Early Treatment

Children's Orthodontics

Putting off treatment can result in a need for more invasive treatment later in life that may not completely fix your smile. Early treatment is most effective for achieving lasting results.  When early orthodontic treatment is not necessary, an orthodontist can carefully monitor growth and development and begin treatment when it is ideal. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that the initial orthodontic evaluation should occur at the first sign of orthodontic problems or no later than age 7. At this age, orthodontic treatment may not be necessary, but close examination can anticipate the best time for you to begin treatment.

WHAT ARE THE ADVANTAGES OF EARLY TREATMENT?

The goal of early, or phase one treatment is to help the jaw develop in a way that will accommodate all of the permanent teeth and to improve the way the upper and lower jaws fit together. Children often exhibit early signs of jaw problems as they grow and develop. An upper jaw that is growing too much or is too narrow can be recognized at an early age. If children, over the age of six, are found to have this jaw discrepancy, they are candidates for early orthodontic treatment. Also, if children around the age of 8 have crowded front teeth, early treatment can avoid the need to extract permanent teeth later.