Early orthodontic treatment can make a big difference when it comes to overall health!
Orthodontics is the branch of oral health that has to do with the alignment of the teeth. Of course, a mouth free of tooth gaps and misalignment means you’ll have a beautiful smile. That helps with confidence and can give folks young and old a new lease on life. But that’s really only the beginning.
There’s much more to orthodontic treatment besides how good it makes you feel!
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that kids see an orthodontist for the first time around seven years of age. That’s a bit earlier than many parents might realize. In fact, it’s a whole lot sooner than your child has all of their adult teeth. It can take some kids late into their teens or early twenties to get them all.
So, what gives? Why is it important to see an orthodontist at such an early age?
Why Children Should See an Orthodontist While They Still Have Baby Teeth
You remember how difficult it was when your child was small and started to get their very first teeth. That is an uncomfortable process that can also mean lots of lost sleep for the adults in the family. Although it is hectic at first, baby teeth almost always “erupt” from the gums in a healthy and complete way.
This is a safe and natural process that, of course, heralds a whole new time in a baby’s life.
The challenge comes when your little one is a bit older. When he or she starts to get a few adult teeth but doesn’t have all of them yet, it’s a crucial time to see a family orthodontist. That’s because there are many more things that might not go as planned when it’s time for the adult teeth to “erupt.”
The biggest risk is that there might not be enough space for all permanent teeth.
When there’s not enough space, then a tooth is more likely to fail to come up out of the gums at all. If it does push through, it might end up at an unusual angle or even come up sideways. Unfortunately, that impacted tooth can be very painful. Not only that, but it almost always requires oral surgery to fix.
An Orthodontic Visit at Age 7-8 Is Ideal to Spot Problems Before They Start
Around age seven, your child is most likely to have a mix of “baby” and “adult” teeth.
This exciting transition point is actually the best time of life to see a family orthodontist.
Not everyone will need early orthodontic treatment. Some kids won’t need it until after they have all of their permanent teeth. And a very lucky group won’t need any at all! But the age of seven or so is the right moment to check for orthodontic issues that might otherwise turn serious a few steps down the road.
With a quick orthodontic examination, Dr. Beauchamp will be able to determine whether there will be enough space for all the permanent teeth in their final arrangement. If not, there’s plenty of time to start two-phase orthodontic treatment. That provides the opportunity to make more space for the teeth before they arrive.
Two-phase orthodontic treatment generally starts with the use of a palate expander. This is an orthodontic appliance that slowly and gently stretches the soft palate to create more room. After a short period of time, expanders ensure plenty of space for adult teeth. That can solve orthodontic issues before they even begin!
What’s the second phase of the two-phase treatment?
Well, in the event a child does have some misalignment or gaps in the adult teeth after the first phase, they can go right on to metal braces or Invisalign®. Metal braces are used for the most severe cases since they can treat a wide range of concerns. For more moderate orthodontic woes, Invisalign® can be an ideal choice.
Adults, teens, and even some responsible kids can qualify for Invisalign®, depending on their condition.
And, yes, this is another situation where getting an early start really makes a difference.
The younger a patient is when they start the second phase of treatment, the faster it usually goes!
Get Started with High Quality Orthodontic Care for the Whole Family at Beauchamp Orthodontics
Dr. Beauchamp is a board-certified Florida orthodontist who’s especially skilled at treating younger patients. She’ll only recommend what’s best – and she’ll make the whole experience fun and friendly for your children!
Set your consultation online today to get started. We look forward to meeting you soon!
