People can benefit enormously from orthodontic treatment at any age, but starting early does have some distinct advantages. When your child’s adult teeth start coming in, around the age of 7, they should be brought to an orthodontist in your area for an initial screening. At Discover Orthodontics in Brampton and Burlington, ON, we use the highly effective two-phase orthodontic treatment method, which begins with phase 1 between ages 6 and 9. Read on to find out why this type of interceptive treatment helps kids achieve the best results from braces.
When Earlier is Better
Treatment for common orthodontic problems typically begins around age 9-14 when most of the permanent teeth are in place, but there are some conditions that are much easier to treat if intervention begins even younger when a child's natural growth processes are going full speed ahead.
One is severe crossbite, a condition where many or all of the upper teeth close inside the lower teeth. To treat this problem, a device called a palatal expander is used to gradually and painlessly widen the upper jaw, and is especially effective when the jaw itself hasn't fully developed. If we wait too long, a more complicated treatment, or even oral surgery, might be required to correct the problem.
Another condition that may benefit from early treatment is severe crowding. This occurs when the jaws are too small to accommodate all of the permanent teeth. Either palatal expansion or tooth extraction may be recommended at this point, to help the adult teeth erupt (emerge from below the gums) properly. Even if braces are required later, the treatment time will likely be shorter and less complicated.
Early intervention may also be helpful in resolving several other problems. Protruding teeth, especially in front, can be prone to chipping and fractures; they may also lead to problems with a child's self-image. A severe underbite, caused by the lower jaw growing much larger than the upper jaw can result in serious bite problems. Orthodontic appliances, including braces and headgear, can be successfully used to correct these problems at this stage, when the child's development is in full swing, thereby increasing the chances that surgery can be avoided.
Correcting Bad Habits
At one time or another, anyone may pick up a bad habit. But there are some situations where a youngster's parafunctional (outside normal function) habits can actually influence the development and function of his or her teeth, jaws, and mouth. Some examples of these are persistent thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, and mouth breathing.
The sucking reflex is natural in early childhood, and usually disappears between ages 2 and 4, but if it persists much later, the pressure of the digit on the front teeth and the upper jaw can actually cause the teeth to move apart and the jaws to change shape. This can lead to the orthodontic problem called “open bite,” and may impair speech. An open bite can also be caused by the force of the tongue pushing forward against the teeth (tongue thrusting).
Mouth breathing is an abnormal breathing pattern in which the mouth always remains open, passing air directly to the lungs is related to alterations in the muscular function of the tongue and face. It may cause the upper and lower jaw to grow abnormally, which can lead to serious orthodontic problems. Although mouth breathing may start from a physical difficulty, it can become a habitual action that's hard to break.
Various orthodontic treatments are available to help correct these parafunctional habits and the sooner they're taken care of, the less damage they may cause. But these potential problems aren't always easy to recognize. That's one more reason why you should bring your child in for early orthodontic screening.
Make an Appointment to Get Started
If your child is at the right age for their first orthodontic consultation, contact Discover Orthodontics today. It is our mission to help patients at any age unlock their smile’s greatest potential, using state-of-the-art treatments. Request an appointment, read about the different types of braces we offer, and visit our FAQ.
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