No child wants to think about wearing braces before middle school. No parent wants to think about braces before the teen years arrive. Your orthodontist understands these hesitations, but early orthodontic treatment can straighten out a growing and pliable mouth, making important changes and making it possible to create future orthodontic treatment that is easier, speedier, and more comfortable.
Signs Your Child Needs Early Orthodontic Treatment
When an orthodontist looks at a child’s mouth and teeth through an exam and digital images, they quickly determine where growth is headed and what path a child’s dentition might take without treatment. This is the opportunity to change the trajectory of tooth eruption and alignment with a rapid palatal expander and 3D printed bands before your child’s teeth claim the power to determine how their smile will look, how they speak and eat, and whether they will have dental problems for life.
Some kids are genetically predisposed to bite problems, others have bad habits that have altered the development of their bite. The beauty of early orthodontic treatment is that it can begin to fix problems, saving time, discomfort, and invasive orthodontic treatment later.
Here are common signs there is a need for early orthodontic intervention:
- Thumb-sucking beyond age 5
- Speech impediment
- Protruding teeth top and bottom teeth (overbite or underbite)
- Teeth that do not come together (open bite)
- Crowded top teeth
- Difficult biting and chewing
- Early or late loss of baby teeth (before age 5 or after age 13)
- Shifting jaw when opening or closing the mouth (crossbite)
What to Expect from Early Orthodontics
The recommendation is that parents take their kids to see the orthodontist by age 7 or 8. Your pediatric dentist may encourage it sooner. This early evaluation and treatment – known as Phase One – is designed to correct jaw growth and bite problems and make room for permanent teeth to find a space to fit in your child’s mouth.
Teeth are not in their final position at the end of the first phase of treatment. There is a resting period in between the phases to allow adult teeth to erupt. Your orthodontist may want to see your child every six months or so to evaluate the eruption pace of adult teeth.
Phase Two of treatment begins between ages 11 to 13 and usually includes a full course of braces on top and bottom teeth to complete the alignment of your child’s jaw, bite, and teeth. Kids who need early intervention are typically not Invisalign candidates, but every patient is different. An orthodontic plan is typically determined and worked toward before Phase One even begins.
Love the Orthodontic Treatment That Gives Your Child a Healthy Smile
You can save your child from a lifetime of oral health complications like cavities and infections, broken or damaged teeth, and embarrassment from cosmetic problems by simply saying yes to Phase One orthodontic treatment. Schedule a consultation with the orthodontic team at Mariana Orthodontics to find out what kind of treatment might be right for your child. Contact us to make an appointment.
