Orthodontics for Children
As a parent, your child's smile is one of your favorite sights in the world. Early orthodontic treatment can play a key role in keeping that smile as happy and healthy as possible.
About Orthodontics for Children
By taking your child in to see a pediatric orthodontist while they're still young (around 7 years old), you can set them up for a lifetime of better dental health. An early visit gives the orthodontist the opportunity to create a treatment plan based on your child's growth and development. Many dental issues, such as overcrowding and overbite, are much easier to treat when children are still growing.
Common Orthodontic Treatments
Your child might not even need treatment right away. If they do, some of the common orthodontic treatments for children include:
- Platal expanders: To gently widen the child's upper jaw to create more room for their adult teeth to grow in properly and prevent or treat bite issues.
- Space maintainers: To prevent teeth from shifting and blocking the permanent tooth when a child loses a baby tooth too early.
- Partial braces: To correct tooth alignment issues before all the permanent teeth grow in.
Support Your Child's Development
No matter what type of treatment the Beam Dental orthodontist team recommends, this early care is all about supporting your child's proper tooth and jaw development.
Frequently Asked Questions
When should a child see an orthodontist?
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that you take your child to an orthodontist by age 7, as the specialist can identify and address any concerns before all the child's adult teeth come in.
Taking your child to see an orthodontist around age 7 does not necessarily mean they will have to start orthodontic treatment immediately. The orthodontist may tell you that there's no need for treatment, or that your child may need treatment in the future. During periodic check-ups, the orthodontist can monitor the youngster's development.
What are the benefits of early orthodontic treatment?
When children come in for early orthodontic treatment, their orthodontists can optimize treatment based on their growth and development. Many orthodontic concerns are easier to treat while children are still growing. In many cases, children's orthodontics is a preventive measure.
If, for example, an orthodontist sees that your child will likely have issues with tooth overcrowding, they can recommend palatal expansion while they're still growing. The expansion creates more room for the teeth to sit correctly, so extractions and other procedures may not be necessary. Addressing the same overcrowding issue later in life can be more complicated and even require surgery, so it's best to visit a Beam Dental pediatric orthodontist near you sooner rather than later.
How do braces help children's teeth develop?
Braces for kids help support the healthy development of their teeth and jaw. The braces can guide the teeth into the correct positions as they come in, and while the jaw is still growing. Wearing braces now could lower the risk of more severe dental issues in adulthood.
Braces are often part of the solution in treating bite problems. A bite problem, also known as malocclusion, is when the two rows of teeth don't align properly, making biting and chewing more difficult. Taking your child to the orthodontist early will help them catch the warning signs of malocclusion as soon as possible and begin a treatment plan.
