An early orthodontic screening is recommended by age 7 according to the American Association of Orthodontists. At Palm Tree Orthodontics, children as young as 6 or 7 can receive an evaluation on their orthodontic concerns and proper interventions at early stages. Early treatments like an expander can help guide proper dental architecture and jaw growth, preventing pain, discomfort, irregularities in bites, and strain on teeth and masticatory muscles.
It is an amazing thing to witness how quickly children grow up. In what seems like the blink of an eye, they transition from gummy smiles to needing evaluation for braces. It is remarkable how their milestones come so quickly, and it may even seem like they just began elementary school only last week. However, orthodontic treatment in young children can begin at a younger age than before, as recommended by the American Association of Orthodontics. They suggest that all children receive a screening by age 7 when permanent teeth have generally appeared and evidence of orthodontic problems may become more evident.
Benefits of Early Orthodontic Treatment
At Palm Tree Orthodontics, children as young as 6 or 7 years old can have their orthodontic issues addressed. This is an advantageous time as the jaw is still growing and adult teeth are starting to come in. Through an initial evaluation, an orthodontist will determine whether early treatment is necessary. This often simplifies future treatments, making them less invasive, shorter in duration, or even unnecessary. Early treatment can address problems that cause pain or discomfort, correct bites, and facilitate proper jaw growth. With early intervention, children can benefit from a healthier smile that lasts into adulthood.
Benefits of Using an Expander
By using an expander, parents can help guide their child’s jaw and dental arch growth to be properly aligned. This can prevent strain on the teeth and jaw muscles, as well as potentially improve breathing through the nose. It is a proactive step that will benefit a child’s future development.
Early Treatment Options
Orthodontists are proud to be able to provide early treatment options for their patients, such as expanders that can ease the overcrowding of permanent teeth as they emerge through the gums. Additionally, space maintainers can be used to keep other teeth from filling the open space if a baby tooth falls out prematurely. Furthermore, orthodontists are experienced in guiding teeth growing in unusual places toward their proper location as they continue to emerge from the gums.
These treatments are essential in protecting your child’s smile from reconstructive surgeries due to unavoidable accidents.
Establishing Good Habits
It is important to recognize that oral habits developed by age 7 can have a lasting impact on a child’s oral health. Establishing good habits at an early age, such as brushing and flossing, can help ensure that your child’s teeth and gums remain healthy. Conversely, bad habits, such as thumb or finger sucking and mouth breathing, can increase the risk of developing dental problems like protruding front teeth, crossbite, overcrowding, gingivitis, and halitosis. It is also important to note that mouth breathing can affect the growth of facial structures as well.
Properly closing the lips and pressing the tongue upwards onto the palate to swallow can help prevent these harmful habits from causing permanent damage. With proper recognition, orthodontists can suggest behavioral modifications or use appliances to alter the habit before it causes irreversible damage.
Benefits of Early Orthodontic Treatment
Early orthodontic treatment can be enormously beneficial for children, offering them the potential to significantly reduce the amount of time spent with braces and avoid invasive treatments such as tooth extraction and surgery. Moreover, these treatments can be completed before the teenage years, allowing young patients to gain a boost in self-esteem and confidence from their improved smile.
Expert Orthodontic Evaluations for Children
At Palm Tree Orthodontics, they are proud to provide expert orthodontic evaluations for children. If your child is growing their adult teeth or if you suspect they have harmful oral habits, then a visit to the orthodontist is necessary. Early intervention can save many trips down the road and the experienced team of professionals will make sure that your child feels comfortable during their first evaluation. Taking the first steps towards creating a beautiful smile for your child should be done now!
Proactive steps taken to ensure the proper growth and development of children’s smiles can lead to improved dental health and overall well-being. Early evaluation and orthodontic intervention are beneficial in allowing for the correction of current issues, preventing future problems, and encouraging the best possible outcomes. Palm Tree Orthodontics provides comprehensive services to allow parents to take initiative at an early age in ensuring proper oral health care for their children. Doing so provides long-term benefits and peace of mind in knowing that our children have been given the best chance at a healthy smile.
