Good life-long oral health starts in childhood – and at North Vancouver Orthodontics we believe early orthodontic treatment can help get your child get off to a great start.
Why Start Early?
Early orthodontic assessment and treatment have a number of benefits for children. Many orthodontic problems are more easily corrected if they are detected at an early age. Your child's orthodontist can also alert you to any critical problems in the development of their mouth and jaw, so it's a good idea to bring your child in at an early age for an assessment.
Early treatment may offer these benefits, amongst others:
- Reduces teeth grinding
- Lowers risk of tooth decay
- Improves digestion
- Reduces teeth grinding
- Mitigates harmful oral habits, such as thumb sucking
- Guides adult teeth development
The Canadian Association of Orthodontists recommends that children should first visit an orthodontist by the age of 7.
Although your child may not require treatment at this time, this is typically when the first permanent molars and incisors have come in, meaning your North Vancouver orthodontist can evaluate your child for potential problems like crossbites and overcrowding.
-
Over and over again, we see problems that develop in teen and adults years that could have been mitigated by early treatment.
What does early treatment involve?
Early orthodontic treatment can take a variety of forms, based on the evidence we see when we examine a child's oral cavity and teeth.
The orthodontist may prescribe a fixed or removable orthodontic appliance – a device (such as a retainer) used to move teeth, change the position of the jaw, or hold teeth in place in order to bring about desirable changes.
In some cases, appliances are not necessary. Rather, the removal of some baby teeth may help the permanent teeth erupt better.
In more extreme cases, where complex problems are already evident, we may explore oral surgery options.
Your North Vancouver orthodontics team will guide you through the process and options of early-stage treatment, and are always available to answer any questions you may have about your child's treatment.
Early Stage Orthodontic Treatment Can Help With:
Thumb-sucking
Trouble with chewing and breathing
Late or early loss of baby teeth
Teeth that are crowded, loose, or impacted
Upper and lower teeth that do not meet correctly
Improper jaw alignment
Tongue thrusting
Cross bites