What to Know About Pediatric Orthodontics in Indiana

Your Child and Pediatric Orthodontics

If you’ve ever wondered — “What is Pediatric Orthodontics?” — we have your answers. Read on to learn more about the many orthodontic treatments we can provide for your children. Please feel free to contact us when you are ready to discuss it further.

Starting orthodontic treatment early in your child’s life is essential in ensuring a healthy smile that looks and feels good for many years to come. Proper orthodontic treatment will help to greatly improve your child’s personal appearance and boost their self-confidence at a critical young age. Because our jaws grow at different rates, receiving an initial consultation at a young age will give you and your family plenty of information to help you create an effective treatment plan with your orthodontist.

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WHAT IS THE BEST TIME TO START THE ORTHODONTIC PROCESS FOR CHILDREN?WHAT TO EXPECT AT FIRST PEDIATRIC ORTHODONTIC VISIT?WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE PHASE I TREATMENT?WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE PHASE II (COMPREHENSIVE) TREATMENT?

WHAT IS THE BEST TIME TO START THE ORTHODONTIC PROCESS FOR CHILDREN?

AAO RECOMMENDATION

You may be asking, “what is the best age to get braces?” According to the American Association of Orthodontics (AAO), parents should take their children for orthodontic treatment by the age of seven, before all of the permanent teeth come in. Because of the wide disparity in tooth development around the age of seven, an expert needs to offer the final determination about if your child needs orthodontic treatment or if the changes are a normal part of developmental growth.

An orthodontist will also have the ability to tell if enough room exists in the child’s mouth to accommodate any more incoming permanent teeth. Most orthodontic conditions are easier to treat when identified earlier, at a time when natural growth processes are at their peak. If some of these conditions are left without treatment at a young age, the child may require surgery or permanent tooth extractions later in life. You may be questioning if it’s too late to get braces; and we are here to reassure you that each child is different and we can still move forward with treatment if you decide to explore braces at an age later than seven.

VISITING AN ORTHODONTIST BEFORE THE AGE OF SEVEN

While there is no actual age limit braces, there are some behaviors that require your child to seek out pediatric orthodontics earlier in life, especially if you have a question about the alignment of the teeth or bite. Additional reasons to see an orthodontist sooner than the age of seven include:

Early or late loss of baby teeth
Thumb sucking
Tongue thrusting
Mouth breathing and snoring
Trouble biting, speaking or chewing
Protruding, crowded or widely spaced teeth
Clenching jaws
Grinding teeth

If you notice these behaviors in your child before the age of seven, we strongly recommend making an appointment with an orthodontist.

REASONS TO CONSIDER PEDIATRIC ORTHODONTICS

1. Proactive Treatment by a Pediatric Orthodontist

Visiting a pediatric orthodontist will help to ensure the proper alignment in your child’s jaws by allowing the orthodontist to determine the best time to begin treatment. The orthodontist will watch the growth patterns of your child as he or she develops, allowing early detection and timely treatment if/when any issues arise. This journey can be much more difficult after your child gets older and his or her jaws and teeth are fully grown and developed.

2. Supporting the Emergence of Permanent Teeth

Children start growing permanent teeth at a young age, which means a pediatric orthodontist will be able to recommend the need for care and best treatment plans to consider at an early age.

3. Catching and Reversing Bad Habits Early

Identifying bad oral habits early can help detour from the negative effects they may have on your child’s teeth and mouth. The best age for braces can be determined by seeing an orthodontist before the age of seven to help prevent bad habits — such as thumb sucking — and improve the overall orthodontist experience. If untreated, these bad habits can increase the need for emergency orthodontic treatment or even surgery.

4. Less Invasive and More Cost Effective

The earlier you start your child’s orthodontic treatment, the less invasive and more cost effective it can be. While your child’s permanent teeth are still breaking through, an orthodontist can identify issues early enough to begin treatment before any issues worsen.

5. Avoid Issues That Emerge From Permanent Teeth

Some issues are treated much easier in children than in adults. It’s helpful for the orthodontist to evaluate how the child’s permanent teeth are coming through the gums in order to determine if any clear treatment is even necessary.

6. Create a Financial Plan for the Future

Seeing an orthodontist earlier rather than later on in life will help you to better budget for the future. Seeking pediatric orthodontics at a young age helps parents to budget for the future. We strongly recommend that you ask questions in early appointments in order to get an accurate idea of what to expect. Treatment plans can include the necessary applications at various stages. Seeing an orthodontist early will help create a plan that works with your finances.

7. More Favorable Long-Term Results

The earlier an orthodontist identifies any issues and begins treatment for it, the better your results will be in the long-run. Visiting an orthodontist before the jaw completes growth results in a faster, easier and overall better treatment plan.

