Check out yearbooks or prom pictures from the 1950s and '60s and you'll see a lot of smiles framing heavy metal braces or closed-mouth smiles. That sight is a lot less common in contemporary high school photos. Why the change? Today, kids tend to get braces at a much earlier age. Patients with special problems can actually begin orthodontic treatment at age 7 or younger.
The American Association of Orthodontics (AAO) recommends that all children receive an orthodontic screening by age 7. Permanent teeth generally begin to come in at age 6 or 7 and often orthodontic problems become apparent at that point.
Orthodontic treatment in young children is known as interceptive orthodontics. At these early ages, a child's teeth are still developing, bones and the jaw are still growing. That means certain conditions, such as crowding, may be easier to address.
Before permanent teeth have come in, it may be possible to help teeth to erupt and emerge through the gums into better positions. It's common, for example, for the dental arch to be too small to fit all of the teeth. A few decades ago, the solution for crowding was almost always to extract some of the permanent teeth to make space. Then fixed braces were used to position the teeth properly.
Early intervention takes advantage of the fact that a child's jaw is still growing. For example, if the upper jaw appears too narrow for the size and number of a child’s teeth, a device called a palatal expander may be used to expand the child's upper dental arch. Once the arch is the proper size, there's a better chance that the newly emerging adult teeth align in a better position.
Early treatment, or intervention, also may be useful when the dental arches and jaws are not in the correct position. Functional appliances may be used to fix or improve these problems before they cause more dental difficulties. More treatment usually is needed later on, but it is generally be shorter in duration and less complicated.
Early treatment does not apply to all orthodontic problems. However, it may help in certain cases. Two conditions that require early intervention are crossbites and protruding front teeth. A crossbite can cause uneven jaw growth and front teeth that are too prominent can be injured or fractured in an accident, such as a fall.
Contact your San Diego Orthodontist and San Diego braces specialist, Dr. Cruz, for more helpful information about your child’s development and early dental intervention. Call (619) 421-5060 for a Complimentary Consultation today!
