Do you have a child with an uneven smile? Instead of letting their oral health decline or causing them to feel embarrassed about their smile, why not talk to our team? In today’s blog, your Shirley, NY, pediatric dentist and orthodontist talks about how we can begin care for kids as young as age seven with phased orthodontics.
The Initial Consultation
The process begins with an initial visit to our team. We will use advanced digital x-rays and intraoral cameras to obtain clear images of the smile, so we can assess the state of their smile and understand the cause and extent of their orthodontic troubles. From there, we will create a personalized treatment plan to begin addressing these issues. This occurs in phases. The first phase lasts from as early as age seven to just before the teen years. After which, the next stage begins that completes the treatment process.
First Phase Orthodontics
The first phase is meant to help reduce the severity of misalignment and essentially guide the growth and development of the smile. This helps prevent major issues with overall alignment and bite balance, protecting smiles from a host of options associated with more severe cases. For example, we could custom-make and fit a retainer that is worn daily, either fixed in place or removable. This is designed to help guide the growth of the jaw and ensure teeth can erupt properly and that misalignment doesn’t grow more severe. We also have space maintainers. When a baby tooth is lost too early, this gap could impact how permanent teeth arrive and increase the risk of impaction and misalignment. But with a fixed or removable space maintainer, we can keep this space open and guide the permanent teeth into proper position.
The Next Stage
The next phase begins in the teeth years, once all of the permanent teeth have erupted and the surfaces of them have properly calcified. This means we can complete the final touches on the smile and this phase doesn’t need to be as involved if they already completed the first phase of care. We could recommend braces for more severe cases, using ceramic brackets for the upper set to make them less visible. We also have Invisalign® aligners, which are nearly invisible and gently shift the teeth into place in as little as one year.
If you have any questions, then give our team a call today!
There’s Still Time to See Your Shirley, NY, Orthodontist and Pediatric Dentist
Our team is ready to help your children enjoy better oral health and a straighter smile! To learn more about boosting oral health and dental alignment, then contact Shirley Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry in Shirley, NY, by calling (631) 399-1600.
Recent Comments