TREATMENT FOR CHILDREN

Orthodontic Treatment for children is often called Early Treatment.  We, along with the American Association of Orthodontists, recommend that a child receive their first orthodontic screening by the age of 7.  This enables us to identify potential problems early and correct them before they become more serious.  This can not only save you and your child time, but also money.  Early treatment often lessens the time a patient will need to be in braces later when all of the permanent teeth have erupted. (See why the AAO recommends early screening here on their website.)

Airway Orthodontics - did you know that all orthodontists are airway orthodontists? This is because how we breath and posture can affect how our face and skull grow and also how our teeth fit together. Childhood is the perfect time to detect any airway issues. Dr. Carney is often the first person to bring up a potential airway issue to a patient or parent. We then often recommend they seek further evaluation by a physician - their pediatrician or an ENT and/or allergist. Then any airway issues can be addressed when the child is young, and further growth can be modified to ensure the child is growing in the most ideal way. Waiting too long to address airway and growth issues in children can lead to skeletal deficiencies that may require jaw surgery in the future.

Myofunctional Orthodontics - just like airway orthodontics, all residency-trained orthodontists are myofunctional orthodontists. “Myo” means muscle; so myofunctional is muscle function. Our teeth are where they are because they are in equilibrium between our muscles - our tongue, lips, cheeks, and sometimes outside forces like thumbs and fingers. (Talking about you, thumb suckers!) Orthodontists are specially trained in residency to diagnose and treat, and sometimes refer out, any muscle function abnormality. This is often closely tied to airway issues. Dr. Carney works closely with myofunctional therapists and often refers patients for evaluation by a myofunctional therapist. These are professionals who are similar to speech therapists but treat resting muscle posture, not just speech issues.

Occasionally, interceptive orthodontic treatment has been proven to be advantageous for the overall desired result of a good bite and a pleasant smile.  Because a young child’s permanent teeth have not finished erupting, we are usually able to thoroughly assess the front-to-back and side-to-side tooth relationships and address any impending problems at the earliest stage.

During your child’s initial exam we will first determine if there are any problems that need to be addressed, such as possible crowding, open bite, overbite or gummy smiles.  Immediate treatment may not be necessary at that time.  Your child may not need any treatment at all! However, if treatment is indicated, we will create a personalized treatment plan that will be most appropriate for his/her specific case. 

Early orthodontic treatment differs between patients, but may include removable or fixed appliances that can provide more room for crowded, erupting teeth; preserve space for unerupted teeth; create facial symmetry through manipulating jaw growth; reduce the possibility of tooth extraction; and reduce overall treatment time in braces.

Wondering if your child is a candidate for early interceptive treatment? Contact us today to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with Dr. Carney!