Children are ideal candidates for orthodontic treatment. Because the jawbone is soft and still growing, a young patient’s smile is particularly receptive to re-alignment. In addition to enhanced esthetics, a straighter smile also offers significant health benefits including improved speech and better access for oral hygiene.
By age 7 we can begin to identify serious misalignment issues, for example, an upper or lower jaw that is growing too much or not enough. Early treatment allows us to take advantage of a critical period of jaw growth to maximize the potential for successful tooth alignment in the future. In some cases, correcting tooth and jaw positioning early on encourages more satisfactory dental and facial development during the pre-teen and teen years.
Who Needs Early Treatment?
Not everyone needs early orthodontic treatment, but in some cases, early treatment can provide a substantial benefit. Even if children are not ready to begin treatment, Dr. Lung-Tor will provide a complimentary annual evaluation to check their growth and dental development. She will provide advice and guidance so that any needed treatment begins at the ideal time.
Signs indicating that early treatment may be necessary:
- Early or late loss of baby teeth
- Difficulty in chewing or biting
- Breathing through the mouth
- Thumb-sucking
- Crowded, misplaced or blocked-out teeth
- Jaws that are too far forward or back
- Biting the cheek or biting into the roof of the mouth
- Protruding teeth
- Upper and lower teeth that don’t meet, or meet in an abnormal way
- An unbalanced facial appearance
- Grinding or clenching of the teeth
Overall, the benefits of early treatment are:
- Guide jaw growth
- Lower the risk of trauma to protruded front teeth
- Correct harmful oral habits
- Improve appearance and self-esteem
- Guide permanent teeth into a more favorable position
- Improve the way the lips meet