Early Orthodontic Treatment for Children at a Family Dental in Houston  

A place that offers Houston family dentistry will often offer orthodontic treatment. Early prevention is best, so be sure your chosen dentist specializes in this. What is the difference between early orthodontic treatment and regular orthodontic treatment? Why might your child need early treatment? How will early treatment benefit your child in the long-run? These are just a few of the questions surrounding the topic of early orthodontic treatment for children that are asked by parents just like you. Let's help answer those now!

 The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children see an orthodontist as early as age seven. At this point the orthodontist will evaluate whether your child will need orthodontic treatment. Yes, your child still has their baby teeth, but their jaw, tooth alignment, bite, and other important features are already well in place.

Early treatment, also known as Phase-One, typically begins somewhere around age seven, eight or nine. Phase-Two will begin around age 11 or older. The goal of this Phase One early treatment is to correct the growth of the jaw and certain bite problems, such as underbite. Early treatment also helps to make room for permanent teeth to come in properly, lessening the chance of extractions in the future.

Your child should typically start losing teeth around age five, and will have all their permanent teeth in around age 13. Here's how to tell if your child needs to visit a place for family dental in Houston to receive early orthodontic treatment:

#1 Early or late loss of baby teeth

#2 Difficulty chewing and/or biting

#3 Mouth breathing

#4 Your child continues sucking their thumb after age five

#5 Speech impediments

#6 Protruding teeth

#7 Teeth that don’t come together in a normal manner or even at all

#8 Shifting of the jaw when your child opens or closes their mouth

#9 Crowded front teeth around age seven or eight

There are many other questions parents often have. What causes orthodontic problems, and how will early 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.

Remember, early intervention is best. Most children have lost all their baby teeth by age 13 and by the end of their teen years the jaw bones will harden and no longer continue to grow. Orthodontic procedures for adults often take more time and can involve tooth extraction and the possibility of oral surgery. As a child, receiving early orthodontic treatment can help prevent the need for orthodontics as an adult, leaving little to no chance of extraction or surgery in the future.

If your child is between the ages of seven and eight and shows signs of needing orthodontic care, it is time you take them to the orthodontist to see if early treatment is needed.