Child Treatment
The earlier we catch problems with your child’s bite, the simpler they are to fix.
Child Treatment
The earlier we catch problems with your child’s bite, the simpler they are to fix. The results are often better than if we wait and will require significantly less work. Early intervention can be beneficial as it can prevent problems from getting worse. We will watch how your child’s mouth and teeth grow and develop, so if we see something that needs to be done, we can do it as soon as possible. We will also know exactly when to start treatment, if needed.
WHAT AGE SHOULD I SEE THE ORTHODONTIST?
The American Association of Orthodontics (AAO) recommends that children visit an orthodontist as soon as their dentist notices that there might be a problem, or before they are seven years old. At this age, we may not have to do anything other than monitor the child’s mouth. However, if we continue to monitor your child, we can start treatment right away if something arises.
WHAT ARE THE INDICATIONS OF PHASE I TREATMENT?
- Thumb-sucking continued after age 5
- Biting or chewing problems
- Losing baby teeth early (before age 5)
- If the teeth don’t come together properly when opening, or any evidence of crossbite
- If front teeth become excessively crowded at age 7 or 8
- Protruding upper or lower teeth that can increase risk of trauma
- Underbite
Child Treatment at
WHY IS EARLY TREATMENT RECOMMENDED?
The earlier we catch problems with your child’s bite, the simpler they are to fix. We will watch how your child’s mouth and teeth grow and develop, so we can treat any problems that arise as soon as possible. We will also know exactly when to start treatment, if needed. One of the main objectives in early treatment is regaining space for permanent teeth to come in. In mild crowding cases, early treatment can create space that otherwise wouldn’t have had room. Treatment results are often better than if we wait and will require significantly less work. Most children who undergo early treatment will require braces or aligners down the road but may not need to keep braces for as long thus making treatments shorter and less complex.
- Make room for the permanent teeth when there is overcrowding
- Ensure facial symmetry
- Reduce trauma when the front teeth are protruding
- Place space maintainers if the child lost his primary teeth earlier than normal
- Early treatment also reduces the time patients must wear braces when all permanent teeth comes in
- Crossbite correction can prevent any unfavorable growth and uneven tooth wear
- Open bite correction can prevent any tongue-thrusting habits and speech impediments
- A healthier mouth since crowded teeth can be hard to brush causing cavities and gum disease
- Expanders
- Space Maintainers such as Nance appliance and lower lingual holding arch
- Limited Braces
- Habit breaking appliance such as thumb sucking prevention appliances
Phase I treatment is also called early treatment. Phase I orthodontics is when we intervene at a younger age while many baby/primary teeth are still present in order to address a problem that could worsen without correction which will increase treatment complexity and future treatment cost. For example, use of a habit breaking appliance to prevent thumb sucking could prevent or correct an open bite. If untreated, an open bite can get worse and affect speech. Phase II orthodontics is provided typically around age 11-12 and is designed to correct orthodontic concerns such as overbite, underbite, severe crowding and fixing improper bite using elastics or fixed appliances.
To determine whether your child needs phase I treatment, please schedule an appointment at Smile City Orthodontics in Sunnyvale, TX. Our highly trained team and modern technology equipped office is committed to achieve a beautiful smile that you deserve.
