An orthodontic exam by age 7 is recommended by the American Association of Orthodontists, and we concur that this age, when the permanent teeth begin coming into the mouth, is a good time for the first consultation. The majority of kids are not ready for treatment.
Most often, early orthodontic treatment does not prevent the need for braces later. Therefore, we are quite conservative when recommending early treatment. When early treatment is not indicated, we may place the patient on an annual recall schedule until the optimum time for treatment occurs.
There are, however, instances when early treatment is needed to avoid compromising the result, and we try to keep this treatment focused to limited goals so as not to unnecessarily extend treatment time.
The following are some typical problems we see that require early intervention:
| Problem: Back teeth crossed-over, causing the jaw to shift when your child bites together. |
| Solution: Expansion of upper jaws. Approximately 10 months of treatment. |
| Problem: Front teeth crossed-over, causing excessive enamel wear or jaw to shift. |
| Solution: Braces and lower retainer. Approximately 3-5 months limited. |
| Problem: Poor tooth and jaw development due to poor muscle function. |
| Solution: Pre-orthodontic retainer. Nighttime wear only, for about a year. |
| Problem: Very poor eruption of permanent teeth. |
| Solution: Sometimes requires the removal of one or two primary teeth, but this does not mean permanent teeth need to be removed later. |
| Problem: Front teeth do not meet (open bite). |
| Solution: Tongue retainer, about six months. |
| Problem: Flared or protrusive upper front teeth |
| Solution: Limited braces, approximately six months. |