Kids’ orthodontics
Kids' orthodontist in Humble, TX
You probably know that it’s never too late to begin orthodontic treatment — but when it comes to your youngster’s teeth, did you know that earlier may be better than later? According to the American Association of Orthodontists, kids should have an initial orthodontic screening at age 7.
Schedule a free consultation with our pediatric orthodontist near you today!
Benefits of visiting a pediatric orthodontist
What makes early orthodontic evaluation — and potentially, early orthodontic treatment — important?
There are several ways that kids can benefit from seeing an orthodontist at an early age. But it’s important to recognize that early evaluation isn’t necessarily followed by early orthodontic treatment; in most cases, if orthodontic work is needed, our Humble pediatric orthodontist will monitor your child’s growth patterns until we see that it’s time for treatment to begin, typically around adolescence. This allows us to get the best results most efficiently, and to help prevent future problems.
Although every child’s development is different, in most kids the first adult molars have typically started to emerge by around age six. This, along with other developmental markers, lets us get a handle on the basic alignment of the teeth, from front to back and side to side. At this point, it may also be possible to determine whether there is adequate room in the mouth for all permanent teeth — and, if not, to take action.
Signs your child may need to see an orthodontist
Treatment for common orthodontic problems typically begins in adolescence around age 9-14, when all baby teeth are gone and many permanent ones are in place. But some conditions are much easier to treat if caught when a child’s natural growth processes are at work, at an early age, including:
- Severe crossbite, where many or all upper teeth close inside the lower teeth. To treat this problem, a palatal expander (an orthodontic device) can be used, which gradually and painlessly widens the upper jaw; it’s especially effective when the jaw hasn’t fully developed. If we wait too long, a more complicated treatment — or even oral surgery — might be required to correct the problem.
- Severe crowding. This occurs when the jaws are too small to accommodate all permanent teeth. Either palatal expansion or tooth extraction may be recommended at this point, to help the adult teeth erupt (emerge from below the gums) properly. Even if braces are required later, the treatment time will likely be shorter and less complicated.
- Severe underbite, caused by the lower jaw growing much larger than the upper jaw, can result in serious bite problems. Orthodontic appliances, including braces and headgear, can be successfully used to correct these problems at this stage, when the child’s development is in full swing, thereby increasing the chances that surgery can be avoided.
Early orthodontic intervention may also help resolve several other problems. Protruding teeth, especially in front, can lead to problems with a child’s self-image. and can be prone to chipping and fractures.
How orthodontics can correct bad habits
A child’s parafunctional (outside normal function) habits can influence the development and function of their teeth, jaws and mouth. Various orthodontic treatments are available to help correct parafunctional habits and the sooner they’re taken care of, the less damage they may cause. But these potential problems aren’t always easy to recognize. That’s another reason you should bring your child in for an early orthodontic screening! Some examples of these are:
- Thumb sucking: The sucking reflex is natural in early childhood; it usually disappears between ages 2 and 4. But if it persists much later, the pressure of the digit on the front teeth and the upper jaw can cause the teeth to move apart and the jaws to change shape. This can lead to the orthodontic problem called “open bite,” and may impair speech. An open bite can also be caused by the force of the tongue pushing forward against the teeth (tongue thrusting).
- Mouth breathing: An abnormal breathing pattern in which the mouth always remains open, passing air directly to the lungs — is related to alterations in the muscular function of the tongue and face. It may cause the upper and lower jaw to grow abnormally, potentially leading to serious orthodontic problems. Although mouth breathing may start from a physical difficulty, it can become a habitual action that’s hard to break.
Schedule a free consultation today with Dr. Quentel, our orthodontist for kids in Humble, Texas!