NEW PATIENT INFO
When SHould I See an Orthodontist
BENEFITS OF SCREENING BY AGE 7
While orthodontists can improve smiles at any age, there is usually an optimum age to begin treatment in order to achieve maximum improvement with the minimum amount of time and expense.
Some orthodontic problems are easier to correct if they are detected at an early age. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that a child's first visit to an orthodontist take place no later than age seven . By this age the permanent first molars and incisors generally have erupted and the orthodontist can evaluate the position of the teeth and jaws.
Frequently, problems exist behind seemingly acceptable smiles. While treatment may not be started until years later, early examination allows the orthodontist to detect and evaluate problems and plan appropriate treatment. This may include removing baby teeth in very crowded cases. In some cases, early treatment may be initiated to prevent more serious problems from developing. This early intervention (Phase I) may often make treatment at a later age (Phase 2) shorter, less complicated, and therefore less costly.
"The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that a child's first visit to an orthodontist take place no later than age seven."
PROBLEMS TO WATCH FOR IN GROWING CHILDREN
If your child has any of the following symptoms, have your general or paediatric dentist evaluate whether a referral to an Orthodontist and early diagnosis would be beneficial:
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Difficulty chewing or biting
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Early or late loss of baby teeth
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Permanent teeth coming in (erupting) out of their normal position
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Problems with biting the cheek or roof of the mouth
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Speech difficulties
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Oral habits such as thumb or finger sucking habits
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Mouth Breathing
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Jaws that shift or make sounds
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Facial imbalance
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Inability to comfortably close lips
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Grinding or clenching of the teeth
Phase 1: Early Interceptive Treatment
Early interceptive treatment usually occurs between ages of 6 and 10. During this phase of treatment, an orthodontist may be correcting improper bites or harmful oral habits or making more space for developing teeth.
Phase 2: Comprehensive Treatment
Comprehensive treatment starts after all adult teeth have erupted, which is usually by the age of 12. During this phase of treatment, an orthodontist will use full braces to guide a child's teeth and jaws into alignment.
An Orthodontist is trained to recognize and differentiate between problems that will require Early Interceptive Treatment, from those that can wait until adult dentition, and those that may resolve themselves with growth and supervision.
The Benefits of Early Treatment
For those patients who have clear indications for early intervention, early treatment presents the opportunity to:
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Influence jaw growth in a positive manner especially for those with an overbite, underbite, or crossbite
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Harmonize width of the dental arches
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Lower risk of trauma to protruded upper incisors
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Correct harmful oral habits (thumb or finger sucking, tongue thrusts)
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Improve aesthetics and self-esteem
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Simplify and/or shorten treatment time for later corrective orthodontics
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Treatment of impacted permanent incisors
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Improve some speech problems
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Preserve or gain space for erupting permanent teeth
DURATION OF TREATMENT
Orthodontic treatment averages less than two years but typically ranges from one to three years. Early Interceptive treatment procedures may take as little as six to twelve months. Patients grow at different rates and teeth move at different rates, therefore a patient’s response to orthodontic treatment is individual and variable. Diligent use of any prescribed rubber bands or removable appliance is an important factor in achieving the most efficient treatment.