The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that the initial orthodontic evaluation should occur no later than age 7. Receiving early treatment may reduce your child’s need for extractions in the future or jaw surgery. If your child is older than 7, it is still not too late to schedule your orthodontic examination. An examination at this stage will allow Dr. Washington to recommend early treatment if necessary. Dr. Washington will answer any questions you have regarding your child’s bite so that you can make an informed decision regarding treatment. If early treatment is initiated, this treatment is called Phase I treatment. Phase I consists of limited braces to direct the growth relationship of the teeth and jaws into a more ideal relationship. Dr. Washington generally only recommends Phase I treatment to correct:
- Anterior/posterior crossbites (jaw misalignments)
- Severe crowding
- Underbites
- Protrusive teeth
- Finger sucking habit
- Early loss of baby teeth
- Jaws that are too far forward or back
If early orthodontic treatment was not recommended for your child, your child will be ready for Adolescent treatment once they have lost the majority of their baby teeth. The goal of adolescent treatment is to place the teeth in their ideal positions while properly aligning the jaws to establish proper function. While most people think of orthodontics as just a cosmetic procedure, orthodontics can significantly improve the longevity of your teeth as well.
Benefits of Braces
- Improving you ability to keep your teeth clean
- Reducing trauma to protruded teeth
- Reducing wear from improper bites
- Improving your self esteem
- Improved biting and function of teeth
- Reduced difficulty of flossing
- Reduction of damage to supporting bone
Here at The Brace Place, we offer a number of customized orthodontic options for your child. Give our office a
call to set up your free orthodontic consultation!