ORTHODONTIC TREATMENTS

Early Treatment

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What Is Early Treatment?

Early treatment (also known as Phase One) typically begins around age eight or nine. Phase Two will begin around age 11 or older. The goal of early treatment is to correct the growth of the jaw and certain bite problems, such as underbite. Early treatment also helps to make room for permanent teeth to come in properly, which lessens the chance of extractions in the future.

Common Orthodontic Problems

The early or late loss of primary teeth
Harmful oral habits like thumb sucking or tongue thrust
Mouth breathing
Sleep apnea, snoring, or other indicators that there is a problem with airway development
Jaws that pop, click, or shift

8 Ways Parents Can Reduce Their Child’s Risks Of Developing Orthodontic Problems

Book your child’s first orthodontic evaluation – We encourage parents to schedule their child’s first visit with a pediatric orthodontist by the time they’re seven years of age. If you do notice that your child’s teeth seem to be crooked or crowded, it’s always a good idea to seek out the expertise of a pediatric orthodontist, even if your child is still very young.

Wean your child from thumbsucking and pacifier habits – Thumbsucking and pacifier habits can be endearing, but it’s important for parents to also remember that these habits should end around preschool. Prolonged thumbsucking and pacifier use quickly lead to a severe overbite.

Keep a regular schedule of dental checkups with a pediatric dentis – Taking your child to their pediatric dentist for checkups and cleanings every six months can lessen the risks of orthodontic issues. The sooner signs of trouble are spotted, the sooner a solution can be found.

Establish daily brushing and flossing routines for the morning and evening – The foundation of your child’s oral health begins right at home with a twice-daily thorough brushing and flossing routine. Start your child’s at-home dental care routine as early on as possible. Your kid’s oral health can have either a positive or negative impact on the alignment of their teeth and overall bite. The healthier your child’s smile, the stronger their teeth will be.

Provide a nutritious diet with plenty of whole, natural foods – Evaluate your child’s diet and see how you might be able to make some smile-friendly changes. Basing main meals around whole, natural foods and limiting processed foods is a great way to start!

Get help if your child often mouth breathes during the day or at night – Mouth breathing isn’t uncommon, but it can spell trouble if your child develops a habit of doing it. As far as oral health goes, mouth breathing can cause dry mouth, which drastically increases your child’s risk of tooth decay and can weaken their jaw structure. Not only can mouth breathing cause orthodontic issues for your child, but it can also complicate future orthodontic treatment if the habit continues at that time.

Follow through with early orthodontic treatment recommendations – The average age for braces is between 12 and 14 years of age, but this can vary greatly. In some cases, your child’s orthodontist may recommend early treatment, sometimes as early as eight years of age.

Encourage your child to sleep on their back and practice proper posture -Two more habits that will have a positive impact on your child’s bite alignment are sleeping position and posture. Stomach sleeping is natural for some kids, but it can gradually cause their teeth and jaw position to shift due to the hours of constant pressure.

Why Does Early Treatment Is Required?

If children after age 6 are found to have this jaw discrepancy, they are possible candidates for growth modification with orthodontics.

Because they are growing rapidly, children can benefit enormously from an early phase of orthodontic treatment utilizing appliances that direct the growth relationship of the upper and lower jaws.

Thus, a good foundation can be established, providing adequate room for the eruption of all permanent teeth. This early correction may prevent the later removal of permanent teeth to correct overcrowding and/or surgical procedures to align the upper and lower jaws.

Signs and Symptoms indicating the need for early treatment

Difficulty biting or chewing
Excessive mouth breathing
Thumb-sucking or other such habits
Early or late loss of baby teeth (the ideal age for teeth to start exfoliating is around the age of five; and by the age of 14, a child should have all their permanent teeth.)
Speech problems or disorders

Protruding teeth (teeth that stick out too far. This can lead to unnecessary trauma)
Uneven teeth, or teeth that do not grow together in a normal way
Crossbites in the front or back
Noticeable crowding in the front teeth around the age of seven or eight

Conditions treated by early orthodontic intervention

Many, though not all, of the conditions early intervention effectively treats are forms of malocclusion, i.e., abnormalities of the bite.

Protruding teeth : This occurs when teeth stick out at an angle rather than extending downward. Protruding teeth may be vulnerable to fracture or chipping.

Crossbite : Crossbite occurs when some or all of the upper teeth close on the inside of the lower teeth rather than on the outside. It can occur in either the front teeth or the back teeth.

Thumb sucking/tongue thrusting : These habits can result in orthodontic problems. Because the bones of the palate do not fuse together until adolescence, placing pressure on the roof of the mouth by sucking on a thumb or finger can cause the bones to shift position. A similar effect can occur by thrusting the tongue against the back of the teeth and/or the roof of the mouth.

