For Children
For Children | For Adults | Why Braces? | Two-Phase Treatment | Ortho Dictionary
It's best for the orthodontist to see children by age 7 to advise if orthodontic treatment is required and when the best time for that patient will be. The first permanent molars and permanent incisors have usually come in by that time and crossbites, crowding and other problems can be evaluated.
When treatment is begun early, the orthodontist can guide the growth of the jaw and guide incoming permanent teeth. Early treatment can also regulate the width of the upper and lower dental arches, gain space for permanent teeth, avoid the need for permanent tooth extractions, reduce likelihood of impacted permanent teeth, correct thumb-sucking, and eliminate abnormal swallowing or speech problems. In other words, early treatment can simplify or sometimes eliminate later treatment.
