During a dental evaluation of children above the age of three, and perhaps even more significant than cavities of the primary teeth; which will be lost in a few years and replaced by the generally larger size permanent adult teeth, are the early and usually recognizable issues of dental crowding and poor dental alignment.
Today more general dentists, are involving themselves with the child patient's issues of crowding and orthopedic development. Most often orthodontic crowding problems can show signs as early as 3 to 4 years old and most often as a result of growth, skeletal growth and development issues.
Narrow dental arches, dental arch discrepancies, insufficient room in the dental arches, dental cross bites, anterior cross bites, anterior open bites, jaw shifts, overbites, under bites and tongue thrusts and thumb sucking habits and congenitally missing permanent teeth are to name a few of the dental conditions that can very often be seen at a very early age, as early as 3 to 6 years old.
Young patient may not be ready for treatment at this early age, when they are first evaluated (if seen at the recommended age 3). Preliminary dental findings, parental discussions and review of preliminary records will help parents to understand the many early interceptive treatment options that can be considered. In our office, by age 6 many young patients may be treated with early interceptive orthopedic treatment to correct skeletal developmental problems that a contributing to these dental misalignments, arch discrepancies, and facial imbalances.
Most often interceptive orthopedic correction will eliminate a large number of these dental crowding issues, and correct many of the dental cross bites, and space issues or concerns of the childs jaw size accommodating for all of the developing permanent teeth.
Today probably the most valued dental contribution we can offer our young patients and their families is the ability to diagnose these crowding problems and the many skeletal orthopedic conditions that are the primary influence to theses dental alignment, crowding, cosmetic problems and facial esthetic concerns we observe in the young patient.
Although orthodontic challenges are still treatable, as the child matures, the number of options for your child will decrease and the chances that surgical corrections may be require to correct some of the more severe skeletal discrepancies becomes more likely.
Finally, we find that a large number of these patients seem to be treated with extraction of permanent teeth; due to the lack of arch space in the dental arches to accommodate all of the permanent teeth. As your child grows older, the opportunity to take advantage of their own growth potential and intercept with interceptive orthopedic appliances decreases. Interceptive orthopedic development of the jaws encourages your child’s jaws to grow, during a time when all of the permanent teeth are erupting into their jaws and the entire rest of the body is growing during their natural growth spurts.
Just a bit more growth in the dental alveolar skeletal complex can and will accommodated for their complete, beautiful, natural smile that they were given. The complete natural smile will be fully expressed and appreciated by all that enjoy a beautiful smile; especially the patient in the years to come.
If you desire more information regarding these dental orthopedic concerns for your child, friend or family member or wish to schedule a preliminary evaluation, please contact our office and we would be happy to assist you.
Office Phone 253 839 7270
Well, if you are going to ask me, it is still best to take your child first and have the dentist's opinion regarding on this. It would be very crucial for your pocket to have your braces on your kid even though it is not necessary.
ReplyDeletegood dental insurance