Early orthodontic treatment assists with preventing serious, unfixable mouth and teeth alignment problems, or malocclusions, later on. Early treatment may also save time and money. Individuals with bite misalignments or crooked teeth should seek regular orthodontic care as soon as possible to help avoid worse complications and gain a healthier, more functional mouth.
Orthodontists first perform bite inspections to determine what treatments to use. Here are some of the most commonly used orthodontic treatments:
Braces are small metal or ceramic brackets that orthodontists glue onto tooth surfaces. They are attached together using wires and rubberbands of varying strength, color, and size. The point of braces is to put gentle constant pressure on teeth to move them a little at a time. Over a set period, orthodontists will adjust and readjust the braces at each visit until your teeth look and feel properly aligned. Braces are especially helpful for early orthodontics as younger teeth and mouths tend to manipulate more easily and, thus, often feel less discomfort.
Clear aligners are essentially transparent plastic removable braces. They consist of a series of plastic trays that fit each individual's teeth during each stage while simultaneously performing slight modifications to each tooth's placement and the overall bite. Orthodontists take periodic molds of the teeth and mouth to ensure that the clear aligning trays work properly at each stage. Many people like the idea of these removable trays over fixed braces because they find it easier to care for their teeth and they are not visible, unlike most traditional braces.
Retainers are designed to keep teeth in place after braces are removed or clear aligner treatment is finished. They are generally made of metal and plastic or just plastic. Some retainers are removable, and some are not. Fixed retainers are generally strips of metal or plastic that orthodontists bond to the backside of the teeth they are maintaining. Orthodontists also use retainers instead of braces to make one or two minor adjustments, such as closing a single gap between teeth or slightly straightening just one or two teeth at a time rather than an entire bite.
Do you still have questions about early orthodontics? Here are the answers to some frequently asked questions:
The majority of children are candidates for early orthodontic treatment. The best way to determine if your child could benefit from early treatment is to consult with an orthodontist. During the initial consultation, the orthodontist will examine your child’s teeth and jaw structure and develop a personalized treatment plan.
Early orthodontic treatment can provide numerous benefits, including:
The type of early orthodontic treatment your child receives will depend on their individual needs. Some common treatments used in early orthodontics include:
The length of early orthodontic treatment will vary depending on the severity of the problem and the type of treatment being used. In general, most early orthodontic treatments take six to 18 months to complete.
Early orthodontics is a type of interceptive orthodontics. Interceptive orthodontics refers to any orthodontic treatment that is started before all the permanent teeth have come in. Early orthodontics refers to treatment that is started before a child turns seven years old.
Early orthodontic treatment, particularly in younger, more malleable mouths, is a great way to fix some current alignment problems and prevent worse issues down the road.
Let us help you take the first steps to better alignment. Contact our office today to schedule an early orthodontic consultation for your child.
Request an appointment here: https://paramountdentalspecialty.com or call Paramount Dental Care & Specialty at (562) 450-1261 for an appointment in our Long Beach office.
Check out what others are saying about our dental services on Yelp: Early Orthodontic Treatment in Long Beach, CA.
Our implant dentist is here to help if you are considering getting dental implants. These are metal rods/screws that are placed into the jaw to replace missing teeth roots. Implants serve as bases for dental restorations that replace missing teeth like crowns, dentures, and bridges.Implants are often compared to real teeth since they do not…
If you are missing one or more teeth, visiting an implant dentist is a good first step toward restoring your smile. Dental implants are an exciting, new, and versatile way to replace teeth and get people back to smiling confidently and enjoying the foods they love. However, dental implants may not be for everyone. Therefore,…
For those dealing with crooked teeth or an uneven smile, Invisalign® is a teeth-straightening alternative to metal braces. Wearing a dental device potentially impacts an individual’s self-esteem, and traditional wire braces can detract from looking professional or mature. Clear aligners offer similar results to metal braces without the same highly visible profile. The entire treatment…
Peri-implantitis is a painful condition that affects the dental implant site. If left untreated, the consequences are irreversible, so it is important to maintain a checkup schedule with an implant dentist. However, an implant dentist can save your implants, gum tissue, and jawbone without much hassle if caught in its early stages. This article will…