early treatment

Early intervention can make a dramatic impact on establishing the proper occlusal foundation. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children see an orthodontist as early as age seven. At this age, Drs. Kessel and Bouwens can spot potential orthodontic problems and evaluate whether your child will need early orthodontic treatment. They will evaluate if all permanent teeth are forming properly, if jaw growth is on track, if there are any bite problems developing, and if adequate space is present for eruption of adult teeth.

 

The majority of patients don’t need early treatment, but it’s important to be evaluated by an orthodontist to check! If treatment isn’t needed right away, our office has a complimentary monitoring program to continue monitoring your child’s tooth eruption and jaw growth until treatment is needed. Catching problems early makes treatment easier for both us and you in the long run!

 

If early treatment is recommended, it usually begins around age eight or nine and lasts for a year or less. Then, your child will most likely need a second phase of treatment once all the permanent teeth erupt, usually around age 11 or older.