We believe that everyone deserves a beautiful smile, and the first steps toward a beautiful smile begin in childhood. Children of any age can benefit from orthodontic treatments, though the American Association of Orthodontists recommends scheduling their first appointment around the age of seven. This is because children at this age often have a mix of both baby teeth and permanent teeth. When some baby teeth are still present, this correction is called early treatment. This treatment makes it easy to diagnose and correct issues without surgery.
The Benefits of Early Treatment
Early treatment can be very beneficial to your child and can help them to chew, bite, and contribute to clear speech. Plus, a straight, healthy smile treatment helps to contribute to self-confidence and self-esteem. Treating these issues early on can make it much easier for an orthodontist to correct it. The main objective of early treatment is to treat any developing issues early on, eliminate the cause, and guide the correct growth of the jaw and facial boned. Early treatment helps with the following:
- Guide the growth of child’s jaw which can help their adult teeth to grow in straight.
- Balance out the width of the upper and lower arches.
- Create space for teeth that are crowded.
- Prevents thumb-sucking and helps to improve minor speech issues.
- Prevents the need for tooth extractions later on.
While some of these issues may be the result of accidents, dental disease, or swallowing issues, others may be inherited. Early treatment techniques may differ depending on your child’s unique orthodontic issues. Some orthodontists may place a temporary appliance to change the positioning of the jaw, move the teeth, or hold the teeth into place. Other times, an appliance might not be needed.
Signs Your Child Should See an Orthodontist
We understand that sometimes it can be difficult to determine whether or not your child is in need of orthodontic treatment. Because of this, we have compiled a list of signs that you should look out for:
- Crowded teeth.
- Mouth breathing.
- Early or late loss of baby teeth.
- Complications with chewing or biting food.
- Teeth that do not come together.
- Jaws that make sounds when the mouth is opened or closed.
- Jaws or teeth that are disproportionate to the face.
- Teeth crowding around the age of seven or eight.
If you are noticing any of these issues with your child, then it is important to see an orthodontist. If these signs are left untreated, then these orthodontic issues will only become worse, which can lead to difficulties in the future.
Contact Our Office Today!
To learn more about how orthodontic treatment can be beneficial to your child, do not hesitate to contact our office today! Our friendly team will be happy to assist you in scheduling an appointment, as well as answer any questions that you may have. SquareSmiles is located 5 miles from Braintree and 8 miles from Weymouth.