Is Early Orthodontic Treatment right for your child?
Every parent desires the best of everything for their children – from the finest education, to the brightest smile. As we all know, kids go through many changes and transitions with their teeth throughout their adolescent years, some even longer. So how does a parent decide the best timing for their children to begin treatment to align their teeth?
What is “Early Orthodontic Treatment” and when should your child visit an orthodontist?
To decide when it is best for your child to receive treatment for their teeth, first you must understand the different categories of treatment. “Early Treatment” or “Interceptive Treatment” for your child’s teeth will mean that the treatment they receive is applied before all their baby teeth are gone.
According to the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), it is recommended that parents take their children to an orthodontist for their initial check-up no later than age 7, unless they discover an orthodontic problem exists prior to that age. We say “age 7” because at that point your child likely has enough permanent teeth for their orthodontist to make a proper evaluation of their teeth and jaws.
What happens after my child’s first “Early Orthodontic Check-up”?
Of course you are wondering what you can expect after your child’s first visit to the orthodontist. There are generally three outcomes that you can expect; 1) Your child will not require any treatment; 2) treatment may be advised for the near future (requiring follow-up appointments to be set by your child’s orthodontist); or 3) there is a problem that requires immediate attention / Early Orthodontic Treatment.
If it turns out that your child requires immediate treatment, keep in mind that your child’s orthodontist is making those suggestions in your child’s best interest to address a problem that would otherwise become very serious if left alone.
If your child requires Early Orthodontic Treatment, it is likely one of the following conditions:
- Underbites
- Crossbites
- Extremely crowded teeth
- Excessively spaced teeth
- Extra or missing teeth
- Teeth that meet abnormally, or don’t meet at all
- Thumb-, finger- or pacifier- sucking that is affecting the teeth or jaw growth
What kind of “Early Orthodontic Treatments” could my child have?
There are many Early Orthodontic Treatment options that your child’s orthodontist may suggest depending on the age of your child and the orthodontic problem they are being treated for. Your child’s orthodontist may use fixed or removable appliances to move your child’s teeth, modify the position of their jaw or simply to hold teeth in place throughout the duration of the treatment. Sometimes extractions (of your child’s baby teeth) may be necessary to allow their permanent teeth to move properly into the positions they are meant to be in.
No matter the treatment option that your child’s orthodontist prescribes for your child, be aware that your child’s orthodontist has your child’s best interest at heart. The method of treatment, along with the timing, will all be scheduled to your child’s unique situation and will facilitate the proper development of their teeth and jaw placement in the future.
For any questions you may have about the types of Early Orthodontic Treatment that we offer at Swanky Smiles, please give us a call at 866-TEETH-08 (866-833-8408).
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Swanky Smiles started with just one question: What if orthodontics was designed around you, the patient, not the orthodontist? We want everyone to live their lives by putting their best smile forward and we want to remove any obstacles that would stand in the way between you and your Swankiest Smile! We understand that life is hectic, which is why our mobile orthodontists will come to you, Monday – Friday 9am – 6pm, whether you are at work or at home.
Simply put, we are a teeth straightening business specializing in the greatest orthodontic technology in the world- clear aligners. Our smile designers will work with you to build aligners that will boogie your teeth into the Swanky Smile you’ve been dreaming of! Is affordability another obstacle? Don’t worry, we have options available to make your payments as painless as your treatments. We’ve done all the work to create the Swankiest mobile orthodontic solution for you, all you need to do is pick up the phone. We can’t wait to lead the way for everyone to have their Swanky Smiles!
Our phone number is easy to remember, so you can’t say you forgot: 866-TEETH-08
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