Early orthodontic treatment offers parents a way to be proactive in their children’s dental health. Timing is everything when it comes to the health of your children’s teeth. Early orthodontic services may prevent the improper growth and alignment of their permanent teeth. Reach out to Lovett Dental Baytown today at 281-838-8400 to discover how we can help you.
What is Early Orthodontic Treatment?
What most parents think of when they hear orthodontist is actually the second phase of orthodontic treatment. That’s when they may get braces to correct already misaligned teeth. Early, or phase I, orthodontic treatment occurs before all the permanent teeth come through the gum. While phase II is corrective, phase one is preventative.
The goal is to reduce the risk of orthodontic appliances like braces correct, such as crowded, crooked, or gapped teeth. It tackles known problems early in hopes of preventing improper growth or alignment of the permanent teeth.
What Does Early Orthodontic Treatment Involve?
The exact treatment may vary from child to child, depending on their individual needs. Some common early orthodontic treatments might include:
- Palatal expander
- Partial braces
- Retainer
A palatal expander helps to create more space in the child’s mouth. That can prevent overcrowding later on as more adult teeth grow into place.
Partial braces make minor corrections to the front teeth to make them straight. Correcting that alignment early can mean the rest of the teeth grow straight. A retainer can correct minor spacing or crowing problems with early permanent teeth.
When the children are young, the orthodontist will look for early signs of problems like a narrow jaw, bite issues, and even protruding teeth. The orthodontal specialist can use these tools to address skeletal issues that can lead to dental problems later in life.
Do All Children Require Early Orthodontic Treatment?
No, like not all children need braces. It’s a good idea to have your child see an orthodontist around age six or seven to looks for warning signs, though. By age six or seven, your child will have enough adult teeth for the orthodontists to identify potential misalignments.
Even if there is no way to correct all the problems early, it gives parents and the family dentist a good idea of what to expect over the next few years. If phase I treatments can help, you might reduce the need for alignment later in life. Like most dental problems, misalignments can be easier to treat early.
Finding an Early Orthodontic Treatment Specialist
Your best option might be to find a family dentist practice that offers a multidisciplinary staff. That means the pediatric dentist can let you know when it is time for the early orthodontic checkup and refer you to an in-house specialist.
Lovett Dental Baytown provides family dental care to residents in Baytown, TX, and the surrounding area. Lovett Dental Baytown is multidisciplinary dentistry. Along with general services, your family can get specialty care such as:
- Pediatric
- Orthodontist
- Periodontist
- Maxillofacial surgeon
- Endodontist
Parents can work with a pediatric dentist and have access to early orthodontic treatment there. The pediatric dental specialists try to help their little patients have fun and learn more about their dental health at the same time. Their goal is to make going to the dentist a positive experience. So, as adults, you kids will not be afraid to get regular checkups and dental work when they need it.
Along with orthodontics, Lovett Dentist Baytown specializes in cosmetic dentistry and emergency dental care. It is a well-rounded dental practice able to manage all your family’s needs.
If you are looking for an orthodontist in Houston, give Lovett Dental Baytown a call at 281-838-8400, go online and fill out our contact form. We can help provide your child with early orthodontic care.
