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Have you heard of early orthodontic treatment?
Like other health problems, orthodontic treatment is also faster and cheaper when preventive measures are taken and started as early as possible. When can early orthodontic treatment begin?
It is recommended that the first visit to an orthodontist be by the age of 7!
This way, adequate measures can be taken to maintain good oral health and avoid more expensive or invasive treatments in the future. A visit to a specialist orthodontist is a must if you notice a potential problem with your child's teeth or jaw!
Early Orthodontic Treatment - When to Visit an Orthodontist?
According to the American Association of Orthodontists, every child should be examined by an orthodontist by the age of 7. At this age, children already have enough permanent teeth for an orthodontist to detect and possibly treat orthodontic problems with the alignment of the teeth and bite.
Most orthodontic problems are obvious, but there are some that are not visible to the naked eye. Therefore, in addition to the standard intraoral examination, the orthodontist must also see what is happening below the surface, and this can only be determined by panoramic x-rayThanks to it, the position of the germs of permanent teeth or any other problem with the bone can be determined.
What are the benefits of early orthodontic treatment?
An examination by a specialist orthodontist around the age of 7 can detect orthodontic problems at a very early stage, and this in turn allows faster and more effective treatment, which is ultimately more cost-effective from a financial point of viewIf dental and jaw problems are not corrected in a timely manner, much more expensive and invasive treatment may be necessary later.
During the first orthodontic examination, the doctor examines the child's teeth and bite to determine whether treatment is necessary. At this age, prophylaxis and prevention of deepening of dental and jaw deformities are possible. For this purpose, functional appliances can be used that train the internal and external muscle belts, guide the eruption of teeth and the growth of the jaws.
At a later stage, the most common options for early orthodontic treatment include:
Palatal expander
Palatal expansion is applied to widen the upper jaw, thereby reducing crowding of teeth in unusually narrow dental arches. Expansion occurs when the plate in the middle of the palate stretches and the two halves move apart. The separation of the two halves of the jaw leads to the creation of new bone.
Ideally, a palatal expander should be used while the patient is still growing. In younger patients, a palatal expander can prevent the need to extract affected teeth. If timely measures are not taken, surgery to widen the narrow palate may be necessary in older patients. This will correct the malocclusion and reduce tooth wear.
Using early braces
Often the early and short-term use of braces can prevent more complex and serious problems later on. For example, early correction of an anterior crossbite (a bite in which the upper front teeth are behind the lower front teeth) helps correct swallowing and speech problems. This in turn allows the teeth and jaws to continue to grow properly, thus avoiding further complications.
Tooth extraction
Extracting problem baby teeth can help permanent teeth erupt more easily and grow properly, even without the need for braces. The treating orthodontist must choose the best time for extraction to achieve optimal results. Therefore, it is extremely important for the child to be examined by an orthodontist on time. In this way, optimal treatment is achieved at the optimal time and subsequent more expensive treatment is prevented.
What can you expect from your first appointment with an orthodontist?
Here's what you can expect when your child meets with an orthodontist for the first time:
The examination may identify an orthodontic problem, for which it is too early to begin treatment.
In case treatment is necessary in the future, the child should be periodically examined by an orthodontist to monitor the growth and development of the teeth and jaws in a timely manner.
An existing problem may be identified that requires early orthodontic treatment. In this case, the orthodontist should recommend the best next steps for the child's treatment.
Even if the child does not have any visible problems, after reaching the age of 7, the first orthodontic examination should be performed.
Assessing tooth growth can prevent costly future problems. Therefore, it is very important that orthodontic problems are detected and treated at the right time.
Be responsible – make an appointment for your child's check-up now!
At Specialized dental clinic Bushkalova are working orthodontists, for whom beautiful and healthy children's smiles are a top priority. The clinic has its own new facilities and modern equipment of the highest class. If your child has not yet been examined by an orthodontist, do not hesitate to contact us and make an appointment. Early diagnosis and treatment will save you a lot of time and money, but most importantly, it will guarantee your child a beautiful and healthy smile.
