Not Just For Teenagers

While the mention of braces makes most people picture teenagers, orthodontic treatments can be even more effective when the patient is younger. If a child as young as 7 is already showing signs of crowding or misplaced teeth, spaces between teeth, mouth breathing, difficulty when they eat or chew food, or teeth that protrude, it’s a good idea to have them evaluated. Orthodontic treatments during these younger years will improve the outcome of treatments they may need as teens.

Here are some reasons early orthodontic intervention will benefit a child both now and in the future:

1. Creates more space: Making more room for permanent teeth to grow by expanding the jaw avoids crowding issues that are more challenging and lengthy to treat in the future.
2. Improves function and appearance: When teeth are misaligned, they can not only affect how the teeth function, but also facial symmetry. Braces can correct these issues and prevent chipping teeth while improving the child’s ability to bite and chew.
3. Speech improvement: Crooked teeth or a misaligned jaw can impact a child’s speech patterns. Addressing this issue with braces will correct this problem before it creates habits that will take additional time to overcome.
4. Maintains good dental hygiene habits: Orthodontic treatments require some extra care and teaching children how to care for their teeth at a young age sets them up for a lifetime of good dental hygiene.
5. Shortens future orthodontic treatment: When a child undergoes orthodontic treatment, in some cases, they may not need treatment down the road — or if they do, the treatments may require less time and complexity.

We happily treat children in the Southfield, MI area for early orthodontics. Please call our office if you have questions or would like more information.