Here at Pediatric Dental Associates of Manhattan we can refer your child to a local orthodontist, if necessary.
The earlier we catch problems with your child’s bite, the simpler they are to fix. The results are often better than if we wait and require less work. You may not need to keep braces on your child for as long when they are younger, which means less expense for you.
The American Association of Orthodontics (AAO) recommends that children visit an orthodontist as soon as their dentist notices that there might be a problem or before they are seven years old. We may not have to do anything at this age, other than monitor the child’s mouth. However, if we continue to watch your child, we can refer them treatment right away!
Early intervention can be beneficial. We will watch how your child’s mouth and teeth grow and develop, so if we see something that needs to be done, we will refer your child to an orthodontist in the area for a consultation.
You may wonder why the AAO emphasizes age seven. At that age, the first adult molars are coming in and helping establish the back bite. We can then evaluate your child’s bite, both front-to-back and side-to-side. There are many reasons to start treatment early.
Early treatment allows for the orthodontist to do the following:
- Make room for the permanent teeth when there is overcrowding
- Ensure facial symmetry
- Reduce trauma when the front teeth are protruding
Also, early treatment reduces the need to remove teeth and reduces the time patients must wear braces. Though many people don’t believe in orthodontic treatment, without it you may have to deal with the following problems according to AAO studies:
- Crossbites can result in unfavorable growth and uneven tooth wear.
- Open bites can result in tongue-thrusting habits and speech impediments. While with orthodontic treatment, you may have the following benefits:
- A healthier mouth since crowded teeth can be hard to brush causing cavities and gum disease.
- Fewer broken teeth since protruding teeth are more likely to get broken.
We truly believe that orthodontic care is about more than just a pretty smile. We believe that it makes you healthier. If you have any questions about orthodontic care or who we refer out to, don’t hesitate to contact us today.