Braces for Kids in Henderson, NV & Southern Las Vegas
The American Association of Orthodontics recommends parents schedule their child’s first orthodontics visit as early as six or seven years old. This is when orthodontic problems typically become apparent, and early orthodontic treatment can help address issues before all permanent teeth are in.
At Beth’s Braces, we identify bite issues at an early age and prepare a proper treatment plan. We want to see your entire family smile for a lifetime! Building a relationship with us when your child young is just one of the ways we can help create lasting, healthy smiles. Schedule a free consultation with our children’s orthodontist in Henderson to learn more about braces for kids and other early orthodontic treatment.
Early Orthodontics Now May Mean Less Treatment Later
In most cases, early orthodontic treatment, also known as interceptive treatment, is accompanied by a second phase. However, children who receive early treatment often experience less complicated or involved second treatments when compared to similar cases that combine all treatment objectives into a single phase. Common issues addressed by early treatment include:
Upper Arch Size and Crowded Teeth
A child’s jaw is still growing during early orthodontic treatment. Because of this, we can use a dental expander to correct the size of the upper arch. Once corrected, there is a better chance for the adult teeth to erupt in the correct position and without as much crowding. This means there may be less of a need to extract teeth to provide enough space along the arch.
Arch and Jaw Alignment and Position
Sometimes, the jaw and upper arch are out of alignment or position. During early orthodontic treatment, functional appliances help correct this as the jaw and skull continue to grow. These appliances may fix or improve these issues. Even though more treatment is usually needed during the second phase, it is typically shorter and less involved.
Children’s Orthodontic Phases
If your child’s early orthodontic consultation concludes that treatment is necessary, it will take a two-phase approach. The first phase will begin right away while your child still has most of their primary teeth. The second phase will happen as your child gets older, at the appropriate time determined by your child’s growth and corrective dental needs.
The first phase, Early Treatment, is designed to:
Enable correct biting and chewing
Correct harmful oral habits
Prevent a problem from developing
Intercept a developing problem
Guide the growth of the jaw bones that support the teeth so the teeth come in straight and the jaw grows in the correct alignment
Lower the risk of damage or breakage to protruded front teeth
Guide permanent teeth into a more favorable position
Create a more pleasing arrangement of teeth, lips and face
Establish long-term stability to help teeth remain where they are supposed to stay
Improve appearance
The second phase, Traditional Braces, is designed to:
Move permanent teeth into their final positions
Continue improving teeth function and facial appearance
Continue to increase child’s self-esteem
Orthodontic treatment and a child’s growth are meant to complement each other. By timing treatment to stages of dental development, your children’s orthodontist can take advantage of your child’s growth and development. Problems that can be treated in a growing child may alleviate more drastic and invasive procedures later.
Is Early Orthodontic Treatment Right For Your Child?
Benefits of Early Treatment
The benefits of early intervention by a children’s orthodontist include:
A better prognosis for how permanent teeth will develop
The ability to correct any habits that may be the cause of development problems, such as thumb sucking or tongue pushing
Correcting bite problems like an open bite, cross bite or deep bite
The ability to guide the growth of the jaw to accommodate emerging teeth
Lowering the risk of damage to any protruding teeth
Creating a more pleasing and functional arrangement of teeth, lips and face
Alleviating future, and possibly more invasive, dental correction
Increasing self-esteem and confidence in your child
Not For Every Case
Not every child requires early treatment. However, a thorough orthodontic evaluation will reveal how the teeth and mouth are growing and allow your child’s orthodontist to provide any necessary interceptive treatment that can prevent a problem before it happens.
Types of teeth and bite conditions that may be cause for early interceptive treatment include:
Open bites, deep bites, or cross bites
Overjets
Crowding
Spacing
Teeth not emerging in the right sequence
Missing teeth
Congenitally missing teeth
Ankylosed teeth: a condition where the tooth stops erupting and stays in the same place, causing the permanent tooth to be displaced upon emergence
If you want to discuss early orthodontic treatments for your child, contact us or schedule a free consultation with our children’s orthodontist today. We are proud to provide the best early treatment and braces for kids in Henderson, NV and the southern Las Vegas area!
