Did you know that we not only help kids enjoy straighter smiles, but that we can start treatment as young as age seven? Taking a phased approach with interceptive orthodontics, we can help guide the smile to limit the severity of misalignment. In today’s blog, your Fort Worth, TX, orthodontist talks about how we help little smiles.
Starting Treatment
First, you bring your little one in for an initial exam. We can schedule one for as young as age seven. At this age, there is a mix of baby and permanent teeth, so we can better assess the severity of misalignment. We examine the smile with advanced digital imaging, and plan the treatment process with accuracy and precision. For young children, we start with a phased approach, and the first stage involves the use of interpretive orthodontics.
Interceptive Treatment Options
If your child has lost primary teeth early, then this could alter how the permanent teeth erupt and cause other teeth to drift from position, causing misalignment. However, we can help keep these spaces open with teeth spacers, which are fixed in place and allow the permanent teeth to erupt and be properly guided into place, limiting the onset of misalignment. We could also prescribe retainers, which are unique and custom-made aligners that help guide the growth and development of the smile. This helps limit the severity of misalignment until phase two.
The Second Phase of Treatment
The second (and final) phase of treatment starts once all of the permanent teeth have erupted and properly calcified, usually in the teen years. The teeth spacers and retainers have done their work, now is time to finish the treatment process. We could use braces for severe cases, or Invisalign® aligners for more severe situations. These help reposition the teeth and complete the process, so your children enter adulthood with even and healthy smiles. Straightening the teeth helps limit the risk of everything from tooth decay and gum disease to TMJ disorder and bruxism, and could even lower the risk of sleep apnea in adulthood.
If you have any questions about our approach to children’s dentistry, then contact our team today to learn more. We would love to help you smile with confidence again, and we offer care for kids, teens, and adults.
Ready for an Even Smile?
Our team wants to help kids enjoy better oral health and a more attractive smile with our orthodontic treatments. If you have any questions about our treatments for kids and teens, or if you would like to schedule an appointment soon, please call Lake Country Orthodontics in Fort Worth, TX at (817) 236-7846. Our office proudly serves patients who live in White Settlement, North Fort Worth, and all surrounding communities.
