Early Orthodontic Treatment

Early orthodontic treatment refers to orthodontic intervention before the eruption of permanent dentition (except third molars) is complete. Some people get confused about what early orthodontic treatment is. It’s a treatment that takes place before braces when a child is 8-10 years old. Your orthodontist will be able to identify abnormalities earlier in your child’s life when their teeth and jaws are easier to manipulate. This is helpful for treating a variety of orthodontic problems such as protruding teeth, crowding, spacing, and missing teeth before more serious problems start to develop There are several ways you can determine whether your kid may need early orthodontic treatment. You should seek an assessment if you observe any of these characteristics or behaviors in your child:

• Early loss of baby teeth (before age five)
• If your child’s teeth do not meet properly at all when biting
• Mouth breathing and/or snoring
• If your child’s front teeth are crowded (you generally won’t see this until the child is about seven or eight years old)
• Protruding front teeth
• Biting or chewing difficulties
• A speech impediment
• If your child’s jaw shifts when he or she opens or closes the mouth
• If your child is older than five years and still sucks a thumb or finger