Can Early Orthodontic Treatment Eliminate the Need for Braces?

Braces or clear aligners are a proven way to give your child straight teeth and an aligned bite. That said, most parents would love it if their child had a perfect smile without the need to visit the orthodontist for multiple months. If you’ve heard of early orthodontic treatment, we’ll look at the specifics of what it is and how it works to intervene before your child even gets all their permanent teeth.

What Is Early Orthodontic Treatment?

Early orthodontic treatment takes advantage of a childhood phenomena: when kids are young, their teeth and gums are more malleable than when they’re adults. This doesn’t mean that teeth can’t be tamed when you’re an adult, as braces can and do work at any age, just that it’s typically easier to manipulate the teeth, jaws, and gums when kids are younger.

Early orthodontic treatments will use services, exercises, or oral devices to adjust a child’s mouth, reducing crowding, introducing spacing, and gently bringing the teeth and jaw into order. For example, an orthodontist might teach your child special exercises to eliminate thumb-sucking, which can reduce the odds of growth abnormalities. Or they might remove baby teeth to create more room for permanent teeth (depending on their growth patterns).

Can Orthodontic Treatments Fix My Child’s Teeth for Good?

The results of early orthodontic treatments in Staten Island, NY ultimately depend on the patient. Some patients will see tremendous benefits, potentially eliminating the need for braces. Others may still need corrective treatment down the line, especially if they have a severe bite abnormality. The good news is that orthodontic treatment before the permanent teeth come in, ideally by the age of seven, can potentially reduce the time and the expense you’ll spend on overall dental care.

If you want to learn more about preventative care, contact Salvatore R. Indelicato, D.M.D., P.C. to learn more about our team. Our orthodontists in Staten Island know how helpful it can be to do everything in your power to help your kid live a better life. Early orthodontic treatment doesn’t just potentially save everyone grief down the road, it teaches your kids to address problems early — before they have a chance to grow into bigger hassles down the road.