In our last blog, our team focused on how we help teens obtain an even smile with treatments like clear aligners or braces. But what about childhood? The sooner we address misalignment, the less time your kids may need to wear orthodontics in their teen and adult years. In today’s blog, your Fort Worth, TX, orthodontist explains how we improve misalignment in childhood!
When to Seek Treatment
As your child’s baby teeth begin to fall out and the permanent teeth arrive, you or your family dentist may notice misalignment starting to occur. We can see patients as young as age seven, as at this age there is a mix of baby and permanent teeth, allowing us to better identify the causes of misalignment and create a personalized treatment plan. When you come to the office, we will carefully examine the smile employing advanced digital imaging and other technologies to identify the factors behind your child’s crooked, crowded, or overlapping teeth. We then create a plan to reduce the severity of misalignment as they grow.
A Phased Approach
We believe in a phased approach for kids. For young children, this often means teeth spacers and retainers, which helps guide the eruption and positions of new teeth to reduce the severity of misalignment as they grow and approach the teen years. This means kids in their teen years may not need to wear braces or aligners as long as they would otherwise, and this also reduces the risk of breathing obstructions and sleep issues as they age!
Continuing Treatment in Teen Years
As your little one becomes a teenager, we may suggest metal braces or Invisalign® aligners to complete their journey to an even smile. To limit the appearance of braces, we may create brackets from ceramic so they blend with the teeth. The Invisalign® aligners will also be clear and barely noticeable. With Propel® Accelerated Orthodontics, we use technology to help the gum and jawbone tissue reform around the teeth new positions quicker, limiting overall treatment times. If you have any questions about helping kids enjoy straighter smiles (and better overall oral health), then contact our team today. We would love to help you and your family gain smiles that fill you with pride and confidence.
Does Your Child Have an Uneven Smile?
Don’t let minor poor alignment in childhood lead to serious complications in adulthood. Talk to our team about our phased approach to addressing uneven teeth, so we can start the treatment process soon! To learn more about our treatment options for kids, then please call Lake Country Orthodontics in Fort Worth, TX at (817) 236-7846. Our office proudly serves patients who live in Springtown, Rome, and all surrounding communities.
