Why is “early treatment” recommended for some children?
In some cases, preventive or interceptive care can guide the jaws and erupting teeth into more favorable positions, improve the growth and alignment of the jaws, preserve space for the permanent teeth, and /or reduce the likelihood of fracturing protruding front teeth.
Some examples of why early treatment is recommended:
- Excessive crowding
- Excessive spacing
- Crossbites
- Excessive protrusion of front teeth
- Openbite
- Thumb/Finger habits
- Impacted or unfavorable position of permanent teeth
- Jaw disproportions
With these problems, timely treatment may provide advantages that are not available later.
What are the factors involved in deciding whether early treatment is necessary?
- A thorough evaluation of the diagnostic records will determine if early (timely) treatment will achieve any of the following:
- Reduce the need to remove permanent teeth
- Simplify or shorten the time for full braces
- Influence growth of the jaws and facial profile in a positive manner
- Eliminate a problem that may cause physical or psychological harm if left untreated.
What will happen in the time between early treatment and full braces?
For most children, this growth-observation period will involve a combination of retaining the correction that’s been made, and guiding the erupting permanent teeth into favorable positions. Since the timing of treatment is critical, your child’s growth and development will be carefully monitored during this period.
Why is early removal of certain teeth sometimes necessary?
- Impacted or unfavorably positioned permanent teeth
- Damage to the roots of permanent teeth
Severe crowding in the permanent teeth requiring lengthy and complex treatment