Orthodontics For Children
Early orthodontic treatment for children typcially begins between the ages of 9 and 11, though initial consultations can take place around age 7 or older. Early treatment is usually sought to correct jaw growth or bite problems before the jaw has hardened. Depending on the severity of the case, once the jaw has hardened, surgery could be required for treatment and correction.
Benefits Of Early Treatment
- Correction and guiding of jaw growth
- Prevent tooth crowding by creating more room through palatal expansion
- Prevent the need for tooth extraction
- Correct genetic and activity-induced orthodontic issues before they become bigger problems
What To Look For
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends you schedule a consultation if you recognize any of these issues with your child:
- Early or late loss of baby teeth
- Difficulty chewing or biting
- Mouth breathing
- Sucking the thumb or fingers, or other oral habits
- Crowded, misplaced or blocked-out teeth
- Jaws that shift, make sounds, protrude or are recessed
- Speech difficulty
- Biting the cheek or biting into the roof of the mouth
- Protruding teeth
- Teeth that meet in an abnormal way or don’t meet at all
- Facial imbalance or asymmetry (features out of proportion to the rest of the face)
- Grinding or clenching of teeth
- Inability to comfortably close lips
If you have any questions about our services, please contact us today at (517) 787-9833 (Jackson) or (269) 979-9329 (Battle Creek).