Dr Eide believes in timely orthodontic treatment, which means that problems first detected in younger children should be treated before they cause more problems for the child's developing teeth and jaws.
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that all children have an orthodontic check-up no later than age 7.
This phase of early treatment is also known as “interceptive” orthodontic treatment or Phase 1 orthodontic treatment. It aims to correct the problems detected at this early stage. Your dentist or orthodontist will be able to discuss the advantages and limitations of early interceptive treatment, and whether comprehensive orthodontic treatment may still be required in the future.
Traditionally, orthodontic expansion treatments are carried out using fixed or removable expanders, which would require patients or parents to adjust the appliance using a key at home. However, problems can arise when you don’t turn the key correctly or forget to adjust.
Removable or fixed expanders can feel bulky, particularly in the small mouth of a young child. Young patients often complain of discomfort as the expanders can rub against the cheeks or press into the tongue and gums. Additionally, expanders cause some children to speak with a lisp during treatment. Cleaning fixed expanders can also be challenging, as food often gets trapped between the expander and the palate. In some cases, fixed expanders can become dislodged whereas removable expanders can become ill-fitting or loose, reducing their effectiveness.
Some children may not require expanders but could benefit from having fixed braces as part of Phase 1 treatment. However, just like with expanders, children often face issues with this type of appliance:
Virtually invisible aligners are not only a teeth straightening option for adults and teens - they can also be used for some children. Invisalign First is the next generation of clear aligners and allows children whose teeth are still growing in to use Invisalign aligners to straighten their teeth. Creating a great smile often involves treating a variety of dental issues early in childhood, many of which occur before all of the adult teeth have erupted.
Invisalign First is a virtually invisible orthodontic treatment device specially designed for young children, and can be used to correct issues such as tooth crowding and spacing, arch development, tooth protrusions, and the overall appearance of your child’s smile.
Unlike more traditional appliances such as fixed or removable expanders, Invisalign First aligners are able to carry out expansion of the jaws as well as other tooth movements at the same time. These include increasing the amount of space available for the new permanent teeth coming through, or improving the appearance or positions of the front incisor teeth.
Invisalign First offers many benefits for parents
However, Invisalign First may not be the best option for all children. Invisalign First only works when being worn, therefore children who do not wear their aligners as directed may not see the desired results. Dr Eide will be more than happy to explain the different options available that would be best for your child’s treatment.
Problems with the upper or lower jaws can be addressed in growing children. Such treatments use orthodontic appliances to enhance or maximize the growth of the child’s jaws in order to correct bite problems and improve the patient’s facial appearance.
We can’t “grow” a jaw more than the child is genetically programmed to do, but growth modification can often enhance the growth potential as well as affect the direction of growth of the jaw, leading to correction of the bite problem. These treatments are most effective in young patients before or during their growth spurts.
In patients who present with a smaller lower jaw or an increased distance between the top and bottom teeth, growth modification can be used to enhance the growth potential of the lower jaw. A popular “Class II correctors” is the removable Twin Block appliance. It has separate upper and lower components which interlock when the patient bites together, thereby holding the lower jaw in a more forward position.
Some patients have an “underbite” due to either a small upper jaw or longer lower jaw. These patients may benefit from growth modification to protract the upper jaw forward using a combination of an upper fixed expander and protraction facemask treatment.
Accurate diagnosis and timely intervention are the most helpful ways to treat such cases.
Thumb or finger sucking habits should ideally be stopped as young as possible when the child only has their baby teeth. When the permanent front teeth start to erupt, these habits can influence the developing permanent teeth as well as the jaw structure of the children. Habit breakers can be fixed or removable and can act as an effective reminder to help children stop their habit.
Some children would benefit from timely extractions of baby or adult teeth to allow for a developing tooth to erupt into the correct position.
For example, a baby tooth may be very firm and resistant to exfoliating naturally, resulting in a permanent tooth erupting out of position. Another common example of how some patients may benefit from interceptive extractions is the removal of baby canine teeth to normalize the eruption path of the developing permanent canine teeth.
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