Global Courant
Parents want their children to live happy and healthy lives. Orthodontic evaluation is recommended at an early age to help parents on the path to improving their child’s health.
Orthodontic practices thrive on ensuring that parents understand the important role that early orthodontic evaluation and, if necessary, treatment plays in children’s oral health. They also educate their patients and patients’ parents about the remarkable dynamics between oral health and overall health.
The American Association of Orthodontists encourages children to have an evaluation by their orthodontist at age 7.
Being assessed at this age does not always mean treatment is necessary. But there are some attunement issues and unhealthy oral habits that may need to be addressed this early in life.
Knowing at a young age whether a child is only following a monitor or a treatment course can lead to less invasive orthodontic treatment now instead of surgery later on.
There are a number of issues that, if discovered and treated while a child is still growing, can take us off the path of surgery. We have the fact that they are still growing on our side. Once growth stops, treatment options become more limited.
Problems are best detected early
Underbite is an example of a common and serious malocclusion that can often be corrected without surgery when identified and cared for at a young age. Underbite occurs when the lower jaw protrudes beyond the upper jaw and promotes an incorrect bite pattern along with facial disfigurement.
Serious teeth crowding problems that are noticed and treated when a child is young can prevent the need for tooth extractions and future surgeries.
Orthodontists recommend identifying and correcting bad oral habits such as prolonged use of a pacifier, thumb or finger sucking, mouth breathing and tongue thrusting (pressing the tongue through the teeth, preventing the front teeth from touching each other) at an early age.
Some children naturally outgrow bad habits like thumb sucking. For those who persist in poor oral habits and fear they will lead to bite and alignment problems, treatments are available.
A standard case of early orthodontic treatment is a device placed along the palate of a child’s mouth who has difficulty stopping thumb and finger sucking. The device prevents the child from experiencing the satisfying feeling typical of the habit.
Chronic mouth breathing can lead to complications in tooth and facial development, such as long face syndrome, narrow mouths and receding or protruding jaws, according to Health.com.
Patients with facial development problems caused by chronic mouth breathing often require the use of corrective dental appliances, sometimes along with traditional braces, to “heal high-arched mouth roofs, narrowing sinuses, and malformed jaws. Left untreated, more serious facial surgery may be necessary,” said Health.com.
The point we want parents to remember is that whether you are a child or an adult, braces can correct a variety of bite and alignment issues. However, when dealing with children, we can use a child’s growth to our advantage to create the ideal bite and alignment.
Excellent oral health has a positive impact on overall health. Many studies conclude that periodontal disease can lead to heart disease and other systemic conditions. It’s less difficult to practice good oral hygiene and keep periodontitis and tooth decay at bay if the teeth are aligned and the bite is correct, he said.
Parents can help their children on the road to a lifetime of healthy smiles and overall health by consulting with their orthodontist at age 7.
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