If your child develops problems with improper dental alignment, we can begin orthodontic treatment as early as age seven. By identifying the need for interventive correction at this stage in your child’s growth, we help them develop a straighter, healthier smile in adolescence and adulthood.
In today’s blog, your Shirley, NY, pediatric dentist and orthodontist discusses the methods we use to improve the spacing of your child’s teeth. Known as phased orthodontics, this earlier approach sets the stage for a lifetime of beautiful smiles!
Identifying The Need For Children’s Orthodontic Treatment
By bringing your little one to regular checkups as soon as they grow their first teeth, we can determine if they require additional help straightening their smile. At the age of seven, their baby teeth begin to fall out, and their adult teeth come in. As these permanent teeth arrive, we can take special measurements to identify if they risk growing at improper angles or spacing. We use the latest in advanced imaging techniques to help make this diagnosis. Because a child’s jaw is far more malleable than an adult’s, this early detection provides the opportunity to easily alter the growth pattern and shape of their little smile. Once the adult teeth fully calcify, your child can receive braces or clear aligners to complete the orthodontic process.
Phase One Orthodontics
A common phase one orthodontic you may have heard of is a child’s retainer. We custom-design these treatments to fit your little one’s specific bite and prevent more severe misalignment from taking place. This helps their jawbone grow into the correct position with proper wear. A retainer can be removable or attached permanently to their bite. Another phase one treatment is space maintainers that prevent teeth from drifting into open areas left by baby teeth that fall out prematurely. This means that your child can expect their eventual permanent teeth to erupt into the correct position without the obstacle of drifting neighbors. Like retainers, a space maintainer can be fixed, removable, or attached to different sides of the child’s mouth.
Phase Two Orthodontics
After your child’s adult teeth fully calcify, they become eligible for phase two orthodontic correction. This stage includes traditional braces and treatment with Invisalign clear aligners. During their teen years, phase two correction generally completes their orthodontic treatment. By visiting with our staff, we can help your child address issues with poor alignment to help them grow into confident adults.
Talk To Your Shirley, NY, Pediatric Dentist About Orthodontic Treatment For Kids
By scheduling regular dental care for your child, we can determine if they would benefit from phased orthodontis. For more information on children’s treatments or to schedule an appointment, call us at Shirley Orthodontics and Pediatric Dentistry in Shirley, NY at (631) 399-1600.
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