Early orthodontics are available at Quality Family Dentistry in Timonium and the surrounding area. The providers at our office can evaluate young children for potential orthodontic issues. Early intervention may benefit children who may have complex bite or orthodontic issues and prevent more extensive dental treatments later on.
Child orthodontics treatment may require a two-phased approach, starting as early as age 7 to correct some issues. Our team can help you determine if your child needs early orthodontic treatment. Call us at 410-252-6676 to find out if your child should be evaluated for early orthodontics treatment.
When children still have their baby teeth, they may show signs of needing early orthodontic interventions to correct certain problems. Children with extra teeth or exceptionally crowded teeth may be candidates for early treatment. Teeth that are excessively spaced out may also be a sign that early orthodontics could be beneficial.
Besides the spacing and positioning of the teeth, early orthodontics may also benefit children with bite problems. An underbite, where the lower teeth jut out further from the upper teeth, and a crossbite, where the jaw appears to shift to the side, may be successfully treated with early orthodontics. Genetics is the most common reason why a young child may have a bite problem, but some of these problems may be linked to thumb-sucking, prolonged pacifier use, or bottle use.
During phase 1 treatment, the orthodontist may use a variety of dental appliances to help align the patient's teeth. Phase 1 treatment usually occurs when the child still has their baby teeth. There are also some early orthodontics treatments that use braces during phase 1.
The orthodontist may use space maintainers or spacers to help space out crowded teeth. Expanders are also used during some phase 1 treatment plans to help gently expand the palate. Phase 1 treatment may also consist of appliances such as headgear, retainers, and braces to guide the jawbone and permanent teeth growth into a better position.
According to the American Association of Orthodontists, children should see an orthodontist by age 7. Phase 1 orthodontics typically begins around age 6 and up to age 9. This treatment phase may last between nine and 18 months, depending on the severity and specifics of the child's bite or teeth alignment problems.
After completing phase 1, the next step is phase 2 orthodontic treatment. Quality Family Dentistry carefully evaluates each patient's progress during phase 1 before transitioning to the next step. Here is what happens during phase 2 of an early orthodontic treatment plan:
While a two-phased approach to orthodontics can benefit many cases, some patients may be fine skipping phase 1. If the child has already lost most of their baby teeth, it may be better to opt for phase 2 treatment only. Additionally, there are some patients with minor problems that may not need extensive phase 1 intervention.
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Dentition refers to the way the teeth are arranged in the mouth.
Malocclusion is the condition in which the upper and lower teeth do not meet properly when the bite is closed. Conditions of malocclusion can include overbite, underbite, crossbite and open bite; all of which are treatable with Invisalign®.
Orthodontics is the specialty branch of dentistry that deals with preventing and correcting teeth and jaw irregularities.
An overbite is a type of malocclusion that occurs when the upper teeth jut out over the lower teeth, covering them and causing other issues.
Pediatric dentistry is the specialty branch of dentistry that focuses exclusively on children.
The permanent teeth are the second set of teeth that emerge after the patient has shed their baby teeth.
Phase 1 orthodontics is orthodontic treatment that is performed before the permanent teeth have erupted.
Primary teeth, also known as baby teeth, are a patient’s first set of teeth.
Teeth crowding is a lack of space in the mouth for all of the teeth to grow properly, leading to the need to extract some of the teeth.
An underbite is a malocclusion that occurs when the lower jaw and front teeth sit beyond the upper front teeth.
Our dental crown options in Timonium give patients choices for tooth restoration. If you have concerns about your teeth, call us today at (410) 705-6015 to schedule a consultation regarding any questions you have about our dental crown services.
A. At age 6 or 7, children still have most of their baby teeth. According to the American Dental Association, most children this age also have their permanent two front teeth and first adult molars. These adult teeth are key in determining a child's bite and evaluating their teeth alignment.
A. During the phase 1 treatment stage, children may have to come to the office for appointments every four to eight weeks. These regular monitoring appointments are necessary to check progress. After the child transitions to phase 2, there will still be a need to attend regular monitoring and adjustment appointments.
A. An expander is a dental appliance used in orthodontic treatment to enlarge the palate structure. This helps make more room for the adult teeth and phase 2 treatment. Children may be fitted with upper or lower palate expanders in their mouth for a series of weeks or months.
A. Some patients may need spacers during the first few months of early orthodontics treatment. Spacers are small bands that are placed between the teeth to help open up the space for future dental appliances. Rubber spacers may be worn for a week or two, and metal spacers for longer.
A. Since early orthodontic treatment is a multi-stage process, there may be several instances of post-procedure care. After children get an expander, dental appliance, or braces, there may be a period of time with some minor discomfort. The orthodontist may also provide instructions about temporary diet modifications a few hours after treatment.
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