American Association of Orthodontists Recommendation for Early Orthodontic Screening
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that all children have an orthodontic screening no later than age 7. Why screen by age 7? The posterior occlusion is established when the first molars erupt. At that time, one can evaluate the antero-posterior and transverse relationships of the occlusion, as well as discover any functional shifts. Incisors have begun to erupt and problems can be detected such as crowding, habits, deep bites, open bites and some facial asymmetries.
For some, a timely screening will lead to significant treatment benefits; for most, the principal immediate benefit is a parent's peace of mind. The dentist who makes timely referrals is rightly regarded as informed, caring and concerned for the total well being of the patient.
Benefits of Early Treatment
For those patients who have clear indications for early intervention, early treatment presents the opportunity to:
Early orthodontic screening can lead to simpler, more effective treatment for dental patients or, at least, greater peace of mind.
Becoming accustomed to an orthodontist, the office and the staff can also alleviate anxiety when it comes time to start orthodontic treatment. The patients and parents have a better idea of what to expect for treatment and the parents often have an idea of how payment schedules work and can look into insurance coverage if that is an option.
If you notice a problem with your child's teeth or if your dentist recommends you bring them to an orthodontist when they seem too young, it is in your best interest to make the appointment. We can be reached at 413-586-8455 to inquire further about the process. This initial consultation is free of charge. Everyone wants and deserves a beautiful smile, and everyone should have a healthy one.
Phase I Treatment
1) WHY SHOULD I BE CONCERNED ABOUT A BAD BITE OR MISFIT OF MY CHILD'S TEETH?
Bad bites can be detrimental to a patient's dental health by possibly causing premature wear on the teeth, asymmetrical jaw growth, difficulty in oral hygiene, or malfunctioning bite. Orthodontics will align your child's teeth for optimum function, hygiene, and appearance.
2) WHAT IS PHASE I (EARLY/INTERCEPTIVE) TREATMENT?
Phase I or Interceptive Treatment usually starts while the child has most of their baby teeth and a few of their permanent front incisors. This stage in development is usually about the age of eight to nine. The goal of Phase I treatment is to intercept a moderate or severe orthodontic problem early in order to reduce it's severity. In most cases where early orthodontic treatment is recommended, the immediate treatment objective will be one of the following: to correct jaw disproportion before aligning teeth to prevent injury to protruded front teeth to manage crowding and prevent permanent tooth extraction, whenever possible to eliminate damaging oral habits to improve the smile/self-confidence With these problems, timely treatment takes advantage of the early growth spurt and turns a difficult orthodontic problem into a more manageable one. This helps reduce the need for extractions or surgery and delivers better long-term results and treatment options.
3) DOES EVERYONE NEED A PHASE I TREATMENT?
Absolutely not! Only certain bites require early intervention. All others can, and should, wait until most or all their permanent teeth erupt.
4) IF MY CHILD HAS EARLY TREATMENT, WILL ADDITIONAL TREATMENT BE NECESSARY?
In most cases, yes. After the permanent teeth have erupted, treatment is usually necessary to complete the work that was started in the earlier phase. The objective of continued treatment is to place the permanent teeth in positions of optimal function, comfort, esthetics and long-term stability.
5) CAN I WAIT ON PHASE I/INTERCEPTIVE ORTHODONTIC TREATMENT UNTIL MY CHILD IS OLDER?
This is not recommended. If your child needs Phase I treatment this usually means that he or she has a difficult problem that requires attention now. If no orthodontic action is taken, treatment options become limited, more difficult, and the long-term stability may be compromised. In addition, it may lead to extractions, oral surgery and increased costs.
6) WHAT IS THE LENGTH OR DURATION OF PHASE I/EARLY TREATMENT?
Typically, phase I/early treatment takes 4 to 16 months, or longer depending on the age of the patient, the severity of the problem, the patient's cooperation, and the degree of movement possible.
7) WHAT IS PHASE II TREATMENT?
Phase II treatment usually occurs one or two years later and involves "full" braces. Usually we are waiting for 12-16 more permanent teeth to erupt before Phase II begins. This most commonly occurs at the age of 11-13. The goal of Phase II treatment is to achieve an ideal occlusion ("bite") with all of the permanent teeth.
8) OUR RECALL PROGRAM
If your child is not ready to begin orthodontic treatment, he/she will be placed on our Recall Program.
The timing of orthodontic treatment is critical. Age is less of a factor than is the level of growth and development of each individual. Some treatment methods such as the extraction of permanent teeth, can be avoided if Orthodontics is started at the ideal time.
By observing your child on a six month basis we can determine the ideal time to begin treatment. Our patients become comfortable with the office setting and our staff before any work is started. Visits are quick and easy. There is no charge unless an x-ray is needed.
We request that you make your six-month Recall visit in advance. We will mail you a reminder card about a month before your appointment.
Try out our new Braces color selector 06/13/2011
If you're getting ready for new braces, why not try our new braces color picker. This will help you decide what color you would like to have on each tooth! Experiment with different colors - there are so many options.