Benefits of Early Treatment:
Early Interceptive orthodontic treatment usually starts before the eruption of the permanent teeth or when the child has very few permanent teeth present. Our goal at Lakeview Dental is to guide the growth of the upper and/or lower jaw to make adequate space for the eruption of all the permanent teeth. We feel that children should be evaluated by the age of four to see if there is bone problem (orthopedic) of a tooth problem (orthodontic).
If the patient has a jaw problem such as the upper jaw being too narrow, or an underdeveloped lower jaw, this will require a special appliance called a functional jaw orthopedic appliance to correct the problem. Minor tooth crowding can also be corrected early if it appears as though it may compromise the eruption of other permanent teeth.
It is always less expensive to correct a problem when the patient is younger rather than wait for the problem to become serious in the future.
Other benefits of early treatment:
- Improve profiles, smiles, and self esteem
- Correct harmful habits, such as thumb sucking and tongue thrusting. Functional appliances develop the arches and make more room for the tongue.
- Improved speech
- Reduction of time in fixed braces and frequently eliminates the need for the extraction of permanent teeth
- Increases nasal breathing which improves health
- Eliminates airway constriction
- Creates beautiful broad smiles by developing the arches
- Eliminates grinding of the teeth at night
- Prevents headaches and earaches
Functional Habits:
Functional habits include thumb sucking, mouth breathing or a tongue thrust habit which can contribute to the unfavorable growth of the jaw. Oral habits can commonly cause the upper front teeth to stick out and can contribute to speech problems. The best way to intercept a habit is to first make certain that the child has a proper size airway and can breath through the nose. In cases where there are serious allergies, swollen adenoids or tonsils, a referral to an Ear, Nose & Throat Specialist must be done.
After airway considerations are addressed an upper fixed habit-breaking appliance could be made to stop the oral habit. Most parents prefer the fIXed appliances, which cannot be removed by the child. A tiny patient- friendly crib at the front of the appliance helps to remind the patient not to place their tongue, finger or thumb in this area of the mouth. Active treatment takes four or five months. Then if an arch development appliance was used, the crib could be removed, and the child wears the appliance as a retainer for another six months to prevent a relapse.
Early warning signs:
Deep Bite
Do the upper teeth completely hide the lower teeth when you bite down, or does your child bite on the roof or their mouth?
Open Bite
Do the upper and lower teeth not meet in the front when your child bites together?
Overjet
Do the upper front teeth seem to be more noticeable and stick out quite a bit, compared to the lower teeth?
Facial Asymmetry
When looking at your child from the front does it appear that their face or chin is shifted to one side, Are they growing crooked?
Crossbite
When you look at your child's mouth are the upper teeth on the inside of the lower teeth? If you think the upper jaw as a garage and the lower jaw as the care the garage should be bigger that the car!
Habits
Does your child suck their finger or thumb? Do they breathe through their mouth instead of their nose? Do they stick their tongue between their teeth when they swallow?
Crowding
Are the permanent teeth starting to come in crowding?
Earaches
Sometimes a bad bite or a deep bite can cause undue pressure on the small membranes of the ear, contributing to earaches.
These are signs that your child might need early intervention! Functional Appliances work as your child is growing and Developing, to guide the jaws to their proper size.
Contact us for an assessment of your child, if you have noticed any of the above symptoms.
Appliance Therapy:
Functional Appliances are used mainly in growing children to help solve the problem of narrow upper and lower jaws, which could cause crowding of the permanent teeth. When the narrow upper and lower jaws are developed to normal shape and size with functional appliances, in the majority of cases it is not necessary to extract permanent teeth.
Most children with crowded teeth and bad bites have narrow jaws and underdeveloped lower jaws, which could be corrected with functional appliances; Functional appliances help to correct the bone problems, while the tooth problems are corrected with orthodontic braces.
The ideal age for the use of functional appliances is between the ages seven and eleven, when the cooperation level is the highest. However, functional appliances can be utilized as early as age four, if the upper jaw is too narrow and is having a negative effect on the child's breathing and speech. Arch Development (functional appliances) can also be used in adults to develop the arch to a more normal shape and size before applying the braces.
The use of functional appliances can reduce the time the child must wear fixed braces and also can reduce the need for the extraction of permanent teeth. Functional appliances develop the dental arches so that all the permanent teeth can erupt, which ensures an outstanding profile, broad smile and healthy jaw joints.
Orthodontics
Orthodontics is usually our Second Phase of treatment, following the use of functional appliances. The braces would now be places to move the teeth into alignment to support the development of the bone achieved in the first phase of treatment. The second phase of treatment is initiated when most of the permanent teeth have erupted.
Braces are the small, square metal attachments (called brackets) that are bonded with special orthodontic adhesive to the teeth. There us a small slit in the middle of the bracket into which the orthodontic wire fits. In order to hold the wire in place, small tiny elastics are wrapped around the outside of the braces. It is the combination of braces, the wire and the elastic that help the tooth move into position.
To help make the wearing of the braces more fun, patients have a choice of at least 40 different colored elastics.
