Early Orthodontics

Early intervention if your child is showing signs of an orthodontic problem can spare them from more significant, long-term issues, or ensure that treatment at a later age is less intensive. In some cases, early orthodontic treatment can achieve results that may be impossible once your child’s jaws and face have finished developing. Even if your child is showing no obvious signs of orthodontic issues – like crooked teeth – they may have problems that an untrained eye will not be able to see. An experienced orthodontist can detect subtle issues with growth of the jaw and emerging adult teeth, while some baby teeth are still present. Orthodontic problems in young children can arise through several factors, including genetics, early or late loss of baby teeth, and habits such as thumb sucking. Orthodontic irregularities may be present at birth or develop during early childhood, and crooked teeth can damage self-esteem as a child grows and make oral hygiene difficult.

Advantages of Early Orthodontic Assessment and Treatment

The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) advises parents to schedule an orthodontic assessment for a child by the time they’re seven. If a developing problem is detected, it gives the orthodontist three options for a successful outcome for the young patient:

  • Monitoring the condition of the teeth and jaw as the child grows and develops.
  • Scheduling treatment for a later time.
  • Commencing early treatment.

Young patients differ in physiological development and treatment needs, so the orthodontist’s focus will be on providing the most appropriate treatment at the most appropriate time. Benefits for children visiting an orthodontist before a problem is severe include:

  • Lessening the danger of damage to protruding front teeth.
  • Correcting harmful oral habits.
  • Enhancing facial appearance, including how the lips come together.
  • Steering emerging adult teeth into proper position.
  • Guiding growth of the jaw.
  • Correcting speech problems.
  • Lessening the tendency to grind teeth.
  • Eliminating treatment or shortening treatment time of future orthodontics.

Avoiding Lengthy Treatments in the Future

Interceptive orthodontics – orthodontic treatment for young children – takes advantage of the situation that the child’s jaw is still growing, and early treatment may be indicated if the jaws and dental arches are not positioned properly. Further treatment will typically be required, but it may be shorter and less complicated. Many different appliances, both removable and fixed, are used to move teeth, retrain muscles and influence jaw growth. These appliances put gentle pressure on the teeth and jaws. They include:

Braces. The most common fixed appliances, braces comprise bands, wires and/or brackets. Thanks to technology, today’s braces are much improved on those of yesteryear, making them more comfortable and less obtrusive.

Aligners. An alternative to conventional braces, clear aligners like Invisalign can be used for teens as well as adults.

Space maintainers. These appliances, fixed or removable, enable permanent teeth to erupt and come into place by keeping the space open for them.

Palatal expanders. Devices to widen the arch of the upper jaw.

Indications of Orthodontic Problems in Children

Early detection of orthodontic problems in kids is crucial to lay the foundation for a lifetime of a high standard of oral health and general wellbeing. Common signs that your child might need orthodontic treatment include:

Mouth breathing. If your child keeps breathing through their mouth, it can damage the jaw structure. It can also cause gingivitis (gum inflammation) and an open bite, when the upper and lower teeth don’t make proper contact.

Crowded or crooked teeth. Orthodontic treatment may be needed if your child’s adult teeth are growing in crooked or crowding other teeth. Relatively minor treatment may be able to prevent this issue from getting worse.

Early or late loss of baby teeth. Children generally start losing their primary teeth when they’re six or seven, and the process continues until around the age of 12. If your child is losing baby teeth much earlier or later than usual, this may be a sign of a developing orthodontic problem.

Thumb sucking. Most kids usually stop sucking their thumb around the ages of two to four. If they’re still doing it when permanent teeth begin to emerge, it could be because they find it comforting to ease developing problems such as protruding or crowded teeth.

Crooked Jaw. If your child’s jaw shifts when eating or is visibly out of alignment, the problem can worsen without orthodontic treatment.

Difficulty eating. If your child has to shift their jaw to chew properly, this may be an indication of a problem with the jaw and/or teeth.

Difficulty speaking. Teeth problems or a misaligned jaw may make it difficult for your child to pronounce certain words. For instance, a narrow upper jaw can impair resonance in speech.

How Orthodontic Issues Can Affect Your Child

Crowded or crooked teeth (malocclusion) can result in cavities because brushing and flossing properly is much more difficult, particularly for young children. Another reason why malocclusion can cause tooth decay is that enamel – the outer, protective layer of a tooth –can become worn down simply by everyday activities like eating and speaking. The abnormal wear and tear on teeth that malocclusion causes can also lead to jaw problems such as TMD (temporomandibular disorders) as uneven teeth impact the jaw muscles, causing long-term problems. Misaligned teeth can also pose problems in the digestion of food: crooked or crowded teeth make it difficult to chew food properly.

Safeguarding Your Child’s Self-Confidence

Left untreated, orthodontic issues in children can impair speech and affect facial appearance. This can significantly impact their self-esteem in their teen years, affecting social interactions and how they perform at school. Research has shown that six per cent of teenagers unhappy about their smile are also unconfident about their overall appearance, and 30 per cent are most awkward about how their teeth look. Another study, presented in 2016, showed that treatment to correct crooked teeth resulted in a substantial boost in self-regard and quality of life.

Dr. Shawn Yu is an orthodontist specializing in early treatment for children can help to safeguard your child’s beaming smile and future self-confidence while ensuring the health advantages that come with proper functionality of their teeth and jaws. And this is the real benefit for children visiting an orthodontist before a problem is severe. Contact the pediatric dental office of Beanca Chu, DDS, today to find out more information!