Orthodontic care isn’t just for preteens or older kids. As a general rule, some dental problems are easier to correct if caught early. That’s why it is important to schedule an orthodontic appointment for your child by age seven, whether your child needs orthodontic care or not. If there are issues that need correcting, your child’s orthodontist can start correcting them before they spiral out of control and cause additional dental problems or require more complex treatment later on.
The Benefits
Early orthodontic treatment offers many benefits, including:
- More control over how permanent teeth will develop
- Correcting bite problems before they interfere with permanent teeth
- An ability to guide misaligned incoming teeth into their proper place
- Increase confidence in your child at an early age
If your child has issues with overcrowding, missing teeth, overbites, or misaligned teeth, early orthodontic treatment should be considered.
Phase Orthodontics
After getting a consultation and determining early treatment is necessary, a two-phase treatment is often recommended. The first phase will take place while your child still has their baby teeth. It is used as an interceptive orthodontic procedure to decrease the severity of the child’s teeth later on. Once the child has lost all of their primary teeth, the second phase is addressed to complete their treatment plan.
The second phase of orthodontic treatment will make the final adjustments to permanent teeth into the favorable (final) position, improve the appearance of their smile and face, and help your child have a healthy self-confidence through a beautiful smile.
Make an Appointment
Lahair & Gallagher Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics will take the time to explain the advantages and disadvantages of phase orthodontics. Not every child will qualify for phase one as this treatment plan works best with patients who have severe developmental problems.
Give your child the gift of a lasting, healthy smile by scheduling an appointment to have their jaw development viewed by an orthodontist. Patients of our Worcester pediatric dental office will have this service built into their care as children grow. Contact us today!