child’s treatment and have yourself a wonderful rest of the weekend!!

Connect with Stevens Orthodontics on Facebook!

Did you know Stevens Orthodontics is on Facebook? Our fan page, which keeps growing with each day, provides you the latest news from Dr. Lucas Stevens and our office. We invite you to connect with us and be "in the loop" for all things orthodontics.

See you on Facebook!

May is National Physical Fitness and Sports Month!

Did you know the month of May is designated National Physical Fitness and Sports Month? In 1983, President Ronald Reagan encouraged Americans to incorporate more physical activity into their lives, and the reminder is even more significant in this day and age, as kids everywhere are distracted more and more by television, social networking and video games. Kids living an active lifestyle can improve their health, productivity and overall well-being, and best of all? It doesn’t have to take a lot of time!

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has provided these public health guidelines for your convenience. The guidelines call for children and teens to exercise for at least one hour each day of moderate intensity physical activity (such as playing sports or brisk walking) or one hour and 15 minutes of vigorous activity (jogging, dancing and jumping rope).

At Stevens Orthodontics, we always encourage our patients to stay fit by exercising or participating in sports. However, we want to remind you to always wear a mouth guard or other forms of facial protection when playing sports. To learn more about how often your child should exercise, we recommend you check out this series of helpful articles about kids and exercise, courtesy of our friends at KidsHealth.org.