Early Orthodontics

Your first visit will consist of:

• A thorough review of your child’s medical and dental history
• Acclimatization to make your child comfortable in our office and around dental instruments
• A complete assessment and evaluation of your child’s mouth, teeth, and skeletal development
• Diagnostic records as necessary
• A discussion of our recommended course of action, whether it is treatment or monitoring

WHY should my child be seen by an orthodontist?

A child’s growth is accompanied by many physical, psychological, and developmental changes. As these growth changes occurs, there are certain things you should be on the look-out for. These include:

1. Finger or thumb sucking
2. Lip, cheek biting or sucking habits
3. Minor speech problems
4. Mouth breathing
5. Narrow upper jaws and/or crossbites
6. Severely crowded teeth
7. Blocked out teeth or teeth growing elsewhere than in the dental arch
8. Severe underbites and overbites
9. Early loss of baby teeth due to cavities, trauma or natural causes
10. Malformed teeth
11. Misaligned jaws

Many of these problems are signs that early treatment is needed and most of these problems should be addressed at an early age.

When should my child be seen by an orthodontist?

The American Association of Orthodontists advises that children should have their first orthodontic evaluation around ages 7 to 8. At this stage, many children are losing their primary teeth while their permanent teeth begin to emerge. This period is crucial as it is when various dental and jaw alignment issues can surface. Early orthodontic intervention, typically carried out between the ages of 7 and 11, is essential for addressing these potential concerns.

Advantages of early treatment

The main advantage of early treatment is that it can prevent serious problems from getting worse as a child grows. Most orthodontic problems become more difficult to treat and take longer to fix the older a patient becomes. This is why treating problems as they arise when a patient is still young and growing can save a lot of time and result in better outcomes.

Early treatment can also sometimes avoid the need for extraction of adult teeth or jaw surgery later in life.

Other advantages of early treatment include addressing damaging habits such as:

• Finger, thumb, or lip sucking habits
• Minor speech problems

Finally, early treatment can be beneficial for children involved in athletic activities. For example, children with big overbites are more likely to break a tooth while engaged in sports activities. Reducing the overbite can prevent fracturing or loosing the front teeth.

Early treatment

Since children aged 7 to 11 have not yet developed all their permanent teeth, early orthodontic intervention is focused on addressing issues that are more effectively managed at a younger age. These issues include

• Narrow upper jaws resulting in crossbites
• Severe underbites and overbites
• Finger sucking or biting habits
• Lip sucking or biting habits
• Jaw misalignment
• Severely crowded, crooked, or blocked-out teeth
• Teeth growing outside the dental arch

This doesn’t mean your child will not need treatment again once all of the adult teeth have come in. In fact, it is common for patients who have early or phase one treatment to have another phase of orthodontic treatment several years after phase one treatment has ended. That is why we sometimes refer to early treatment as phase one treatment—because it is followed by a more comprehensive phase of detailing which treats all of the adult teeth to their final position. This is called phase 2 treatment. Often, patients who have previously had early treatment have a faster phase 2 comprehensive treatment as teenagers.

What if my child does not need early treatment?

If our orthodontists, or you, decide that your child does not require early treatment, your child may our join complimentary observation program. There are no fees associated with these monitoring appointments, which are designed to be informative and fun as we monitor your child’s growth and development.

Why choose Nova Orthodontics for early treatment?

At Nova Orthodontics, we understand that careful diagnosis and ongoing monitoring are essential for the success of your child’s treatment. Our skilled orthodontists bring a wealth of experience in providing conservative and effective early interventions when necessary. We recognize that not every child requires treatment, which is why we prioritize comprehensive evaluations before making any recommendations. Our compassionate team is attuned to your child’s individual needs and is dedicated to creating a fun, comfortable, and enjoyable experience during every visit to our dental office.