Orthodontic treatment is vital in preventing future health issues. It can also improve your child’s self-esteem by correcting a protruding jaw and teeth.
Common orthodontic problems in children include crowded teeth, crossbite, bite/jaw growth issues, early loss of baby teeth, thumb sucking habits, and bruxism. The best time to treat these is during childhood, when the mouth and jaw are still growing.
Increased Lifespan
It is not uncommon for kids to have crooked or gapped teeth, or overcrowded teeth. While this is not always a sign of a severe problem, it is a warning that the teeth and jaw may not be growing properly and should be evaluated by an orthodontist.
Early treatment focuses on redirecting abnormal growth to help provide enough space for the permanent teeth to grow straight. It is typically much shorter in length and less expensive than treatment at a later age because the teeth and jaw are still soft and can be manipulated more easily.
If left untreated, some bite issues can result in a life of chronic pain and dysfunction. Early treatment helps prevent these problems from developing and can improve a child’s overall quality of life. Moreover, children that undergo kids orthodontics treatment at an early stage are more likely to maintain healthy smiles for the rest of their lives. They are also more likely to avoid bruxism and other serious oral health complications.
Better Oral Health
When bite issues aren’t addressed early, children’s teeth can grow crooked and become crowded, leading to gum disease and tooth decay. With early treatment, crooked teeth and crowding can be corrected and more space will be made for permanent teeth to come in properly, eliminating the need for extractions in the future.
Other common orthodontic problems in children include a crossbite (the upper teeth bite inside the lower teeth), which can cause problems with chewing and eating, as well as gum disease; and an overbite, which can lead to excessive wear on the back teeth and facial structure problems. Early orthodontic treatment can correct these bite issues before the adult teeth start to erupt, which will help prevent them from getting worse.
Another benefit of early treatment is that the jawbones are still soft, making it easier to manipulate and make corrections. This will also reduce the length and difficulty of future orthodontic treatment. As a result, it’s often more cost-effective to treat problems earlier rather than later.
Better Chewing
Because crooked teeth make it more difficult to keep clean, people with them are at higher risk of tooth decay and gum disease. In addition, a bad bite can lead to lisps or other speech impediments. Early orthodontic treatment can prevent or alleviate these problems and help children have a more confident smile.
Orthodontic treatment for children, also known as interceptive treatment, is used to address certain bite issues, correct jaw malfunction and prepare the mouth for permanent teeth to grow in correctly. This treatment is typically administered in two phases, referred to as Phase One and Phase Two.
The main benefit of early treatment is that it is easier to fix problems when the jaw is still growing, making it less invasive than treatment in teenagers or adults. This makes it more cost-effective and possible to avoid surgery altogether in some cases. This is especially true for issues like overcrowding, crowding and gaps between the teeth.
Better Speech
When kids have crooked teeth or misaligned bites, they can have problems chewing and speaking clearly. This can affect their self-esteem and make it harder to perform daily tasks like brushing and flossing. It can also lead to a lisp, and it’s more difficult to maintain good oral hygiene, which increases the risk of tooth decay and gum disease in childhood.
Fortunately, early orthodontic treatment can prevent future speech issues and reduce the need for more complex and expensive treatments later in life. Orthodontists can use appliances like braces for kids, Invisalign, or palatal expansion to create more room for permanent teeth and guide jaw growth into proper alignment.
Certain bite issues, such as a posterior crossbite, can also benefit from simple interceptive therapy. In addition, orthodontists can work with speech therapists to help children pronounce words correctly during treatment and afterward. This can significantly improve their quality of life and increase confidence in social interactions.
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