Young Ms. Charlotte was enjoying her summer school break when she discovers that her best friend, Micaela, has recently gotten braces. Longing for the day when she, too, can straighten her teeth, Charlotte makes it her mission to convince her Mama that she should also get a set.
She passes her time with summer camp, attending swim meets, and spending time with friends. She wiggles her lingering loose teeth every day, waiting for the day they finally fall out. When Charlotte loses the remainder of her primary teeth, she’s excited for an evaluation from her orthodontist.
Hoping she’ll be a good candidate, she keeps her fingers crossed and thinks positive thoughts. As summer’s end draws near, will Charlotte’s fate grant her wishes and send her back to school with braces?
Young Ms. Charlotte was enjoying her summer school break when she discovers that her best friend, Micaela, has recently gotten braces. Longing for the day when she, too, can straighten her teeth, Charlotte makes it her mission to convince her Mama that she should also get a set.
She passes her time with summer camp, attending swim meets, and spending time with friends. She wiggles her lingering loose teeth every day, waiting for the day they finally fall out. When Charlotte loses the remainder of her primary teeth, she’s excited for an evaluation from her orthodontist.
Hoping she’ll be a good candidate, she keeps her fingers crossed and thinks positive thoughts. As summer’s end draws near, will Charlotte’s fate grant her wishes and send her back to school with braces?
Charlotte arrives home from a sleepover with big news; her best friend, Micaela, has braces. Without verbal confirmation, Charlotte's mom knew what her daughter wanted; Charlotte wanted her mother, a dentist, to examine her teeth. Adding dialogue, such as the daughter asking her mom if she needed braces, would make the scene more sense and flow more smoothly.Â
Charlotte's mom did explain well why Charlotte's mouth wasn't ready for braces...yet. Her daughter's jaw needed time to expand, and Charlotte still had primary teeth that needed to fall out. "Primary" might be a new word for some readers, but it should not be difficult to explain.
Staying patient is not easy when you want something badly, but patience and time are what a mouth needs to prepare for braces. As Charlotte enjoys her summer, the idea of braces never strayed far from her thoughts. When her "primary" teeth finally fell out, Charlotte was overjoyed. Now the time had come to make a dental appointment and see if her mouth was ready for braces.
Kids rarely rush out the door for dental cleanings. They definitely do not get excited about getting a filling. However, a trip to the orthodontist is a different matter. Charlotte practically pushed her mom out the door! She was eager to get her teeth straightened, a common feeling among people of all ages.Â
The friendly staff at New Wave examined Charlotte's teeth using an incredible stand-up x-ray machine that rotated around Charlotte's head. This image clearly showed her lower jawbone, upper sinuses, and entire dental anatomy, including her nasal cavity. Latia Smith RDH, the writer, did a lovely job informing readers what to expect after the x-rays are completed. The orthodontist will check spacing, bite, and distance between openings. They'll tell you if you're a candidate for braces now or must wait longer.Â
My daughter's orthodontist's office differs from New Wave's. The book's dental office's services included cleanings and fillings. If your orthodontist is like mine, if they spot a cavity, they'll request your primary dentist fill it before braces are applied. There are no "general dentists" or "dental hygienists" in my local office. Your situation might differ from mine but keep my scenario in thought.
Children are offered metal and removable retainers to correct a smile. The choices were not discussed in detail in the story; however, options were mentioned in passing as Charlotte spied photos on the wall. The story did an exceptional job of walking readers through getting teeth primed for metal braces. The staff explained the placement of brackets in simple terms that children will comprehend, whether 7, 14, or somewhere in between (the recommended age range on Amazon). While getting braces put on can be a daunting experience, picking band colors is one aspect children will look forward to. My daughter loved to coordinate her bands with the holidays.Â
Braces have an important job, but so do those who wear them. Keeping your braces clean is a task one must take seriously. The book goes over flossing options and how to brush them properly. Charlotte was given free samples to help her keep her braces squeaky clean until her next adjustment.Â
Every patient is different, but as the book stated, there is an adjustment period. The book didn't share the pain you'll experience at the onslaught of the adventure or how your teeth might ache after each adjustment appointment, about eight weeks for metal braces. It also didn't go over placing wax over brackets to help stop wear and tear on your cheeks. Or placing wax on an end wire can put a barrier between it and your cheek.Â
Charlotte gets Braces gives an overview of the placement process but doesn't disclose what one might experience once the euphoria of the big event wears off. Children and parents must prepare themselves for what they might face once they leave the dental office. Once the pain hits, it can lead children to tears and asking for pain meds.Â
Charlotte gets Braces offers comfort for young children expressing trepidation about what to expect when they enter the orthodontist's office. On the other hand, it doesn't give a clear picture of what to expect after the first visit: the discomfort, estimation of treatment, and how you'll be cleaning braces during lunch break.
The process is a long road, but the rewards are worth waiting for!Â
Amazon has the recommended age from 7-14. I would adjust that age range to 7-12.
Score 3.5