Early orthodontic intervention is a fantastic approach to identifying issues in your child’s mouth and correcting them before they become chronic. It is also the solution to many childhood issues; you’d be surprised at some things that orthodontic treatment can fix!
What Does Early Orthodontic Treatment Mean?
Early orthodontic treatment, except for third molars, refers to orthodontic intervention before the eruption of permanent teeth is complete.
What Is The Ideal Time To begin Orthodontic Treatment?
Children should have routine dental cleanings every six months starting no later than the first birthday. Your child will become accustomed to visiting our pediatric dentist if they receive regular care, and developing that relationship will help them in the long run. It’s crucial to set up an orthodontic evaluation once your child starts losing their baby teeth and the permanent ones begin to erupt. When this occurs, most children are around six years old, and you should take them to the orthodontist no later than seven. Some children may require urgent treatment, such as removing baby teeth or using appliances. Even though not every child needs early orthodontic treatment, an orthodontic evaluation is the best way to spot problems as teeth develop.
Some Reasons For Early Orthodontic Treatment
Early orthodontic treatment is advised if the general dentist or orthodontist observes a problem with the child’s jaw or alignment after the permanent teeth erupt. They may look for several things, including:
- Malocclusion
- Bite-related issues
- Slender jaw
- Sharp teeth
In a way, phase II orthodontics gets a jump start with early orthodontic therapy. It lessens the need for later-stage treatments like metal braces or transparent aligners.
How Do Early Orthodontic Treatments Work?
The goal of early orthodontic treatment, also known as phase I of orthodontic treatment, is to assist young children who still have some or all of their primary teeth. This may help prevent permanent teeth’ growth and alignment from developing improperly. Various solutions for early orthodontic therapy are available depending on the precise difficulty the child has. The three most popular treatment methods are wearing a palatal expander, wearing partial braces, and wearing a retainer. The main objective is usually to treat skeletal problems with the jaw and alignment.
What Are The Benefits Of Early Orthodontics?
- The first person to identify any serious issues with your child’s mouth or jaw development will be their orthodontist. Sometimes, recognizing these issues at a young age will spare your child from future surgery and consequences. Suppose your child doesn’t require treatment immediately. In that case, the orthodontist will watch over them constantly and monitor their growth to ensure their teeth and jaw are in the proper alignment so they won’t experience any issues in the future.
- It is normal for your child to experience self-esteem issues as they mature. Sometimes, having crooked teeth can intensify these concerns, making your child feel self-conscious about their smile.
- People commonly don’t associate a child’s speech difficulties with their teeth. However, the primary reason for your child’s speech problems may be that their teeth or jaw are not correctly aligned. The most excellent way to guarantee that this issue won’t persist throughout a person’s life is to correct the alignment of the teeth and jaw when it is still in the developmental stage.
- With straight teeth, your child can reach the hard-to-reach places in their mouth, floss easily, and ensure that their entire mouth has been well cleaned. It’s a different situation if you have crooked teeth. Children with crooked teeth are considerably more prone to tooth decay since it is more difficult to wash their teeth, which can occasionally result in poor oral hygiene. Children who have crooked teeth do face significant health risks.
- From birth to about age five, thumb sucking is a natural reaction; yet, it’s usual for some kids to continue sucking their thumbs as adults. If your child keeps up this behavior after turning six, they run a considerably greater danger of harming their teeth. Early orthodontic treatment can fix this issue.
Early orthodontic treatment can help fix several issues and prevent further risks in the long run. This blog contains all the information on early orthodontic care for children. Visit our dental office for further queries.
