Is Your Child a Good Candidate for Early Orthodontic Treatment?

Early orthodontic treatment in Omaha, NE, can be ideal for some children, while others should wait until late childhood or the early teen years before their parents consider braces for them. By early orthodontic treatment, we mean that some kids are ready for braces by age seven but not earlier. We also join the American Academy of Orthodontics in recommending that all children undergo an orthodontic evaluation no later than seven years of age.

Why So Young?

In past generations, orthodontists did not even think about putting braces on a child until they were around 12 or 13 years old and had all their molar teeth. However, visiting an orthodontist by age seven makes our staff aware of your child’s issues much earlier and helps us decide whether early intervention is appropriate for them.

For example, we can determine whether and where your child’s permanent adult teeth will erupt. If it looks like they will be out of alignment, we can take steps several years ahead of schedule to prevent that. Even though your child has not lost all the baby teeth yet, their teeth and jaws are much more pliable and easily treatable than those of an older child or adult.

Early Treatment Followed by Later Treatment

If one of our pediatric dentists determines that your child is a good candidate for early orthodontic intervention, he or she will wear braces for several months and then have them removed. We have your child wear headgear at night or space maintainers day and night after completing Phase 1 treatment. Phase 2 treatment begins a few years later and typically involves wearing braces for a longer period.

We understand that you probably have a lot of questions about early orthodontic treatment in Omaha NE. Please reach out to request an initial orthodontic consultation.