Looking to give your child a head start towards a beautiful, aligned smile and a lifetime of good oral health? At Hero Pediatric Dentistry in Gainesville, VA, we offer early orthodontic treatment to help make sure their teeth grow in properly and reduce the need for more intensive orthodontic interventions later on. To get started, bring your child in for a consultation with our gentle, friendly team beginning as early as age 2 so that we can evaluate their bite, identify potential trouble spots, and take action to correct them. Book your child’s appointment online or give us a call today!
What Is Early Orthodontic Treatment?
Early orthodontic treatment means taking action to prevent or minimize problems with your child’s bite during their first few years of life. Why worry about this so soon? Because early orthodontic treatment can help keep major orthodontic problems from developing in the first place. This can reduce or even potentially eliminate the need for major interventions like braces when your child is older.
In other words, early orthodontic treatment is an investment in your child’s well-being that will pay off handsomely over time. We can help their teeth grow in more smoothly and begin treating issues like malocclusion or bad bites right away rather than waiting until your child is old enough for braces. If they do still need braces later on, the overall treatment will likely be quicker and less invasive.
When Should My Child Begin Early Orthodontic Treatment?
We recommend bringing your child in for an early orthodontic evaluation beginning around age 2. This gives us the opportunity to take a look at how their baby teeth have developed and identify any issues that may lead to trouble when their adult teeth begin to come in later on. We’ll also conduct regular follow-ups to track how their bite is progressing over time.
What Are the Stages of Early Orthodontic Treatment?
Early orthodontic treatment consists of three stages.
Stage I — This occurs when your child is between 2 and 6 years old. During Stage I treatment, we monitor how your child’s bite is developing. This includes keeping an eye on issues like underdeveloped dental arches, premature loss of baby teeth, and habits like long-term thumbsucking, all of which can interfere with forming a healthy bite. If you are looking to reduce or eliminate the need for your child to wear braces later on, Stage I treatment is essential and where we see the most success.
Stage II — This occurs when your child is between 6 and 12 years old. During Stage II treatment, we’ll work with alignment and bite issues often related to your child’s adult teeth, which will be coming in during this time. At these ages, both the soft and hard tissues in your child’s mouth are still more malleable than they would be in an adult and so respond readily to treatment.
Stage III — This occurs during adolescence. During Stage III treatment, we’ll work with your child’s adult teeth, resolving any issues and finalizing their bite relationship.
Affordable, Long-Term Results
By investing in your child’s bite now, you’ll give them long-lasting results that may reduce or even eliminate the need for expensive additional orthodontic treatment like braces. Get started by booking a consultation today!
