child orthodontics

**Pictured above: DCO patient Sofia (8yrs old) completing early treatment (also called Phase 1) which consisted of upper and lower expanders to make more room for her permanent teeth. Dr. Cassarella also helped to positively motivate her to stop sucking her thumb.  Her treatment represents a typical 9-12 month intervention that corrects the course of a child’s facial and dental development to reduce complexity in the early teenage years.

For most parents, orthodontic treatment is one of the most significant and impactful healthcare decisions you will make for your child. You may wonder when is the most ideal time for your child to be examined by an orthodontist. The short answer, as recommended by the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), is age 7. The WHY behind this simple answer is one of the most fascinating aspects of orthodontics. In my experience in practice as an orthodontist, I find that many parents and even dentists are not aware of some of the profound benefits of early evaluation of a child for orthodontic treatment. Bringing your child to see an orthodontist at age 7 for a baseline examination can reduce future length, cost and complexity of treatment and also lead to the most ideal end result. Many children do not have the need for orthodontic intervention at a young age, but for those who do, the positive impact that can be made is very significant. It can also help to set your child on a pathway to healthy facial, dental, and psychosocial growth and development.

Below are the top six benefits to early orthodontic treatment:

1. Improvement of Airway
Few parents consider the impacts that jaw development may be having on their child’s airway. There has been recent research that has used 3D imaging techniques to demonstrate the extent to which expansion of the upper jaw can significantly improve the size of airway and volume of airflow during breathing. This occurs by orthopedically increasing the width of the nasal airway. In children who snore at night, have early signs of sleep apnea, or are mouth breathers, early orthodontic treatment can present an opportunity to improve quality of life in ways that you may have never considered. This includes better quality sleep and associated performance in school, improvement in overall health and better performance in athletics. 

2. Improvement of Confidence and Self-Perception
In certain cases, space between teeth, crowding of teeth or severe bite problems may begin to impact a child’s confidence. One study actually showed that some teachers unknowingly had lower expectations for children with severe bite and tooth alignment problems. If a small orthodontic intervention can change the confidence and self-perception of a young child, one may ask the question- what greater benefit can there possibly be?

3. Identification of Severe Crowding or Bite Problems
Many parents of patients recount their own orthodontic treatment experiences which consisted of extraction of permanent teeth. In most children, the future need for extraction of teeth can be avoided by making adequate space for permanent teeth as they grow and develop by using expansion appliances. Early identification of crowding and expansion treatment also can prevent permanent teeth from becoming impacted in the future, and thus decrease future treatment time and complexity.

4. Facial Growth Assessment
One of the most important considerations that is made by the orthodontist is the initial examination of a child’s facial structure. Children who are growing rapidly can undergo very simple and easy orthopedic growth modification treatments that can help the child’s own growth be the corrective force in treating problems relating to facial growth, jaw size and jaw position. In some cases, particularly in underbites, these easy procedures can possibly prevent future need for jaw surgery for your child.In other cases, it can help to prevent developing facial growth asymmetry from becoming a long-term, complicated problem.

5. Reduction of Risk of Trauma to Teeth
In children who have protruding teeth, particularly the upper front teeth, early orthodontic treatment can reduce the risk of damage to these teeth during activities, sports or if your child sustains any facial trauma.

6. Assistance in Stopping Thumb and Finger Habits
Thumb or finger sucking habits, particularly those persisting after age 6, can have lasting effects on the development of the jaws and teeth. Often times, one or two conversations between your child and the orthodontist can provide the motivation and encouragement needed for your child to overcome this challenge.

Timing is everything and knowledge is power. Having your child examined by an orthodontist at age 7 will ensure that treatment needs are recognized early and that treatment is recommended at the most ideal time. This can give your child a better experience, fewer complications and the most ideal outcome.