Benefits of Braces
There are benefits to having healthy teeth and a proper jaw alignment. Misaligned and crowded teeth can be more difficult to clean and maintain. This can result in cavities, gum disease, and tooth loss if untreated. Other orthodontic problems can contribute to abnormal wear of tooth surfaces, inefficient chewing function, excessive stress on gum tissue and bone that supports the teeth, or misalignment of the jaw joints. Additionally, there is the social benefit of a smile to be proud of, and an improved sense of self-esteem.
Children and Orthodontic Treatment
There are many ways to move teeth and local orthodontists may have varying treatment plans for the same patient. Current orthodontic treatment philosophies sometimes include two phases of treatment. Phase I treatment is completed when your child still has a mix of baby teeth and adult teeth. This phase prevents or intercepts a problem from happening and guides development of the jaws. Phase II treatment is completed when almost all of the adult teeth have erupted to move them into their ideal position.
Signs your child might need early orthodontic treatment
At each recall visit, Dr. DeLucia will evaluate your child’s developing bite, tooth position such as spacing or crowding, and airway. There are a number of findings that would suggest your child would benefit from early orthodontic treatment. These may be early loss of baby teeth, narrowness of the upper jaw, asymmetry of tooth loss, a crossbite, front teeth that don’t come together (an open bite), a family history of a prominent lower jaw, and an excessively forward position of the upper front teeth. If your child has any of these findings, we may recommend that he or she see an orthodontist sooner than later.