Mouth breathing : Alterations in the muscular function of the face and tongue may lead to mouth breathing and an abnormal respiratory pattern. A physical difficulty may cause mouth breathing initially, but over time, it can become a habit. Like thumb sucking and tongue thrusting, mouth breathing can result in an open bite, which occurs when the front teeth do not come together all the way.

Crowding : Crowding occurs when there is not enough room in the mouth for permanent teeth. As a result, the permanent teeth come in crooked.

Spacing: Spacing is the opposite of crowding. There is more room in the mouth than is needed. Therefore, gaps form between the permanent teeth.

Ankylosed teeth : A Tooth ankylosis is a rare condition in which the tooth becomes fused to the jawbone and cannot erupt properly. If a baby’s tooth becomes ankylosed, there is no room for the permanent tooth to come in. It is often necessary to remove an ankylosed baby tooth to clear a space for the permanent tooth.

Underbite : When the lower jaw grows too much, it can extend beyond the upper jaw. As a result, the bottom front teeth cover up the top front teeth.

Pros And Cons Of Early Orthodontic Treatment

Correction of these problems at a young age is easier because of softer bones, and shorter roots (less stick to move through the mud) and will help prevent future extraction of adult teeth and development of facial asymmetries that can become permanent if the child reaches puberty growth spurt before it is corrected.

Pros

Cons

Early loss of space preserving baby teeth and subsequent space stealing by other erupting teeth
Crossbites (a narrow arch biting awkwardly with opposing teeth)
This makes crowding worse
Can also lead to facial asymmetry if the lower jaw is forced off to one side
Inadequate space for the proper and timely eruption of future teeth
Severely protruding teeth
Prone to social trauma and physical injury

Patient burnout can happen.
Even with that, compliance still isn’t a sure thing. When equipment gets in the way of favorite activities and food.
Our biggest problem is when parents are as involved as they need to be with their child’s oral hygiene. Asking a 7 or 8-year-old to brush perfectly with or without braces in their mouth is a tall task
Younger kids definitely need closer supervision in taking care of their teeth and equipment, and regular visits to the orthodontist to monitor progress.

The Benefits of Early Orthodontic Treatment

Early orthodontic treatment can be extremely beneficial to your child. Some of the many benefits include:

Types Of Early Orthodontic Treatments

Procedure

Phase 1 orthodontic treatment, or interceptive orthodontics, typically occurs between 6 and 9 years of age, during the mixed dentition phase, when patients begin to lose their baby teeth. This is the best time to detect whether there are disturbances in jaw growth or tooth development that are more easily addressed at the age of 7 years.

Patients with craniofacial differences, including cleft lip and palate, commonly have misaligned teeth or disruptions in tooth and/or jaw development that are best addressed at this time.

A short phase of orthodontics can be utilized at this time to favorably enhance the growth of your child’s jaw. Orthodontic treatment creates space to guide the development and eruption of the permanent teeth into proper alignment. This phase of treatment typically lasts from nine to 12 months, and although treatment is individualized for each patient, common orthodontic therapies used at this time include:

Patients generally begin phase 2 of orthodontic treatment during their early adolescent or adolescent years.

After Care For Early Treatment

It is important for parents to know how to take care of their child’s mouth and any dental appliances provided.
Good oral hygiene can help loosen any food that may end up getting caught in the dental appliances. Plaque at and under the gumline that would eventually harden into tartar should also be removed.
It is also advisable for parents to inquire about the right oral care products that can be used.

FAQ's

What is the importance of early orthodontics?

Regardless of how treatment goals are reached, the bottom line is that some orthodontic problems may be easier to correct if they are found and treated early. Waiting until all the permanent teeth have come in, or until facial growth is nearly complete, may make correction of some problems more difficult.

What happens when you get braces too early?

If my child gets braces at a young age, will he/she need braces again in the future? Most likely yes. Early orthodontic treatment is often referred to as Phase I orthodontic treatment, indicating that Phase II treatment will be needed once most or all permanent teeth grow.

At what age should orthodontic treatment begin?

The ideal age at which your child should receive braces is between ages 9 and 13 because their permanent teeth start fully coming in during that time. Age 7 to 12 is a good age to take your kid to their first orthodontist visit. When a child visits the dentist around this age, they may check for a couple of things

What precautions should be taken during orthodontic treatment?

It is best to take precautions to avoid damaging your braces. For example, activities to avoid include eating chewy, hard, or crunchy foods, biting your lip, breathing excessively through your mouth, and pushing your tongue against your teeth. To eat crunchy foods, cut them into small, bite-size pieces.

What are orthodontic emergencies?

Thankfully, there are just a few instances where orthodontic emergencies apply. They include any major trauma or injury to the teeth, face, or mouth. infection and/or swelling and/or bleeding of the gums, mouth, or face. severe discomfort or pain in these areas that don’t respond to treatment.

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