Early Orthodontic Treatment
Every week, we see at least one child whose parents waited too long to bring them to an orthodontist. The reality for this child is a painful one: they will need surgery. Don't let it be "too late" for your child, bring them in for a consultation today to set them on a path towards health and happiness that will last a lifetime!
We all want the very best for our children, especially when it comes to their health and happiness. Early orthodontic treatment is a way to accomplish both, by providing for the health of your child's mouth and empowering them to smile with confidence, pride, and joy for years to come!
Children and teens can face a number of dental issues, like teeth crowding, excess space, jaw growth issues, protruding teeth, bad bites, and breathing or sleeping difficulties. These challenges can be inherited or caused by environmental factors, like injury to the mouth, early or late loss of baby teeth, or habits like sucking the thumb.
No matter the appearance or cause of your child's dental issues, it is important to receive early intervention. By age 13, most children have lost all of their baby teeth, and by ages 16-18, the jawbones stop growing. Rather than waiting for your child’s baby teeth to fall out (a popular misconception), we join The American Association of Orthodontists in recommending that each child first sees an orthodontist around age 7. By evaluating your child's condition at this age, we are able to monitor their growth and engage preventative methods of care early, reducing the time, cost, and discomfort associated with orthodontic treatment.
Early treatment usually begins at ages 8-9. Also known as “Phase One,” the goal of this preventative plan is to correct the direction of jaw growth, reducing the potential for bite problems later on, as well as making room for permanent teeth to come in properly, lessening the need for extractions in the future.
This is frequently accomplished with a palatal expander or similar appliance, which takes advantage of children’s growth to correct jaw problems non-invasively. The appliances are usually cemented onto the back teeth for about 1 year and apply gentle pressure to the jaws and teeth. Dr. Kuncio has published several such cases in the peer-reviewed NY State Dental Journal.
The best way to provide for your child's continued dental health is to evaluate their needs early, and to set them on the path towards a healthy, attractive smile from day one!
Come see us if your child is or has:
Baby tooth loss
Crowded front teeth
Difficulty biting or chewing food
Habits like sucking on his/her finger or thumb
Crowded, misplaced, or “blocked” teeth
A jaw that “pops” upon opening and closing
Straight teeth, but a possibly misaligned jaw
Breathing through his/her mouth—not nose
Teeth that are misaligned—or do not come together at all
Jaws and teeth that are not proportionate to the rest of his/her face