It used to be that kids got braces when they were in middle school or even high school. Now it seems that children are starting orthodontics in elementary school. Why the rush? There have been studies that show that the sooner children start some kind of orthodontics, the more successful their treatment will be. Although most orthodontic problems are best treated with traditional braces, some problems need to be treated as soon as they are noticed, no matter how young a child is. Because children are rapidly growing, their bones are relatively soft and always changing. At this stage, it is easy to guide the bone and teeth growth in children through orthodontics. As every parent knows, their children grow faster at some ages than at others. Therefore, orthodontists want to time their treatments for the ages when the child is mature enough to cooperate with treatment, and also when the bone is growing most rapidly. The optimum age for beginning treatment depends upon what the orthodontist needs to correct, but according to the American Association of Orthodontists, the best age for evaluation for orthodontics is usually age 7 because that is the age when bone growth and your child’s maturity tend to favor orthodontic treatment. A major growth spurt also takes place at puberty, and orthodontists like to take advantage of this as well. When the jaws and teeth are still growing it is much easier to move teeth and change the position and size of the jaw. Early orthodontic treatment is effective and desirable in certain situations.
Some of the problems which require early orthodontic treatment include:
- Early or late loss of baby teeth
- Difficulty in chewing or biting
- Mouth breathing
- Crowding or misplaced teeth
- Jaws that shift, and/or make sounds
- Speech difficulty
- Biting the cheek or biting into the roof of the mouth
- Teeth that meet in an abnormal way or don’t meet at all
- Protruding teeth
- Facial imbalance or asymmetry
- Grinding or clenching of teeth
- Finger sucking or other oral habits
Starting orthodontic treatment early is important because it can:
- Create room for crowded, erupting teeth
- Create facial symmetry through influencing jaw growth
- Reduce the risk of trauma to protruding front teeth
- Preserve space for unerupted teeth
- Reduce the need for tooth removal
- Reduce treatment time with braces
If you would like more information about early orthodontic treatment, the California Association of Orthodontists has a great brochure called Bite Down Early that you can view online or order a copy to be sent to your home. With an early orthodontic evaluation, you’ll be giving your child the best opportunity for a healthy, beautiful smile that will last a lifetime.
This Memorial Day weekend, Badii Orthodontics, and our fellow Americans, honor those who have given their lives in service to our Great Nation. As we pay tribute to the brave men and women who died for our freedom, we also honor those who are defending our liberties around the world today. We live in freedom because our patriots are willing to serve, and many have given their lives in defense of our Nation. We pray for our men and women serving in harm's way. We pray for their safe return. And we pray for their families and loved ones, who also serve our country with their support and sacrifice. Because of their sacrifice, millions here and around the world enjoy the blessings of liberty. And wherever these patriots rest, we offer them the respect and gratitude of our Great Nation. 
