Orthodontics for Children
Orthodontic Exams Should Begin No Later Than Age Seven
The following early warning signs usually indicate that your child should have an orthodontic exam:
• Early or late loss of teeth
• Difficulty in chewing or biting
• Mouth breathing
• Finger-sucking or other oral habits
• Crowding, misplaced, or blocked-out teeth
• Jaws that shift, make sounds, protrude or retrude
• Speech difficulty
If your child is approaching the age of seven, it’s time to make an appointment for an initial exam. Unless a child is having a particular dental problem, the proper age for a child’s’ first visit to the orthodontist is no later than seven years of age. Sylmar Orthodontics strongly encourages this practice. Often we will identify a potential problem, and recommend monitoring the child’s’ growth and development. We can spot subtle problems with jaw growth and emerging teeth while baby teeth are present. Remember, Sylmar Orthodontics can improve most orthodontic problems at any age, but there is usually the best age in terms of the amount of improvement that can be achieved as well as the type of treatment employed and cost required. That best age is different for every patient, so the best time for a consultation is as soon as a possible problem is noticed.
For those families with preschoolers, the American Dental Association has recommended that the proper age for a child’s first visit to the dentist is three years of age. Usually, all of the child’s primary teeth have erupted by then, and the teeth can be checked and cleaned without discomfort. The child and the parents can be given instructions in proper tooth brushing and advice on the proper diet to maintain maximum dental health.
Adult Orthodontics
Never Too Old To Be Your Best
It’s not unusual for us to treat an entire family, sometimes one after the other and sometimes simultaneously. Once parents see the beautiful results and the boost in self-esteem from their children after braces are off, they become excited about starting treatment for themselves.
Orthodontic treatment is a change for the better, regardless of your age. The biological process involved in tooth movement is the same in both adults and children. In many cases, we can achieve very dramatic facial changes with adult orthodontics. Braces will NOT interfere with your lifestyle. You can do anything with braces – sing, play musical instruments, dine out, kiss, and have your picture taken. There are a few inconveniences, but you will adjust quickly. Certain treats, such as caramels and peanut brittle, will be off-limits. Also, your mouth and teeth may be a little tender after adjustments. The good news is that the new techniques and materials used by our doctors greatly reduce the discomfort of wearing braces and also decrease the frequency of office visits and overall treatment time.
