Early Orthodontic Treatment
Many parents wonder exactly when their child should see an orthodontist or whether their child needs early orthodontic treatment. While not all children need interceptive orthodontics, starting orthodontic treatment at the right time sets your child up for a lifetime of beautiful, healthy smiles.
Discover how the experts at Dhingra Orthodontics deliver premium early orthodontic treatment for children. Schedule a virtual consultation or in-person consultation today!
What is Early Orthodontic Treatment?
Interceptive orthodontic treatment— also known as early orthodontic treatment or phase one orthodontic treatment — refers to starting orthodontic treatment when a child still has a majority of their baby teeth.
Early orthodontic treatment is designed to intervene with developing problems before they become more significant concerns. Bite malocclusions such as the spacing, size, or position of teeth in the jaws can have lasting effects on your child’s smile.
Orthodontics for kids reduces the likelihood of complex treatments or surgery in the future. Receiving early orthodontic treatment as a child can even reduce the chance of permanent tooth extraction!
Benefits of Early Orthodontic Treatment
Early orthodontic treatment has many benefits to your child’s health and well-being. An orthodontist can guide their dental development to help them enjoy a more healthy smile. Orthodontics for kids can even prepare your child for more successful treatment once their baby teeth have fallen out!
Interceptive orthodontics can address the following issues:
- Manage the space between lower and upper dental arches
- Create space for adult teeth
- Avoid costly permanent tooth extractions
- Cut down on the amount of impacted permanent teeth
- Treat and prevent damage caused by thumb sucking and other habits
The premature loss of baby teeth and other malocclusions can cause many complications as your child continues to grow. Early orthodontic treatment can help prevent these problems and avoid costly future procedures.
Learn more about our approach to orthodontic treatment for children by scheduling an appointment today!
What Oral Problems Does Early Orthodontic Treatment Address?
Interceptive orthodontics can fix problems like crowding of the teeth, excess space between the teeth, jaw growth problems, protruding teeth, and more.
Most children lose all their baby teeth by age 13. By the end of their teen years, the jaw bones mature and stop growing. Orthodontic procedures for adults often take more time and may involve tooth extraction or oral surgery.
During your child’s development, their teeth and jaws are more malleable. Interceptive orthodontic treatment allows us to treat bite malocclusions before they develop into larger issues.
If your child has any of the following conditions, you should bring them in for a consultation:
- Overbite, underbite, or crossbite
- Crooked or crowded teeth
- Gummy smile
- Thumbsucking habits
- Spaced out teeth
When Should My Child Receive Early Orthodontic Treatment?
According to the American Association of Orthodontists, your child should visit an orthodontist by the time they are seven years old. Although most children will not need early orthodontic treatment, it’s a good idea to get them checked out so you can avoid future problems. You can schedule a complimentary consultation so we can examine your child’s teeth and determine whether they might benefit from kids’ orthodontics!
Get Stellar Interceptive Treatment
from Dhingra Orthodontics
While not all children require interceptive treatment, it can establish a healthier and happier smile for your kiddo. If you’re curious to know whether your child needs early orthodontic treatment, contact Dhingra Orthodontics. We provide world-class orthodontic care in a fun, family-friendly environment. Schedule a complimentary consultation or get an online smile assessment today!