Orthodontics & Early Intervention
 Today, orthodontic treatment is being taken more seriously at a younger age than it was when we were kids. In our day, it was normal to see a dentist for orthodontic treatment for the first time during our teen years and to go through high school with metal braces. Today, the recommendation is to have your child evaluated as soon as the child’s permanent teeth start to come in, around the age of 6 or 7.
Determining the best treatment plan
The time that a child’s bone structure is still developing to be the best time to determine changes that need to be made. This does not mean that all kids will receive orthodontic treatment immediately following this first appointment; it is simply a good idea to get things started early in order to determine the best treatment plan for your child.
Preventing potential problems
In addition, orthodontic treatment that takes place early in a child's life, while their jaw is still developing, can help to prevent overcrowding. Since this is such a prevalent problem in children, it can be an amazing treatment for some kids. This could prevent the need to extract teeth, which was the more traditional treatment method when going through braces. The ability to help the jaw expand and permanent teeth to erupt in their correct positions is a step forward for orthodontic treatment. |
