Using orthodontic care to give your child better oral health.

Being a parent can be a difficult job, but we happen to think it’s one of the best! After all, there’s no feeling quite like putting a smile on your child’s face. As a parent, one of our most important jobs is keeping our little ones healthy—and that includes their smile. When it comes to your child’s long-term oral health, orthodontic treatment can be essential. Having straight teeth and an aligned bite makes your child’s smile more beautiful and can boost their self-confidence and self-esteem, but it also does so much more than that.

Straight teeth are easier to clean thoroughly and an aligned bite puts less stress on the joints and muscles of your child’s jaws, so orthodontic treatments can help prevent future oral health issues like cavities, gum disease, or TMJ. This makes orthodontic evaluations a vital part of helping to ensure that your child’s smile is as healthy and happy as it can be. But how do you know if your child needs orthodontic treatment? Here’s what you need to know, including the signs you can look for in your child.

What is pediatric orthodontics?

Orthodontics is a specialized field of dentistry that focuses on correcting issues with misaligned bites or crooked teeth. These treatments are well-known for making smiles more attractive, but they also actively help to protect or improve long-term oral health. General orthodontics can be performed on patients of all ages, but pediatric orthodontics focuses more specifically on providing this type of dentistry for children. Since children’s jaws, teeth, and bites are still developing, pediatric orthodontists can monitor this development and predict future orthodontic issues. 

When necessary, early orthodontic treatment is used to minimize or prevent orthodontic issues before they arise, often by guiding the growth and development of your child’s jaws. This provides permanent solutions that make it easier for your child to care for their teeth, which is especially helpful when they’re still developing the skills and patience needed to clean their teeth well. While your child might still need future orthodontic treatments like braces, they may need fewer, less severe treatments and will likely need braces for a shorter time than they’d otherwise need them.

When should kids get orthodontic evaluations?

Since early orthodontic treatment options rely on identifying and treating orthodontic issues while your child is still growing, it’s best to have your child evaluated by a pediatric orthodontist when they’re about seven years old. At this age, they generally already have a few adult molars, so your child’s pediatric orthodontist can predict how their teeth will erupt and what issues their future bite may develop.

What are the signs that kids need orthodontic treatments?

While extreme over- or underbites are often easily recognizable as an issue that requires orthodontic treatment, not all children who need treatment have such outwardly obvious signs. Thankfully, however, there are still signs you can look for that could tell you that your child needs to visit an orthodontist.

Tooth Injuries

A misaligned bite can cause your child to clench or grind their teeth, often without even realizing they’re doing it, which can lead to dental injuries like chipped, cracked, or broken teeth. Teeth that stick out a bit are also more likely to suffer these types of injuries if your child suffers a blow to the face during sport or a fall, as the tooth ends up absorbing more of the force. 

Gum Injuries

If your child’s bite doesn’t line up, their teeth can cut into their gums. This can be quite painful, especially over time, because they can’t simply change the way they’re chewing to prevent this from happening. Misaligned bites can also cause your child to bite the interior of their cheeks more often.

Speech Problems

Teeth play a significant role in language because they provide a springboard for our tongues—they’re actually necessary for producing certain sounds properly. The spacing, angle, and placement of teeth can all impact your child’s ability to produce these sounds. Not all speech problems are related to orthodontic issues, but they can certainly be connected, so it might be a sign that it’s time to visit an orthodontist.

Impacted Teeth

An impacted tooth is a tooth that isn’t erupting when or how it’s supposed to. There are several causes for this, including overcrowding, but your child’s orthodontist can help resolve the problem and prevent it from developing into a larger issue. Even better, there are early orthodontic treatment options that can help prevent issues like overcrowding in the first place by encouraging your child’s jaw to grow large enough to fit all of their teeth.

Difficulty Chewing

Misaligned bites can also make it difficult for your child to chew their food properly because their jaws aren’t fitting together the way they should or because chewing is uncomfortable. If you notice that your child is struggling to chew or if they complain that chewing hurts or makes their jaws tired, it’s a solid sign that you should schedule an appointment with an orthodontist.

When is early orthodontics unnecessary?

Early orthodontics can be incredibly helpful for children who need it, but it’s usually not necessary. These treatments are often used for children who have dental overcrowding or are developing more severe alignment issues. Children who have more average misalignments or crooked teeth don’t need early orthodontic treatment. Most children can be treated using traditional methods like braces or clear aligners after their teeth have finished developing, usually at around 14 years old. As the saying goes, though, it’s better to be safe than sorry, so it’s always wise to bring your child in for an evaluation when they’re young, just in case.

What should I expect during my child’s consultation, treatment, and post-treatment?

When you take your child in for a consultation, their pediatric orthodontist will do their best to keep your child as happy, comfortable, and relaxed as possible during their visit. They’ll examine your child’s teeth and bite closely and will take X-rays to get a more detailed look at their teeth, jaws, and the adult teeth developing out of sight. This allows them to predict issues that may arise as their adult teeth continue erupting. If an orthodontist determines that your child may benefit from early orthodontic treatment, they will explain why, walk you through the treatment options, and give you the chance to ask all of your questions.

If your child needs orthodontic treatments, you’ll have time to decide on a treatment plan. Exactly what you can expect from your child’s treatment will depend upon which treatment they’re undergoing as well as their individual treatment plan. Generally, however, you’ll need to bring your child back to our office about every six weeks to check their progress or make adjustments to any oral device they may be wearing. Once their treatment is complete, they may need to wear retainers to ensure the results last as your child grows. They may still need braces when their adult teeth have finished developing, so make sure to follow your dentist’s recommendations for when they should return for a follow-up appointment.

While early orthodontic treatment isn’t necessary for most kids, it makes all the difference when it is! These treatments help improve the appearance and confidence of kids’ smiles and have the potential to shape their oral health for a lifetime. Some can even positively impact the growth of your child’s jaws and the shape of their face. As a result, it’s always best to know for sure whether your child would benefit from these treatments! If you’re looking for a “pediatric dentist near me” who can perform an orthodontic consultation, feel free to call and schedule an appointment at our office at any time.

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