Early Orthodontic Treatment for Children
What is the difference between early orthodontic treatment and regular orthodontic treatment, and why might my child need early treatment? How will early treatment benefit my child in the long run?
These are just a few of the questions surrounding the topic of early orthodontic treatment for children. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children see an orthodontist as early as age seven. At this point the orthodontist will evaluate whether your child will need orthodontic treatment.
Early treatment (also known as Phase-One) typically begins around age eight or nine (Phase Two will begin around age 11 or older). The goal of early treatment is to correct the growth of the jaw and certain bite problems, such as underbite. Early treatment also helps to make room for permanent teeth to come in properly, lessening the chance of extractions in the future.
How to Tell If Your Child May Need Early Treatment
- Early or late loss of baby teeth (your child should typically start losing teeth around age five, and will have all permanent teeth around age 13)
- Difficulty chewing and/or biting
- Mouth-breathing
- Your child continues sucking his or her thumb after age five
- Speech impediments
- Protruding teeth (the top teeth and the bottom teeth extend away from each other)
- Teeth that don't come together in a normal manner or even at all
- Shifting of the jaw when your child opens or closes his or her mouth (crossbites)
- Crowded front teeth around age seven or eight
What Causes Orthodontic Problems, and How Will Early Treatment Benefit My Child?
Orthodontic problems such as crowding of the teeth, too much space between the teeth, jaw growth problems, protruding teeth, and bad bites can be inherited or caused by injury to the mouth, early or late loss of baby teeth, or thumb-sucking habits.
Most children lose all their baby teeth by age 13, and by the end of their teen years, the jaw bones will harden and stop growing. Orthodontic procedures for adults often take more time and can involve tooth extraction or oral surgery. Receiving early orthodontic treatment as a child can help prevent the need for orthodontics as an adult, leaving little to no chance of extraction or surgery in the future.
If your child is between the ages of seven and eight and shows signs of needing orthodontic care, or if you have been directed by your family dentist to visit the orthodontist, please contact our practice and schedule an appointment. Our team will provide your child with an initial exam, and discuss with you the best steps to take toward caring for your child's smile.
Duthie Orthodontics Reviews
We’ve always had good experiences with Duthie Orthodontics!
My daughter has been a patient with Duthie for over a year and we could not be more grateful for the support and respect that we feel each and every time we visit for care.
My son is being treated at Duthie and has been seen with multiple different doctors over the course of his treatment. We are now seeing Dr Young and after what seemed like a long pause in any type of progress with prior provider we we finally seem to be moving forward. We have seen Cary multiple times and she is so good with my son. She has offered ideas and thoughts which have significantly helped with breaking brackets and preventing further delays in treatment. Everyone in the office is upbeat and kind and responsive to my questions or concerns. What used to be a dreaded appt for my son has slowly gotten more enjoyable and more importantly for a 16 year old who has had braces for much longer than we expected there is finally an end in sight. We’re happy we continued and are looking forward to seeing the end result.
Shelly and Dr. Young are simply the best!! We love the kindness and outstanding care we always receive!!!
We have had a wonderful experience with everyone at Duthie especially Dr. Young and Summer. They have made the whole process smooth and always made my daughter feel comfortable. We would highly recommend them and will definitely bring our younger daughter when she’s ready!
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