More people are choosing to offer their kids orthodontic treatment at a younger age. Instead of waiting until a child is 16 or 17, parents are opting to start treatment around 7 or 8. If your orthodontist recommends early treatment, use this guide to determine if it is the right option for you and your family:
One of the biggest perks of opting for early orthodontic treatment is that it could reduce the total treatment time for your young one. The earlier you start certain orthodontic treatment, the better chance you have of offering your child preemptive treatment that reduces the length of time it takes to get straight, beautiful teeth.
Oral issues like an underbite or a narrow upper arch are problems that orthodontists like to treat early. If you can give your child orthodontic treatment like a palatal expander while his or her jaw is still growing, it minimizes the need for more serious orthodontic treatment during the teenage years. If an orthodontist can expand the jaw before the teeth grow in, they are more likely to line up in their correct position.
While early treatment is a great option for certain oral issues like an underbite, it does not always reduce treatment times. If your child has an overbite or buckteeth, early treatment might not work as well as treatment during the teenage years. Before you decide to go ahead with early treatment, talk to your orthodontist about your child’s issues and whether or not early treatment will truly benefit his or her teeth.
Dr. Varriale received her orthodontic education from NYU. During her residency, she trained in multiple fields including Invisalign, lingual braces, orthognathic surgery cases and more. She lives in Astoria with her husband and daughter.