Posted by Early orthodontic treatment in The Nevins
Historically, the time to get orthodontist work done began in the teenage years. Young pediatric patients did not get braces. Today, it’s very common for a The Nevins orthodontics practice like ours to refer children as young as 7 years old to an orthodontist for an evaluation to see if they need orthodontic treatment.
The Nevins orthodontics philosophy about children’s orthodontics is very different today than it was in the past. Today, most dentists believe that it’s beneficial for young children to get orthodontic children. According to the American Association of Orthodontics, children should have their first orthodontic screening at seven years old. Interceptive orthodontics; which is also known as Phase One. This is a new approach that involves orthodontic treatment before the patient’s adult teeth have erupted. Interceptive treatment involves the use of orthodontic devices such as expanders, partial braces and growth appliances during this time, which is usually when children are between the ages of 7-11 years old. Not all children will need to get braces early, however, there are some reasons early treatment might be recommended. Some of possible reasons include: if the child is having difficulty chewing or biting, mouth breathing, thumb sucking beyond the age of 5, if the child has a speech impediment, has protruding teeth, teeth that don’t fit well together or an uneven bite, the child has crowded front teeth or if the child is losing baby teeth early or too late. There are many benefits of early orthodontic treatment including: a decreased the likelihood of impacted permanent teeth, guides permanent teeth into a better position, guides the growth of the child’s jaw, enhances personal appearance, eliminates speech problems and difficulty breathing or eating.
If you’re interested in learning more about The Nevins orthodontics early orthodontic care, you should consult with our expert dentist. Call our office and one of our associates would be more than happy to assist you.