When it comes to the field of pediatric orthodontics, we generally like to evaluate and assess the need for early intervention as early as we can. Upstate Orthodontics will be covering why your child needs to see a child be seen by age seven—and what makes this an ideal timeframe. However, most treatment isn’t started until all of the permanent teeth erupt around 11-14 years old. There are specific situations when early treatment is necessary.
Identifying Orthodontic Concerns
It can be pretty tricky for parents to know when it’s necessary to take their child to an orthodontist for the first time. One of the reasons Dr. McInnis uses age seven as a baseline is that it’s a prime time for growth and development and a good period to identify issues early. What are some of the specific issues that can warrant a visit? Let’s take a closer look:
- Crowded and Crooked Teeth: This issue is probably what most people imagine when they consider orthodontic treatment. As children begin to lose baby teeth and gain permanent ones, it’s entirely possible for teeth to come in crooked.
- Bite Problems: This can include conditions like an overbite, underbite, open bite, or crossbite. Malocclusion like this usually impacts speech and chewing and can result in uneven wear on teeth.
- Early or Late Loss of Baby Teeth: A dental problem can be signaled by how this pans out. For instance, if baby teeth fall out before the permanent teeth are ready to come in, it may cause spacing issues. If permanent teeth come in too early, they can crowd existing teeth.
- Thumb-sucking or Other Oral Habits: Thumb-sucking and prolonged use of a pacifier can be bad news for pediatric dental health. This can result in teeth protruding and needing to be corrected.
- Mouth Breathing: If you notice your child breathes constantly from their mouth instead of their nose, there might be a dental condition at play, like an open bite or narrow jaw.
- Teeth Grinding: Bruxism, if not addressed early, can cause a significant loss of permanent tooth structure that may require future restorations. It can also cause headaches and jaw pain and often occurs during sleep.
Two-Phase Treatment
One treatment option that’s exclusively for kids is called Two-Phase Treatment, the first stage of which can only be executed around this age window. Two-phase treatment isn’t necessary in most cases, but in specific patients compromised results will be achieved if certain issues aren’t addressed early.
- Phase One (Early or Interceptive Treatment): Phase one takes place around ages seven to ten and focuses on addressing orthodontic concerns while a child still has a combination of baby and permanent teeth. We’re able to address issues like severe crowding, crossbites, or protruding front teeth and set the stage for the second stage of treatment.
- Phase Two (Comprehensive Treatment): This phase usually begins around ages eleven to fourteen, once most or all baby teeth have been replaced by permanent teeth. The focus is on aligning permanent teeth and properly coordinating the upper and lower jaws. At this stage, treatment generally includes full braces or other orthodontic devices to achieve the best alignment and bite correction.
What makes this treatment so special is that Dr. McInnis can target growth-related issues as they occur while the jaw is still developing. This sets an ideal foundation for a full set of braces.
Other Benefits of Early Treatment
Every child’s anatomy and treatment plan is different, and we take the time to ensure all of their needs are met at Upstate Orthodontics. There are many other ways that having this kind of proactive approach benefits your child’s oral health in the long run.
- Healthy Habits Early: This developmental stage of life is a great time to instill proper oral hygiene practices. Positive reinforcement and active engagement with our office are amazing tools.
- Preventing Impacted Teeth: When Dr. McInnis can monitor permanent teeth as they grow in, he can minimize the risk of impacted teeth when teeth are blocked from emerging fully.
- Improved Speech Development: Misalignment or bite issues can contribute to speech issues and impediments. Again, when we can address these conditions early, it can result in better recovery.
- Easier Breathing: Another consequence of misalignment or issues like enlarged tonsils, adenoids and a narrow palette is difficulty breathing. This obstruction of airflow can be dangerous for obvious reasons, and it’s something we want to resolve as early as possible in a child’s life.
- Psychosocial Benefits: A child’s smile can be a principal point of self-confidence, or lack thereof. Kids don’t always play nicely—and early treatment can be a good way to curb bullying and teasing related to their teeth. This can lead to a healthier emotional state overall.
- Preservation of gum and bone: Traumatic occlusion from crossbites can cause significant gum and bone loss that will require surgical repair in the future. Severe crowding can cause teeth to erupt outside of the gum and bone housing leaving the patient with a compromised periodontium.
Ahead of the Game
We know that not everyone gets the opportunity to see an orthodontist this early in life—but if it’s possible for your child, we highly encourage it. Upstate Orthodontics works to accommodate every patient who visits us, regardless of their age. We’ll see you soon in Clemson or Seneca!