This phase of treatment usually lasts between twelve and twenty-four months depending on the amount of tooth movement necessary to align the teeth and to establish a proper bite. It is important to remember that treatment time is estimated. The doctors have specific treatment goals in mind and will usually continue treatment until these goals have been achieved. Patient's cooperation is the best way to keep on time with your treatment. Be sure to take care of your braces and to wear your rubber bands as instructed and we will be able to achieve our desired result.
After Phase II is completed it is necessary it is necessary to wear retainers to hold the final result. The great part about our retainers is that they are virtually invisible which helps guarantee patient acceptance and ensures they will be worn at the appropriate times.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why would my child need early treatment?
Early treatment, or Phase I, would be recommended if there are certain discrepancies in the development of the upper and lower jaws. Early treatment can correct these problems in the early growth phase of your child (utilizing a functional appliance), which develops the bone to a more normal size, to allow enough room for the permanent teeth to erupt.
What are the benefits of early treatment?
- Improve profiles, smiles and self-esteem
- Correct harmful habits
- Improve speech from expanding the arches and making more room for the tongue.
- Reduction of the time in fixed braces and frequently eliminates the need for extraction of
permanent teeth.
- Prevent the fang look. Upper eye teeth (cuspids) are the last teeth to erupt on the upper arch. If
the jaw is too narrow, patients will get the fang look.
- Prevent the possibility of facial asymmetry with the expansion if the upper arch and the correction
of the posterior crossbite.
- Improves head posture which eliminates neck pain
- Prevents the grinding of teeth at nigh
- Improves nasal breathing
- Prevents gum recession
What is a functional appliance?
Once a thorough and proper diagnosis has been made, the best appliance to correct your child's problems will be selected. A functional appliance is any device designed like a mouth retainer, with micro screws, device, designed to make the appliance able to activate and stimulate the change in bone, therefore making the jaw grow to its potential. The initial records, and x-rays, taken at the beginning of treatment, determine growth potential.
How long does Phase I treatment last?
Phase I treatment usually lasts approximately ten to twelve months depending of the severity of the case. The appliance is usually active (making changes to the jaw) for four to six months then the appliance should be used as a holding appliance for six months or as a retainer to prevent any relapse in the treatment. As the permanent teeth erupt, it will be determined when it is no longer necessary to wear the holding appliance.
At what point will my child need orthodontics?
Once the early phase of treatment is finished, your child will be evaluated on an ongoing basis to monitor the eruption of the permanent teeth. Once the permanent teeth are all present, we will set up a consultation appointment to determine whether there is a need for braces. Usually orthodontics, which means fIXed braces, does not begin until the patient has all their permanent teeth (age 11 to 13). While braces are the most popular among younger patients, they can be worn as a teenager, or an adult. More adults these days are asking for braces to help improve their smile and appearance. Set up an initial screening appointment for your child today!
What is Orthodontics?
The area of dentistry called orthodontics involves straightening of teeth with the use of braces.
Orthodontics is also indicated when the patient has a bad bite, which can make you feel self conscious and can cause digestive or other health problems. Braces are now less conspicuous and more comfortable that ever before, due to the use of new high performance arch wires, which exert light continuous forces on the teeth. Children should have an orthodontic assessment before the age of five so that early treatment with
functional appliances can reduce the time spent wearing braces.
How long does orthodontic treatment last?
The average length of time for orthodontic fixed braces would be one and a half to two years when all the permanent teeth have erupted. The treatment time obviously depends on the seriousness of the problem and when treatment is started. Our office recommends that children be evaluated before age five to see if the problem is a bone problem or a tooth problem. If the problem involves bone, such as the upper or the lower jaw being too narrow or the lower jaw being underdeveloped, then we recommend that this problem be treated immediately with functional appliances. The use of functional appliances can reduce the time a child must wear fixed braces and reduce the need for extraction of permanent teeth. If the problem is merely crooked teeth, many times treatment will be delayed until all the permanent teeth erupt.
Are there different kinds of braces?
Most patients today think braces are cool because of all the different colors. In fact, there are more than 40 different combinations of colored elastics, which fit over the braces to keep the wires in place. Every month the patient had their choice of colored elastics. Most children pick the metal braces, which are much smaller today. Adults and teenagers prefer the clear braces because they blend with the color of the teeth and are harder to see. We have some females who prefer gold braces since they look like jewelry. The newest and latest trend is toward invisible braces, where trays are changed periodically and move the teeth into better position.
Will teeth move when the braces come off?
A clear retainer will be made to wear when your braces are removed. The roots of the teeth need enough time to settle in the bone, so it's absolutely imperative that you follow the instructions on wearing the retainer to maintain your beautiful smile at the end of treatment.
How long do I have to wear my retainers?
The length of time in retainers varies depending on the amount of tooth movement that was necessary. However, as a general rule of thumb, we recommend full time wear if the upper clear retainer for one full year and one year at night only. We generally like to make the lower retainer fixed, behind the lower &ont teeth, and it remains in place for three to five years.
Exciting news regarding clear retainers! The newest retainer now has a clear labial bow which makes the retainer practically invisible. Patients love these new clear retainers.
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