Early Orthodontic Treatment
Start Early, Smile Brighter:
Early Orthodontic Treatment for Children
At Thornhill Orthodontics, we believe in proactive care to ensure your child's smile develops beautifully from an early age. Our Early Orthodontic Treatment services are specifically designed to address potential orthodontic issues before they become more complex, leading to healthier smiles and improved oral health outcomes.
What is early orthodontic treatment?
Phase-One treatment, also known as early treatment, typically begins around age eight or nine years old. Phase Two begins around age 11 or older, as most children lose all of their primary teeth by age 13. The purpose of early treatment is to correct the growth of the jaw and specific bite problems, such as an underbite. Early treatment also allows permanent teeth to have a better chance of growing and aligning properly, lessening the chance of major correction or extractions in the future.
How To Tell If Your Child May Need Early Orthodontic Treatment:
- Early or late loss of baby teeth (between the ages of 5 to 13)
- Difficulty chewing and/or biting
- Mouth breathing
- Sleep disorder breathing
- Thumb sucking after age five
- Speech impediments
- Protruding teeth
- Teeth that don’t come together in a normal manner or even at all
- Shifting of the jaw when your child opens or closes their mouth (crossbites)
- Crowded front teeth around age seven or eight
How Will Early Orthodontic Prevention Benefit My Child?
Orthodontic problems such as crowding of the teeth, too much space between the teeth, jaw growth problems, protruding teeth, and bad bites can be inherited or caused by injury to the mouth, early or late loss of baby teeth, or thumb-sucking habits.
By your child’s late teens, the jaw bones will start to harden and stop growing. Early prevention helps to prevent longer treatment times, as orthodontic procedures for adults often take more time and can involve tooth extraction or oral surgery.
If your child is between the ages of seven and eight and shows signs of needing orthodontic care, or if you have been directed by your family dentist to visit the orthodontist, please contact our office and schedule an appointment.
Why Choose Early Orthodontic Treatment with Us?
- Expert Evaluation: Our experienced orthodontic team will conduct a thorough evaluation of your child's dental development to identify any potential issues early on.
- Customized Treatment Plans: Based on our assessment, we'll create a personalized treatment plan tailored to your child's unique needs, utilizing the most appropriate orthodontic techniques and appliances.
- Preventative Intervention: Early treatment can help prevent more serious orthodontic problems from developing, minimizing the need for extensive treatment later on.
