People often think of making an appointment to see a specialist orthodontist after all the permanent teeth have come through (around age 12-13) but actually The American Association of Orthodontists recommend all children have an initial assessment with an orthodontist by the age of 7.

The reason is, at this age all possible treatment options are available- if we seen a child much older than this we may have, for example, missed an opportunity to influence jaw growth or to make more space for the teeth as they grow into the mouth.

At this early age, enough permanent adult teeth have come in to detect many common bite problems. If orthodontic treatment ...

"No, I'm not getting train track braces. Never. Never. Not ever. No. No. Mummy, stop smiling, mummy, stop smiling!!!!"

What is a Frenectomy? Does my child need one?

A frenum is the attachment between the gum (fixed soft tissue) and some moving soft tissue part of the mouth - typically the tongue (that’s a lingual frenum) or the lip (that’s a labial frenum) or the cheek (a buccal frenum).

Sometimes this is contributing to a problem with the gums or the alignment of the teeth - particularly when the frenum is attached to the gum right at the level where the teeth emerge. You might see the gum receding from the teeth or it may be painful when the lip or tongue moves. Sometimes it may be involved in ...

Fingallians GAA unveils the new Under 10s Girls Team Shirt - sponsored by  Swords Orthodontics

2013 was a great year for GAA - not just one exciting All-Ireland final, but three! But to get to the final of anything, a lot of hard work has to be done beforehand, and the earlier it starts the better the chances of success. That's a bit like orthodontics....

Aaaargh! Well shiver me timbers, yesterday was the day we could say "today be International Talk Like A Pirate Day, aar". Sadly, we didn't get to observe it fully at Swords Orthodontics, apart from a bit of pirate talk from me.  

Yo, ho, ho? Well, no. This was quickly discouraged by everyone else, so I knew I'd be back to talking like an orthodontist or I'd be walking the plank or getting keel-hauled.

So, me hearties, it'll be another year before I get to talk like a pirate again, and maybe I'll have a wooden leg for the day, a parrot on my shoulder and adjust the braces with a hook ...