When children begin to develop dental misalignment, this could lead to poor oral health and impacts on the appearance of their smiles. Fortunately, we can offer treatment as young as age seven to straighten smiles. In today’s blog, your Fort Worth, TX, orthodontist talks about children’s orthodontics.
When to Bring in Kids for Treatment
You can bring your children in for an initial exam as early as age seven. At this stage, there is a mix of permanent teeth and primary ones, so we can assess the risk of misalignment and the state of your child’s smile. From there, we can decide if treatment is necessary and if so, create a personalized plan to correct the smile. We do this in a phased approach, using interceptive orthodontics to minimize misalignment until we can complete treatment in the teen years. The sooner we begin this process, the less severe misalignment will be in later years.
Our Interceptive Orthodontics
If your child begins to develop uneven teeth, we could design and craft a custom retainer to be worn to shift the teeth and help guide the growth of the jaw, limiting poor alignment. The device could be fixed in place or removable. For many kids, premature loss of baby teeth could lead to misalignment, as the teeth on each side shift from position and the permanent teeth cannot erupt easily, causing uneven teeth and sometimes a painful impaction. But with teeth spacers, we use an oral appliance that helps keep the space open so permanent teeth arrive without complication. These can again be fixed or removable, although fixed is often recommended.
What Happens During the Teen Years?
When your child reaches the teen years, all of the permanent teeth have erupted and the surfaces of them have properly calcified. This means they’re ready for braces or Invisalign® aligners to complete the process and finish their treatment. Now, they can enjoy adulthood and the rest of the teen years with a full and beautiful smile. If you have any questions about treating alignment issues in little smiles, then contact our team today to learn more. You can still see us to begin the process before the year and, and before your 2022 dental benefits expire at the end of the year.
Does Your Child Need Orthodontic Care?
Our team wants to help kids of all ages enjoy even smiles with a phased approach and interpretive orthodontics! If you have any questions about how we treat little smiles, 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, Springtown, and all surrounding communities.
