Why Do We Recommend An Evaluation For Young Children?

Bite, Patient Education, Pediatric Orthodontics, The Best Braces

Has it been recommended that you take your child to be evaluated at an orthodontist, and you are surprised because of their age? Long gone are the days when only teenagers and adults received orthodontic care. With the advancements in orthodontic treatment and technology, we have learned that children benefit most from being evaluated and starting treatment at the age of 7. We also think it’s important to note that not every child who visits our office for an evaluation will need to start treatment immediately. Some may need treatment now, while we might monitor others to determine whether they will need treatment at a later time.

Don’t Wait To Start Your Child’s Treatment!

Pediatric Orthodontics, The Best Braces

Have you recently learned that your young child needs to visit an orthodontist and you are surprised by the request? If so, you are not alone. Many years ago, it was common for children to visit the orthodontist for the first time in their late adolescent or early teenage years. Over the past years, we have learned that early orthodontic treatment is not only beneficial for oral health and straightening the teeth, but it can actually save money. Interested in learning more? Continue reading to learn about the importance of early orthodontic treatment.

Help Avoid Costly Treatments By Choosing Early Orthodontic Care

Pediatric Orthodontics, The Best Braces

Were you surprised to learn that your young child was recommended to be seen by an orthodontist during their last hygiene examination? Many years ago, it was commonplace not to visit the orthodontist until your teen years. Many still have this same notion today due to life experience and the depiction of braces-wearing teens on television and movies. Today, our suggestion is for children to visit our office around the age of seven. During your child’s first visit, we are able to determine if treatment should be started.

When Is It The Right Time To Visit The Orthodontist?

Adult Orthodontics, Pediatric Orthodontics, The Best Braces

Are you considering braces for yourself or a loved one? If so, you might be wondering when is a good time to visit the orthodontist. The easiest answer is whenever you have a question about your bite, or alignment of the teeth. However, the answer truly is more complicated than that. There are times, especially for young children, when bite and jaw issues aren’t as obvious as when children enter adolescence or even adulthood. We also hear from adults interested in orthodontic care who feel like they are too old to visit us for a consultation.

Common Orthodontic Questions

Patient Education, The Best Braces

At The Best Braces, we are here to take care of all your orthodontic needs. We know that it can be a little overwhelming when your dentist refers you or your child to our office for an evaluation. Orthodontic treatment doesn’t just can make a huge impact on you or your loved one’s self-esteem by giving you beautiful straight teeth to show off. In many cases, you are creating a healthier environment for your teeth to prevent potentially expensive decay issues. We have answered three of the most popular questions that we get when it comes to orthodontic care.

Can Orthodontics Improve a Child’s Speech?

Pediatric Orthodontics, The Best Braces

It’s not uncommon for children to have some form of speech defect or impediment from when they begin babbling in infancy through the toddler years. Most children reach developmental milestones and outgrow these issues, while there is a percentage who continue to display concerning speech delays. The concept of speech is a complex process where many issues can come into play. Speech can be impacted by a multitude of body and development functions such as hearing issues, nerve and muscle control, the brain’s processing ability, and birth defects, not to mention the tongue, lips, vocal cords, nasal cavity, and the placement of teeth and jaw bones.

Two-Phase Treatment

Pediatric Orthodontics, The Best Braces

Years ago, it was common to wait to receive any orthodontic treatment until all of the baby teeth were out of the mouth and the adult teeth had grown in. Now, it is common for a child’s teeth and jaw to be evaluated while the baby teeth remain. Intervention at this stage can modify the way teeth grow, which in turn can reduce the length of time that braces may be needed in the future. The jaw is corrected when a child is young, and the permanent teeth grow in straighter when they become older.