Treatment For Kids
An orthodontic consultation about treatment for kids is best to be done around the age of 7 when common dental issues are visible. Every child’s mouth develops in its own way and on its own time. When children are still growing, we have the opportunity to intervene and correct certain growth problems.
Waiting until all Permanent teeth or until growth is complete can make correction difficult to fix.
Signs Your Child May Need Orthodontic Treatment
- Overbite or Underbite
- Overcrowding
- Protruding teeth
- Irregular, early or late loss of baby teeth
- Uneven bite, Cross bite, Open bite
- Difficulty in biting or chewing
- Sleep amnesia
- Thumb sucking beyond the age of 5
- Speech Impediment
- Mouth breathing
- Grinding
- Misplaced midlines
- Spaces
It is recommended to treat problems such as thumb sucking , under bite, Cross bite and narrow arch at an early age, which will improve overall health and function of the oral system and will lead to more stable results.
In these situations, a complete treatment approach would be in two steps;
Two-phase orthodontic treatment may prevent or intercept more serious problems from developing and may shorten future treatment lengths. Straightening teeth, along with creating a functional bite for children, helps us to create a proper foundation for normal jaw development and eruption of permanent teeth, allowing us to maximize opportunity to accomplish a healthy, functional, and aesthetic result. Having an orthodontic exam can inform you on how your child's teeth and jaw are developing, and if any treatment will be recommended or if continuing to monitor your child’s growth for future examination and begin treatment if needed.
2-Phase Treatment
PHASE ONE
Phase one usually starts in mixed dentition. In early treatment, we are able to guide and correct the growth of your child’s jaw and regulate the width of the upper and lower arches. This will create more space for crowded teeth and avoids the need for permanent teeth extractions later in life and in some cases jaw surgery.
Why Phase 1;
Phase I only being between 9-18 months, simply corrects the immediate problems so that future treatment will be less complicated or of shorter duration.
Appliances used in Phase 1 treatment;
Some appliances often used to help correct issues in this stage involve Braces, Invisalign, Headgear, Space maintainers, Expansion appliances, Functional appliances, Elastics, ETC. After phase 1, our patients will then go into a holding phase with a retainer. Kids will wear specific retainers based on their mouth, growth and development. We will have regular 6 months visits after treatment to continue monitoring the eruption of permanent teeth.
PHASE TWO
Phase Two usually occurs when most permanent teeth have erupted, around the age of 11-12 years old. Using both upper and lower arches, we can correct spaces, misaligned teeth, over and under bite issues.
Why Phase 2;
Phase Two often being 18-24 months allows us to focus on ensuring the teeth have good function, the bite is healthy, balanced and the teeth are aesthetically pleasing. In Phase Two we make sure each tooth has an exact location in the mouth where it is in harmony with the lips, cheeks, tongue, and other teeth., so the teeth will function together properly. You can expect to be seeing us every 6-8 weeks for your orthodontic checkups.
Retention Phase;
Once your child completes their treatment you will receive one set of retainers. Retainers are case specific and given out accordingly. We will continue to monitor you with retainers for 6 months – 1 year, then you will continue to wear your retainers to maintain your healthy, beautifully functioning smile.
