The Importance of an Early Childhood Orthodontic Evaluation

#171262833 / gettyimages.com Children start to receive their permanent teeth around their sixth or seventh birthdays, which makes it a time when we can start to see how their adult jaw, bite, and even profile will develop. At this point, we may refer the child for a [...] The post The Importance of an Early Childhood Orthodontic Evaluation appeared first on Doyle Dental.

Children start to receive their permanent teeth around their sixth or seventh birthdays, which makes it a time when we can start to see how their adult jaw, bite, and even profile will develop. At this point, we may refer the child for a visit to an orthodontist, which some parents can find confusing. They ask, quite understandably, “Can’t this wait until they are older?” or “Why do we need to worry about this now?”

The reason why we encourage early orthodontic evaluations is because proper tooth positions have a major effect on facial symmetry and profile, as well as chewing function. While a child is developing, an orthodontist can use orthodontic appliances to control development and growth.

The two most common types of appliances are palatal expanders and headgear. Palatal expanders increase the width of the upper jaw to create space for the adult upper teeth that will be growing in as baby teeth are lost. Headgear is usually used to either enhance or restrict the growth of the lower jaw, with the purpose of making sure that the upper and lower jaw are properly aligned, as well as improving facial profile and aesthetics.

Early interventions are important because puberty limits patients’ orthodontic options—by that point, bone growth has ceased and cannot be easily manipulated. After puberty, correcting orthodontic problems often involves surgical intervention as well as orthodontic treatment.

Early diagnosis often involves less invasive treatment, ensuring the child’s growth can be properly manipulated to achieve optimum facial and dental aesthetics. Benefits of proper tooth alignment include improved chewing function, a normal bite (as opposed to an overbite), and ease of future dental treatment. Patients are encouraged to see an orthodontist early so they can achieve optimum dental health.

The post The Importance of an Early Childhood Orthodontic Evaluation appeared first on Doyle Dental.