Get a Head Start on a Beautiful Smile
You want the best for your children, and as a dad, Dr. Su understands that. At Su Smiles Orthodontics, we love working with kids and teens to transform their smiles and boost their confidence, so you can rest easy knowing your child is in good hands.
Get Your First Check-Up By Age 7
Most orthodontic patients are children and teens. According to the American Association of Orthodontists, your child should meet with an orthodontist by the age of seven.
The younger your child is when they start orthodontic treatment, the easier it is to shift their teeth into gear.
When kids are young, their jaws are constantly growing to accommodate new teeth.
During this time, the teeth move easily with treatment, allowing for a shorter treatment time—especially in patients who undergo early treatment.
Although not every child needs orthodontic treatment, all kids need exams at an early age. Early screenings make it possible to get early treatment, with some children beginning progressive orthodontic treatments as early as age seven. Some signs that a child may eventually require orthodontic treatment include:
- Jaw is disproportionate to the face
- Has a habit of frequent thumb-sucking
- Chronically breathes from the mouth rather than the nose
- Primary teeth fall out too soon or too late
- Exhibits malocclusion (overbite/underbite)
- Visible crowding
Benefits of Early Treatment
Shorter Treatments
Younger patients have facial structures that are still growing and moving. For children and teens who start treatment sooner rather than later, Dr. Su can use that growth to your benefit!
Working with the jaw growth instead of against it means Su Smiles Orthodontics can treat your orthodontic problems more quickly and efficiently. By starting treatment at age seven you can shave months off your child’s treatment timeline!
Prevent Future Issues
Making sure your child gets the orthodontic treatment they need at a young age helps prevent worse orthodontic issues in the future. Because Dr. Su will spend time monitoring their oral health as they get older, he will be able to stop other problems in their tracks.
Early treatment could save you tons of money in the long run. Investing in your child’s smile now means cutting out the cost and discomfort later in their lives.
Better Results
When your child gets orthodontic treatment at age seven, you’re essentially sealing the deal on their beautiful smile. Early treatment means Dr. Su has time to guide your child’s smile into the perfect position.
More attention to your child’s oral hygiene, more thorough care, and more time for a custom treatment plan gives them the best results overall.
Treatment in Two Phases
Two-phase orthodontic treatment is Dr. Su’s method for aligning a child’s teeth and producing a functional bite in two main steps. Usually, two-step orthodontic treatments begin between the ages of seven and nine, when many primary teeth remain in a child’s mouth.
At this age, your child will wear braces for a year or two during a period we call active treatment. Then, Dr. Su will remove them, and your child will wear a retainer for about three years during a phase we call retention.
From start to finish, two-phase orthodontics can take five years or more, but we’re sure you’ll agree that the results are well worth the treatment time.
Preventative Care
The field of orthodontics spans beyond corrective treatments. It also includes preventive care, which can help to avoid the development of a bad bite or crooked and overcrowded teeth. Preventive care is only effective when used early – usually while most primary teeth are still intact.
If your child undergoes preventive treatments with Su Smiles Orthodontics, you can help them avoid the need for far more invasive treatments later in life. By the time preventive orthodontic treatments are complete, your child will have adequate jaw space for permanent teeth to erupt, leading to a straight and healthy natural smile.
Some of the most common preventive orthodontic treatments in include:
- Space maintainers – to hold the space of a primary tooth that has fallen out prematurely
- Headgear – used to reposition the jaw and create space for permanent teeth
- Tooth extractions – used to remove primary teeth that have not fallen out on their own
Schedule Your Child’s Free Consultation Today!
If you’re interested in giving your child or teen a head start on a beautiful smile, don’t wait. Schedule your free consultation with Dr. Su today!