Parents usually have numerous questions about orthodontic treatment for their children. According to the American Association of Orthodontists, an orthodontic evaluation for children should be performed around seven years of age. This allows Dr. Ashlee Weber to evaluate the child’s existing and incoming teeth to determine whether or not early treatment might be necessary.
What is early orthodontic treatment?
Early orthodontic treatment, also known as Phase One, usually begins when the child is eight or nine years old. The goal is to correct bite problems, for example an underbite, as well as guide the jaw’s growth pattern. It also helps to make room in the mouth for the permanent teeth to be properly placed as they come in. This will greatly reduce the risk of the child needing extractions later in life due crowding issues.
Does your child need early orthodontic treatment?
There are several ways that you can determine whether your child needs early treatment. If you observe any of these characteristics or behaviors, you should talk to Dr. Ashlee Weber.
- Early loss of baby teeth (before age five)
- Late loss of baby teeth
- The child’s teeth do not meet properly or at all
- The child is a mouth breather
- An underbite
- The front teeth are severely crowded (this usually is not seen until the child is about seven or eight years old)
- Protruding teeth, typically in the upper front teeth
- Biting or chewing difficulties
- A speech impediment
- The child’s jaw shifts when he or she opens or closes the mouth
- The child is older than five years old and still sucks his or her thumb
What are the benefits of seeking orthodontic treatment early?
Early orthodontic treatment is begun while the child’s jaw bones are still soft and malleable. Jaw bones do not fully harden until children reach their late teens. Because the bones are still pliable, corrective procedures such as braces work faster and more easily than they do for adults.
In short, early treatment at our Parkville orthodontics office often allows your child to avoid lengthy procedures, extractions, and surgery in adulthood. Early treatment is an effective preventative measure that lays the foundation for a healthy, stable smile in adulthood.