Early Treatment
Questions about Orthodontics for Children
When should I take my child to the orthodontist for the first time?
The recommended age that children have their first appointment with an orthodontist is age seven, since this is when a few of their permanent teeth have already erupted and their jaw has entered the next stage of rapid growth. During this time, the orthodontist can identify early signs of potential orthodontic issues that require early treatment, or can plan for preventative treatment in the future. If this sounds early, have no fear, Dr. Eves will never suggest orthodontic treatment before your child truly needs it. No referral is needed for their complimentary evaluation with Tollgate Orthodontics.
What are the advantages of early treatment?
Early treatment can often reduce the severity of bite issues once all the permanent teeth have developed, which can also lead to a shorter treatment time when your child gets braces or Invisalign. Other benefits include
- Correct a habit: Early intervention can help correct issues like thumb-sucking and tongue-thrusting, which can cause long-term dental problems.
- Improves function: Can prevent or correct problems with chewing, biting, and speech.
- Boosts confidence: A straight smile can lead to increased confidence and self-esteem.
- Improves appearance: Correcting alignment issues can lead to a more attractive smile and facial profile.
- Prevents bullying: Addresses visible alignment issues that could cause a child to be a target for teasing or bullying.
- Reduces risk of injury: Addressing protruding teeth early can decrease the likelihood of them being injured during childhood activities
Are tooth extractions necessary before orthodontic treatment?
Tooth extractions are not always necessary! Please get a second opinion from Tollgate Orthodontics on this before removing any adult teeth. Extractions are only needed in certain cases of severe tooth crowding. The most common instance where a tooth will need to be removed is when baby teeth are causing the permanent teeth to become crowded and those baby teeth seem to be taking too much time to come out on their own. By extracting the specific baby teeth, the adult teeth will then have the room that it needs, preventing the development of a severely crowded smile. If you have received a recommendation for adult tooth extraction, please come see us. While there are a few cases where this might be necessary, we, as orthodontic specialists, can treat the vast majority of cases without adult tooth extraction.
Can my child play sports while wearing braces?
Yes. However, we recommend that your child wears a special orthodontic mouth guard that will protect their braces, teeth, and soft tissue from damage.
Can my child continue playing their musical instrument while in braces?
Yes. Although a period of adjustment is necessary, braces do not interfere with the playing of musical instruments.
Are retainers necessary after orthodontic treatment?
Yes! We always say that after treatment, your teeth will only stay straight for as long as you continue to wear your aligners! After your child finishes with braces or Invisalign, the teeth and jaw need to get adjusted to their new positioning, and if not held in place, they can shift back to their original structure. To keep their smile perfectly straight, retainers prevent the teeth from shifting.
Will my child's tooth alignment fix itself as they get older?
Unfortunately, no. If your child has a crooked or misaligned smile, their smile will stay that way as they get older unless they get it corrected with orthodontic treatment. In fact, misaligned that is not treated can actually get worse over time.