Children and Teens
The American Association of Orthodontics (AAO) recommends that a child first visit the orthodontist by his or her seventh birthday in order to evaluate a child's teeth and jaw growth and could alert parents to any common problems such as:
-Protruding teeth, jaw that appears too far back or forward, unbalanced facial appearance, tooth grinding, difficulty biting or chewing, thumb sucking, early/late loss of your child's baby teeth
With early orthodontic treatment, children can achieve optimal results. On average, the most common orthodontic treatment occurs between 9-14. For children, there are the following options for treatment:
Comprehensive treatment begins when all the permanent teeth are present.
Phase I or early treatment may involve orthodontic appliances which will guide the growth of young bones and create a more idealistic environment for the emerging adult teeth. This may prevent more serious problems from developing and may make later treatment shorter and less complicated.
Phase II is often necessary to obtain final alignment of the teeth and refine the bite following Phase I treatment.
If you bring your child in by age 7, Dr. Harper would have the chance to lower the risk of trauma to the protruding front teeth, correct harmful oral habits, guide jaw growth, guide permanent teeth into a more favorable position but most importantly improve your child's appearance and self-esteem.
Lompoc (805) 736-3486
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