When it comes to orthodontic treatment for your child, timing is everything. Although an orthodontist can improve a smile at any age, there is an optimal age when your child can begin early intervention treatment. Our Orthodontist Rancho Cucamonga office strives to provide both timely detection of problems and greater opportunities for more effective treatment for your child.
What is the best time for my child to see an orthodontist?
Children’s appearance and health can be greatly influenced by orthodontics. Even with baby teeth still in the mouth, the American Association of Orthodontics recommends that an orthodontist examine a child’s teeth by the age of seven. Your child’s teeth may appear straight, but there may be underlying problems with the way adult teeth erupt, a misaligned bite, the relationship between the upper and lower jaw, tooth crowding, or problems caused by thumb sucking and other habits.
Children can benefit from the expertise of our Kids’ Dentist Rancho Cucamonga in identifying bite problems early and recommending appropriate treatment when necessary.
Phase I of orthodontic treatment
As a first phase of orthodontic treatment, dental and facial development are often guided. Early orthodontic treatment, also known as preventive or phase one treatment, is usually initiated around the age of 7, when your child still has most of his or her primary teeth. Interceptive orthodontic treatment helps prevent severe problems later on and gives an orthodontist control over where the permanent teeth appear by addressing the structure of the jaw and teeth while baby teeth are still present.
Benefits of early intervention
Early orthodontic intervention has many benefits, including
- Establish a better prognosis for the development of permanent teeth.
- Correct habits such as thumb-sucking or tongue-thrusting
- Correct open bites, crossbites, or deep bites.
- Assist the jaw in growing to make room for new teeth.
- Reduce the possibility of damaging any protruding teeth.
- Make the teeth, lips, and face arrangement more appealing and functional.
- Avoid potentially more invasive dental corrections in the future.
- Boost your child’s self-esteem and appearance.
For your child’s bite to be corrected, the treatment will be timed to coincide with predictable stages in the child’s development. We believe that most patients will need a second phase of treatment, often with traditional braces, to finish the tooth alignment that began during the first phase of treatment.
Phase II of orthodontic treatment
The goal of phase-two treatment is to correct the relationship between teeth and jaws so that they work properly, to align the teeth for a beautiful smile, and to position the teeth and jaws for a pleasing face and profile. Our Kids Dentist 91737 team can maximize your child’s oral growth and development by timing treatment to coincide with stages of dental development. If problems can be addressed early on in a child’s development, more drastic and invasive treatments may not be needed later.
We understand that orthodontic treatment isn’t for everyone. Every patient has a unique situation requiring a unique treatment plan. Some treatments may work for one child but not for another.
Early orthodontic intervention can benefit your child during the growth and development of the teeth and bones. Although your child may not need orthodontic treatment immediately, a consultation with our Rancho Cucamonga Kids’ Dentist office can inform you how we can assist your child should future treatment be necessary. With knowledge about your child’s specific needs, you will be able to maintain a lifelong smile for your child without any worries! Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
Sweet Tooth Orthodontics & Children’s Dentistry
Phone: (909) 989-7222
Url: https://www.lovesweettooth.com/
6331 Haven Ave Suite 12
Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91737
