Often time’s orthodontic treatment is recommended before all of your child’s primary (baby) teeth have even fallen out. Early orthodontic treatment can alleviate future, possibly more invasive, orthodontic corrections.
Here are a few reasons for early interceptive treatment:
- Corrective positioning for a better prognosis of how the permanent teeth with develop.
- To correct any oral habits that cause developmental problems such as thumb sucking, pacifier use, and tongue thrusting.
- To correct malocclusions, or poor bite relationships, such as overbites, under bites, open bites, cross bites, crowding, spacing, teeth erupting out of sequence, or missing teeth.
- To correct growth problems such as narrow palates.
- To guide the growth of the jaw bones to a more favorable position for permanent tooth eruption.
“The American Association of Orthodontics (AAO)recommends that all children receive an orthodontic screening by the age 7. Permanent teeth generally begin to come in at age 6 or 7. It is at this point that orthodontic problems become apparent.”
If you are unsure about the need for early interceptive orthodontic treatment for your child, it is a good idea to visit with an orthodontist to familiarize yourself with treatment options. If you are concerned with the appearance or development of your child’s teeth, or if you have questions please do not hesitate to call our office and schedule an appointment to discuss treatment options and referral information
