Posted: August 12, 2023
As parents, we all want the best for our children, and that includes ensuring their oral health is in top shape. One important aspect of this is considering early orthodontic evaluation for your child. While braces might seem like a rite of passage for teenagers, there are compelling reasons to consider seeking an orthodontic evaluation for your child even before they hit their teenage years. Let's delve into the benefits of early orthodontic evaluation and why it matters.
1. Detecting Issues Early Can Prevent Complications Later
Just like regular visits to the pediatrician, early dental checkups can help identify potential orthodontic issues before they become more severe. Proper assessment of your child's dental development can identify problems such as misaligned bites, overcrowding, or jaw irregularities. By catching these issues early, you can prevent them from worsening over time, potentially saving your child and yourself from more extensive and invasive treatments down the line.
2. Reducing Overall Treatment Time and Costs
Following detecting issues earlier, starting treatments earlier can often reduce the overall duration and complexity of treatment. Early interventions may allow your dentist to guide tooth and jaw development more effectively, which can lead to shorter treatment times. Moreover, addressing issues early can once again prevent more serious problems from arising, and save you and your child from the need for extensive and costly treatments in the future.
3. Guiding Proper Tooth Eruption
Early orthodontic evaluation helps monitor the growth and eruption of your child's teeth. Some children experience delayed or premature tooth eruption, which can lead to alignment problems, some of which include:
- Inadequate space for permanent teeth
- Malocclusion
- Facial asymmetry
By guiding proper tooth eruption, more timely treatments become possible, such as space maintainers. These processes guide teeth into their proper positions as they emerge, minimizing the need for more complex interventions later.
4. Creating More Space for Permanent Teeth
Children's jaws are still growing, making it an opportune time to address alignment issues. Various techniques can be used to create space for your child's full set of teeth but overall they help ensure permanent teeth have enough room to come in properly aligned. Adequate space helps avoid complications like overcrowding and reduce the likelihood of future extractions.
5. Improving Facial Symmetry and Self-Confidence
Early orthodontic evaluation can also have positive effects on your child's facial symmetry and self-confidence. Addressing issues like overbites, underbites, or crossbites early on can contribute to a more balanced and aesthetically pleasing facial appearance. Additionally, when children have straighter teeth, they tend to feel more confident, which can have a positive impact on their social interactions and overall self-esteem.
Scheduling a Consultation
Early orthodontic evaluations for children help catch potential issues at an early stage, and set the stage for a healthier and more confident smile for your child. Remember, a little investment in your child's oral health now can yield lifelong benefits. For more information or to schedule a consultation, contact our office via our contact form or by calling 403-407-5730.
*all procedures performed at our practice by a general dentist
