Service: Children
Early detection and minor treatment can prevent more complex treatment later.
Early Orthodontic Treatment
Healthy smiles start at a young age. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children have an orthodontic evaluation by age 8 to assess if any early preventative treatment is required, and determine the optimal time to begin care.
This early appointment allows us to monitor your child’s jaw growth, the coming in of permanent teeth, and catch any prevalent issues like crossbites, crowding, and ectopic teeth. When orthodontic problems are identified and treated early, we can guide the proper growth and development of the jaw as well as the emerging permanent teeth.
Some of the key benefits of early interceptive (Phase 1) treatment include:
- Controlling the size of the upper and lower dental arches to make room for crowded permanent teeth
- Creating space in the jaws for permanent teeth to erupt in the proper position
- Reducing the likelihood of impacted permanent teeth due to lack of space
- Correcting harmful oral habits like thumb-sucking
- Improving abnormal swallowing patterns and speech problems
- Preventing more complex orthodontic issues in the future that may require extraction or surgery
Dr. Esther Feldman DMD MS
Dr. Esther Feldman is an acclaimed orthodontist dedicated to revealing healthy, confident smiles. As an Invisalign Top 1% Provider (Diamond +), she is admired for her gentle expertise and commitment to comfort. Dr. Feldman stays ahead of innovations to offer the latest discreet and effective treatments. Her emphasis on listening ensures patients feel understood while crafting customized plans to transform their smile. Whether using clear aligners or lingual braces, her artful approach helps patients achieve their best smile.
Still Have Any Questions?
Check out the FAQs.
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends all children have an orthodontic evaluation by age 7. Early detection of issues can prevent more extensive treatment later.
Issues like overbites, crossbites, crowding, and oral habits like thumb-sucking are best addressed early on while jaw growth is still occurring.
Often early intervention can be done with removable appliances rather than fixed braces. The goal is to guide jaw growth and permanent tooth eruption.
Yes, detecting issues early allows for less complicated treatment and can even reduce or eliminate the need for extraction or surgery later.
When properly indicated, early treatment is quite beneficial. We monitor progress to ensure the best results possible.