The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children receive an orthodontic screening by seven years of age. Though a visit to your orthodontist may seem unnecessary at such a young age, especially if the child’s teeth look straight, there may be underlying problems that only an orthodontist can detect. By the age of 7, the first adult molars erupt, establishing the back bite and the front four adult teeth are erupting or will be erupting shortly. During this time, an orthodontist can evaluate front-to-back and side-to-side tooth relationships and detect problems such as crowding, crossbites, deep bites, open bites, protruding teeth, facial asymmetries and habits that may cause harm to the way teeth come together. Timely screening increases the chances for a sensational smile later in life.

For patients who have clear indications for early intervention, early treatment, referred to as Phase 1 treatment, presents the opportunity to:

 

 

• Influence jaw growth in a positive manner

• Harmonize width of the dental arches

• Improve eruption patterns

• Lower risk of trauma to protruded upper incisors

• Correct harmful oral habits

• Improve aesthetics and self-esteem

• Simplify and/or shorten treatment time for later corrective orthodontics

• Reduce likelihood of impacted permanent teeth

• Improve some speech problems

• Preserve or gain space for erupting permanent teeth

 

Early Treatment is not indicated for everyone. Only certain bites would benefit from early intervention. In most instances, it is best to wait until all the baby teeth are nearly gone before starting orthodontics. Dr. NRK  does a through diagnosis and considers the problems of each patient individually, in order to determine the optimal time to begin treatment. It may be but is not always necessary to have “Phase II” treatment after undergoing Phase I. Although in some cases Phase I treatment makes it so that all the permanent teeth will erupt perfectly, additional treatment can usually be expected. Once all the permanent teeth are in, the next round of treatment (usually called Phase II orthodontics) would serve to perfect the positions of the adult teeth for optimal comfort, function, esthetics, and long-term stability.