Why Many Younger Patients are in Orthodontic Treatment

Posted by Dentalworks4kids on January 23rd, 2015

Many parents may notice that a lot of children around them today are wearing braces or a retainer at an earlier age than what they experienced when they were children. As a result the question often arises why so many younger children are in orthodontic treatment.

 Both the Canadian and American Association of Orthodontists recommend that a child’s first visit to the orthodontist be at age 7.  The main reason for this is because of growth.  Boys and girls reach growth spurts well before high school and if caught at the right time this growth can be modified.  Waiting until the teens until 14 or 15 the potential for growth modification of the jaws has its limitations often because the growth spurt may have already passed by… especially with girls.  As a result treatment may involve a more complicated plan that may involve extraction of teeth and sometimes even jaw surgery.

 During the time of growth orthodontic movements may be accomplished with more ease, making treatment times shorter and overall easier on the child.  Treatment during this time can help avoid the need for extracting teeth or complicated lengthy treatment. Early intervention may also improve stability, especially if the orthodontic conditions involve any jaw growth problems.

 Orthodontists can have different philosophies when it comes to the timing of when to start treatment. One philosophy is to treat problems with crowding, spacing, or jaw growth as soon as they are identified. Others believe that these problems should be addressed once all the baby teeth have fallen out and all the permanent teeth have erupted. A consultation is the best way to assess your child’s needs that tells the right time is to start treatment.

 Here are common reasons to come into Dental Works 4 Kids for a complimentary orthodontic consultation:

• Overlapping and crowding teeth
• Early loss of primary teeth
• Missing permanent teeth or extra teeth
• Protruding teeth
• Too much spacing between teeth
• Abnormal bite development – deep overbite, under bite, cross bite, open bite
• Abnormal facial growth development
• Mouth breathing and snoring
• Difficulty in chewing
• Speech and swallowing problems
• Sleep and airway problems
• Habits such as finger or thumb sucking
• Tooth wear

About The Author:

Dental Works 4 Kids is a pediatric & orthodontic health care specialist in Ontario, CA providing the highest standard of specialized and comprehensive oral healthcare and orthodontics for infants, children, adolescents, and patients with special needs. Dental Works 4 Kids offer a safe and welcoming environment with a focus on education and prevention for families in our community.