Parents want what is best for their kids, and often that includes healthy, beautiful smiles. When it comes to intervention, the earlier the better. The American Association of Orthodontics recommends that children see an orthodontist by age 7. That may sound early, especially because your kids still have a mix of baby (primary) and permanent teeth, but there are a few critical factors that orthodontists look for at this age. An orthodontic evaluation includes the assessment of the growth of the jaws and facial bones as well as the ideal eruption pattern and timing of the permanent teeth.
What can you expect from the initial orthodontic consultation? In general, a thorough evaluation and assessment of the size and position of the jaw bones, as well as the development and position of the teeth. We systematically take photographs of the teeth, mouth, and face along with any necessary 3D radiographs.
Does early treatment mean my child has to get braces? Nope! About 15% of kids will need “early” or Phase I treatment, to help treat several specific problems that affect the growth and development of the face and jaw. It is important to understand that the treatment is patient specific and will be different for everyone based on the specific diagnosis. Early treatment or Phase I is also known as the interceptive phase of orthodontics and its intent is to intervene at an early enough age to make an impactful difference for balanced jaw growth and the proper eruption of teeth. In some cases, this means having the dentist remove a stubborn baby tooth so a tooth erupting behind it can have the room to re-direct and get back on track. Other times we may need braces or other appliances to make the changes we need to create facial harmony.
Are braces the only option? No again! We have more and more kids seeking treatment, especially for psychosocial concerns, that want clear aligners (Invisalign) instead of braces. Clear aligners being only for adults is a thing of the past.
The main problems that orthodontists evaluate kids for are:
- Underbites – when the lower front teeth are ahead of the upper front teeth.
- Crossbites – when the upper back teeth are inside the lower back teeth.
- Crowding – this is crowding that is so significant that it would be beneficial to resolve or minimize it early.
- Off course teeth – most of the time these teeth are canines, but any permanent tooth can be going in the wrong direction and may need orthodontics to get it back on track.
- Airway constriction – sleep apnea and small airways impact kids as well as adults, but while children are small, we have the opportunity to modify their growth and jaw relationship to improve these problems
- Psychosocial – everything may be erupting normally but someone at school might have been not so nice and we may need to consider straightening things up for confidence.
- Thumb or finger habits
It is important to understand that early treatment or Phase I orthodontics is limited to a very small portion of the population and is only recommended in specific scenarios. Starting Phase I does not mean that your child doesn’t need Phase II or comprehensive treatment when they are older. We are just trying to be intentional about catching problems early enough to make an impact to decrease asymmetric growth, damage to permanent teeth, and other problems. You don’t need a referral to make an initial consultation. Looking forward to meeting you soon!
