The American Association of Orthodontists recommends every child have an orthodontic evaluation by age 7. By this time, the appropriate number of permanent teeth has erupted and enough jaw growth has occurred, enabling Dr. Wilson to assess current and/or future orthodontic needs.
It is not always easy to identify a child’s need for orthodontic treatment. To the untrained eye, abnormalities can be easily overlooked. This is why seeing an orthodontic specialist is the best approach. A child may need an orthodontic exam if:
- They lose primary (baby) teeth early or late
- They have difficulty biting or chewing
- They experience mouth breathing or thumb sucking
- They have crowded or blocked out teeth
- Their jaws shift or make sounds
- They bite their cheeks and/or palate
- Their jaws are not aligned proportionately with their face
- There is excessive spacing between the teeth
The primary objective for Phase One (early) treatment is to address significant skeletal and/or facial orthopedic problems and prevent them from becoming more severe. Dr. Wilson takes a conservative approach to Phase One treatment, and only recommends it for children if he feels it is absolutely necessary. Certain functional issues are best addressed at an early age and can reduce, if not eliminate entirely, the need for more invasive measures, such as surgery.
Timely screening increases the chances for an incredible smile. Some of the most direct results of Phase One treatment are:
- Creating room for crowded, erupting teeth
- Creating facial symmetry by influencing jaw growth
- Reducing the risk of trauma to protruding front teeth
- Preserving space for unerupted teeth
- Reducing the need for tooth removal
- Reducing treatment time with braces
To get the full benefit from Phase One treatment, it is usually initiated on children between the ages of 7 and 10, and lasts about 10-20 months, depending on the recommended treatment. Straightening of the teeth is not the priority of Phase One treatment, although it may be a temporary result. Since many of the permanent teeth have not yet come in, there is no guarantee that any straightening done during Phase One will be retained. Full braces are typically worn once all of the permanent teeth have erupted in order to cosmetically straighten all of the teeth.
If you notice your child is experiencing any of the problems above, please contact our office to schedule a complimentary evaluation with Dr. Wilson.
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends every child have an orthodontic evaluation by age 7. By this time, the appropriate number of permanent teeth has erupted and enough jaw growth has occurred, enabling Dr. Wilson to assess current and/or future orthodontic needs.
It is not always easy to identify a child’s need for orthodontic treatment. To the untrained eye, abnormalities can be easily overlooked. This is why seeing an orthodontic specialist is the best approach. A child may need an orthodontic exam if:
- They lose primary (baby) teeth early or late
- They have difficulty biting or chewing
- They experience mouth breathing or thumb sucking
- They have crowded or blocked out teeth
- Their jaws shift or make sounds
- They bite their cheeks and/or palate
- Their jaws are not aligned proportionately with their face
- There is excessive spacing between the teeth
The primary objective for Phase One (early) treatment is to address significant skeletal and/or facial orthopedic problems and prevent them from becoming more severe. Dr. Wilson takes a conservative approach to Phase One treatment, and only recommends it for children if he feels it is absolutely necessary. Certain functional issues are best addressed at an early age and can reduce, if not eliminate entirely, the need for more invasive measures, such as surgery.
Timely screening increases the chances for an incredible smile. Some of the most direct results of Phase One treatment are:
- Creating room for crowded, erupting teeth
- Creating facial symmetry by influencing jaw growth
- Reducing the risk of trauma to protruding front teeth
- Preserving space for unerupted teeth
- Reducing the need for tooth removal
- Reducing treatment time with braces
To get the full benefit from Phase One treatment, it is usually initiated on children between the ages of 7 and 10, and lasts about 10-20 months, depending on the recommended treatment. Straightening of the teeth is not the priority of Phase One treatment, although it may be a temporary result. Since many of the permanent teeth have not yet come in, there is no guarantee that any straightening done during Phase One will be retained. Full braces are typically worn once all of the permanent teeth have erupted in order to cosmetically straighten all of the teeth.
If you notice your child is experiencing any of the problems above, please contact our office to schedule a complimentary evaluation with Dr. Wilson.