Dr. Lennard and his staff encourage parents to bring their young children in for their first orthodontic evaluation by the time they turn 7. This is when Dr. Lennard can evaluate whether or not a child will need orthodontic treatment. While teeth can be moved at any age, it's recommended to begin treatment early to ensure better results and to avoid the development of more serious problems later.
How Early Orthodontic Treatment Can Benefit Your Child
When treatment is started early, it can ensure the greatest result and the least amount of time and expense. Common orthodontic problems include:
- Crowded teeth
- Too much space between teeth
- Jaw growth problems
- Protruding teeth
- Bad bites
These problems can be inherited or caused by the early or late loss of primary teeth or by a thumb or finger sucking habit. When your child receives timely orthodontic treatment when he or she is young, it can help prevent the need for orthodontics as an adult.
Many parents of our young patients ask if early treatment will prevent the need for braces later in life. The answer to that question is that early orthodontic treatment can help prevent more serious problems from developing and can simplify future treatment. Because all of the permanent teeth are not yet erupted when early treatment is performed, their final alignment may not have been corrected. Typically, a shortened comprehensive phase of treatment (Phase 2- full braces) in the teenage years after all the permanent teeth are in, completes the correction. However, in some circumstances, further orthodontic treatment may not be necessary.
When you bring your child in to our San Jose orthodontic office for their first visit, Dr. Lennard will perform a thorough examination and then sit down with you to discuss his findings. He will tell you if your child could benefit from early orthodontic treatment. If it's deemed that treatment would prove beneficial, Dr. Lennard will discuss the recommended treatment options with you so that both you and your child understand the proposed treatment plan.
Is Your Child a Candidate for Orthodontic Treatment?
Orthodontics is not merely for improving the appearance of the smile. It also helps improve bad bites. When your child has a bad bite or malocclusion, it affects how he or she smiles, chews, cleans their teeth and how your child feels about his or her smile.
To schedule an initial examination for your child at Lennard Orthodontics, please give us a call at 268-4433. You can also contact us online by filling out the 'Appointment Request' form that is on our website. We look forward to meeting you and your child soon!