Early Treatment

One of the questions that you may be asking yourself is whether or not your child should visit the orthodontist. The American Association of Orthodontics does weigh in on this topic, and they recommend that children should have some type of orthodontic treatment completed by the age of 7. This will allow any conditions that may be present or thought to be present to be treated immediately.

C.S. Family Dental is able to determine if your child will need any orthodontic treatment and figure out the best time for your child to receive it. Many of the dentists in Denver, CO have been trained to look for and identify possible orthodontic problems in children BEFORE the age of 7.

One of the many questions we are asked here in our Denver, CO office is why children even need to be evaluated at such a young age. Early diagnosis of a problem and treatment can help to ensure that the new, erupting permanent teeth have a favorable position. In addition, early treatment can prevent teeth from being fractured due to conditions such as protruding front teeth.

If a child needs to receive early treatment, Dr. Shin will help to guide the permanent teeth as they come in and the growth of the jaw in the child. Early treatment will allow us to regulate the width and sizes of the lower and upper dental arches, avoid the need for extractions, gain more space in the mouth, and eliminate swallowing problems.

Early treatment is recommended because it can prevent the need for or limit how much treatment is needed later on when the permanent teeth do finally erupt in the mouth.

Another question we often receive is whether or not all children will benefit from early treatment. Early treatment does not help everyone, but it helps most. There are certain types of orthodontic problems that can be corrected and prevented if the problem is identified and corrected before the age of ten. Almost all permanent teeth have erupted by 10 years of age.

There are skeletal orthodontic issues that cannot be corrected until the child is much older, but Dr. Shin will work with you to determine the best solution to the problem at the time. Often, you will find that Dr. Shin is able to create a treatment plan based on the needs of your child and their exact condition.

Orthodontic Supervisory Program.

If your child’s orthodontist determines that your child is not ready for treatment, they will be placed on an orthodontic supervisory program.

This program is for patients who need to have treatment, but they are not necessarily ready to have the treatment performed. This type of a program allows us to be able to monitor the eruptive pattern of your child’s permanent teeth and intervention is performed when it is needed the most.

Often times, a child may need to have a baby tooth removed to ensure that the permanent tooth is able to grow into place properly. This will also help reduce the possibility that the child will need braces.

Here at C.S. Family Dental

When here in our Denver, CO office, Dr. Shin will let your general dentist know about any recommendations that have been made at the appointment. We often see patients every 6 to 8 months when in this program as this will allow us to observe their teeth and the way they grow in. You do not have to pay for this program either and it is in place to provide your child with the better chance at a beautiful smile.

Orthodontic treatment does offer a beautiful smile, but it is more than just that. In fact, braces are able to improve your child’s ability to clean his or her teeth, improve the function and bite of the teeth, and also prevent wear on the teeth.

Patients often wonder if their child does receive treatment early on if it will prevent them from needing braces as they do get older. Early treatment is effective at fixing problems that may occur and the prevent the same condition and more severe versions of it in the future. This also means that future treatment does not have to be as intense either. Since the permanent teeth have not erupted yet, a determination about future dental correction will not be known until all of the permanent teeth are present.

If a teen does need to receive orthodontic treatment, once the permanent teeth have all erupted, the correction needed can be discussed at this time. Not all orthodontic problems present themselves in baby teeth, so it is important to work closely with your child’s orthodontist.

Do keep in mind that you will still need to have checkups from your child’s general dentist while orthodontic treatment is rendered. If you would like to schedule an appointment for treatment or a free consultation, call C.S. Family Dental in Denver, CO today.