Treatment Information

For each patient who needs treatment, there is an ideal time to begin in order to achieve the best results.  The orthodontist’s goal is to provide each patient with the most appropriate treatment at the most appropriate time.

The AAO recommends that all children have an initial orthodontic evaluation at the first sign of orthodontic problems or no later than age 7.  Orthodontic treatment may not be needed at this early stage, but an early examination can determine the most advantageous time to begin treatment. 

By the age of 7, most children have a mixture of baby teeth and permanent teeth.  While your child’s teeth may appear straight to you, there could be a problem that only an orthodontist can detect.  Children may experience dental crowding, too much space between teeth, protruding teeth, and extra or missing teeth and sometimes jaw growth problems. Other malocclusions (literally, “bad bite”) are acquired and can be caused by thumb or finger-sucking, mouth breathing, dental disease, abnormal swallowing, poor dental hygiene, the early or late loss of baby teeth, accidents, or poor nutrition.   Whatever the cause, we are usually able to treat most conditions successfully.

Early treatment may prevent more serious problems from developing and may make treatment at a later age shorter and less complicated. 

For those patients who have clear indications for early orthodontic intervention, early treatment gives us the chance to:

• Guide jaw growth
• Lower the risk of trauma to protruded front teeth
• Correct harmful oral habits
• Improve appearance and self-esteem
• Guide permanent teeth into a more favorable position
• Improve the way lips meet

It’s not always easy for parents to tell if their child has an orthodontic problem.  Here are some signs or habits that may indicate the need for an orthodontic examination:

• Early or late loss of baby teeth
• Difficulty in chewing or biting
• Mouth breathing
• Thumb sucking
• Finger sucking
• Crowding, misplaced or blocked out teeth
• Jaws that shift or make sounds
• Biting the cheek or roof of the mouth
• Teeth that meet abnormally or not at all
• Jaws and teeth that are out of proportion to the rest of the face

Treatment at Any Age

An attractive smile is a wonderful asset for people in all stages of life.  It contributes to self-esteem, self-confidence and self-image—important qualities at every age.  In this way, orthodontic treatment can benefit social and career success, as well as improve a person’s general attitude toward life.

You may be surprised to learn that straight teeth are less prone to decay, gum disease and injury and they collect less plaque.  When teeth are properly aligned, it is easier to keep teeth clean, which results in healthier dental hygiene. 

Untreated orthodontic problems can cause abnormal wear of tooth surfaces, inefficient chewing function, excessive stress on gum tissue and the bone that supports the teeth, or misalignment of the jaw joints, sometimes leading to chronic headaches or pain in the face or neck. Treatment by an orthodontist to correct a problem early may be less costly than the restorative dental care required to treat more serious problems that can develop in later years.