WHAT TO EXPECT AT FIRST PEDIATRIC ORTHODONTIC VISIT?

Once you’ve made the decision to take your child to the first pediatric orthodontics appointment, it’s essential to share the upcoming phases of braces and what he or she can expect from their pediatric orthodontist visit:

Explain Clearly the Need for the Appointment

It is very beneficial for your child to understand why exactly they are going to see an orthodontist. Explain to them that braces and Invisalign are used to straighten misaligned teeth, imbalanced jaw structures with the goal of ultimately improving their smile. Inform them that the earlier they go to the orthodontist, the less amount of time it will likely take to complete treatment.

Let Your Child Know That They are not Alone

Most children know a friend or family member who has gone to the orthodontist. Help your child understand that it is extremely common from kids their age to go to the orthodontist.

Share What to Expect at the First Orthodontist Appointment

Let your child know that the first appointment will contain an oral examination, digital x-rays and photos, as well as a discussion of our various treatment options. Sometimes treatment can start that very same day, if needed. Explain that x-rays are important to help the orthodontist see what’s going on underneath the gums, the location of any teeth that are still below the gum line, and the position and growth of bones and joints.

Meeting Your Orthodontist

Informing your child that a visit to an orthodontist is similar to a visit to a dentist can help calm their fears. Orthodontists achieve three additional years of schooling, making them specialists who diagnose, prevent and treat a variety of dental problems. An orthodontist can have a very positive impact on your child’s health, appearance, development and comfort. Explain that orthodontists are experts at creating beautiful smiles.

Introduce the Treatment Options

It may be useful to review various treatment options and the stages of braces with your child before visiting the orthodontist, as treatment could possibly start that very same day. The following list outlines some of our most common treatments:

A palatal expander uses gentle pressure on the upper molars to widen the upper jaw. A quad helix uses four springs to widen the arch of your mouth in order to make room for crowded teeth. This device can also correct posterior crossbites. A limp bumper helps make room for lower teeth by moving molars back and creating space in the front. Traditional braces consist of two main components — brackets affixed to the teeth and a main archwire threaded through the brackets — and use constant, gentle pressure to move teeth into the proper alignment over time. There are several stages of braces that we will review with you and your child in detail. Invisalign straightens teeth without wires and brackets, but instead with a series of clear, customized and removable aligners. Patients switch aligners every 1-2 weeks in order to gradually move teeth into the proper placement, while being able to easily remove aligners throughout treatment for eating, brushing and flossing.

WHAT HAPPENS DURING THE PHASE I TREATMENT?

Throughout the orthodontic industry, pediatric orthodontics also gets referred to as Phase I orthodontic Treatment, which is the first of the phases of braces and includes progressive treatments for patients ages seven to eleven —especially whenever any jaw irregularities are present. During this growth period, orthodontic treatment tends to be more effective and less invasive. This essential early detection allows an orthodontist to create a perfectly timed, personalized treatment plan for your child.

The following list outlines potential signs your child may need Phase I orthodontic treatment:

Protruding front teeth Loss of baby teeth too early or too late Trouble biting or chewing Sucking thumb or fingers Underbite or a bite that shifts to one side Misaligned lower and upper teeth Snoring

The goals of Phase I orthodontic treatment include:

Gain proper width of the upper and lower jaws. Create room for crowded teeth to enter. Align the jaws to allow proper growth. Reduce the risk of trauma to protruding teeth. Hold space for permanent teeth that need to erupt. Reduce the need for tooth removal. Reduce treatment time with braces. Minimize the need for surgical treatment with certain growth patterns.

In order to begin Phase I orthodontic treatment, the orthodontist will take digital models, x-rays and photographs of your child’s teeth in order to determine the type of orthodontic appliance needed, the duration of treatment time needed, and the frequency of visits to the orthodontist.

A successful Phase I orthodontic treatment helps to create room for permanent teeth to find their path way in, so they are not severely displaced during the overall growth process. You will notice a difference in phase 1 braces before and after, as we will start to address some of the items in the list of signs as seen above. Your child will then have about a year or so to rest without any necessary treatment before beginning phase 2 braces treatment, if needed. Phase 2 braces treatment will serve the purpose of correcting issues involving the permanent teeth, which should have been decreased during phase 1 of the braces treatment.

You may be curious about the cost of phase 1 braces, and because there is no standard treatment for each child, it tends to be difficult to predict what phase 1 braces will cost. We do offer custom financing options as well as monthly payment place for your braces, that will fit your individualized situation so that the phase 1 braces cost doesn’t prevent you from achieving a healthy and happy smile.

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