Our Langley pediatric dentists provide a range of orthodontic treatment options for children, including braces and Invisalign First. So, when is the best time to begin orthodontic treatment for your child?
Your child's smile is unique. The optimal time to begin orthodontic treatment for your child will depend on the severity and misalignment of their teeth and bite.
Until recently, orthodontic treatment wouldn't begin until the child reached 12-14 years of age, once the permanent teeth had erupted. This approach often meant that permanent teeth needed to be removed in order to create space for the desired tooth movement to take place.
Today, dentists use 'interceptive orthodontics' to begin orthodontic treatment in children as young as 7-11 years of age. The benefit of this approach is that dentists are able correct dental problems before they become fully developed, and retain more of the child's adult teeth.
With interceptive orthodontics for young children, orthodontic appliances (not always braces) are used while the child's baby teeth are still in place. Once the child's adult teeth come in, a second phase of orthodontic treatment can begin.
Thanks to this 2 stage approach better results can be achieved, and problems can be corrected with fewer adult teeth being extracted.
Our pediatric dentists at Smile Town Langley can evaluate your child's teeth to determine whether your child is a suitable candidate for orthodontic treatment.
If your child could benefit from an orthodontic intervention, we will explain how treatment could positively influence your child's dental development and discuss the treatment options with you.