It is a good idea for your child to have an orthodontic screening at the age of 7. During this screening, our dentists will evaluate the alignment of your child’s teeth and jaws to see if future treatment may be needed or if there are issues that need to be addressed right away. We may suggest using two-phase orthodontic treatment for children who have a narrow palate or teeth that are malformed or have developed alignment issues because of habits such as thumb or finger sucking. If our dentists, team and you decide your child could benefit from this approach, treatment will usually begin around the age of 7, when some baby teeth are still present.

Phase One

Phase One may involve the use of braces or a fixed or removable appliance to make adjustments to the bite or palate and may even help improve your child’s facial structure. This phase may also involve the extraction of teeth that may obstruct the eruption of permanent teeth.

Resting Period

During this time, treatment is paused to allow your child’s adult teeth to come in. Normally, we will want to see your child at least twice a year to monitor their progress. If the permanent teeth have erupted properly, no further treatment may be necessary.

Phase Two

Our dentists will carefully examine your child’s jaws and teeth to see if everything is properly aligned. If not, we may suggest using a full set of braces or an appliance such as a retainer.

If you would like to schedule an examination and consultation with our dentists for your child, please contact our team today.