It’s possible to look at some kids’ teeth and recognize that they will probably need orthodontics at some point in their youth. Some parents are surprised to learn their child needs intervention for early help from growth and bite problems because everything appears to look fine. Your orthodontist has the answers, especially to the big question: Can your child get braces before permanent teeth have erupted and all baby teeth have been lost? The answer is “yes” for the right candidates.
Which Kids Qualify for Interceptive Orthodontics?
It is recommended that all children see an orthodontist by age 7 or 8. At this point, they have mixed dentition – both baby teeth and some permanent teeth are hanging out together. This consultation for early orthodontics isn’t about straightening your child’s smile for good, at least not yet, but it is designed to review jaw growth, patterns of tooth eruption, and bite problems to set the patient up for easier braces treatment later.
If your child qualifies for interceptive orthodontics because of crowding or bite issues, it is likely the orthodontist will recommend an appliance like a palatal expander to address the following:
- Guide jaw growth to make space for permanent teeth that have not yet erupted.
- Encourage movement to correct an overbite, underbite, and crossbite so teeth shift into more agreeable places.
- Reverse any harmful side effects that developed from habits like thumb sucking or excess bottle or pacifier use.
- Make your child feel better about their appearance and improve their self-esteem.
Permanent teeth are not needed or preferred where interceptive orthodontics are concerned. The idea is to work with a child’s developing mouth while it is still pliable and more easily adjusted before full braces enter the picture – and that means baby teeth and permanent teeth coexist.
When the Tooth Fairy Takes Her Time
If your child is a tween, they have likely lost all their baby teeth and gotten most of their permanent molars. Some kids, though, have teeth that take longer to show up or fall out. Once all baby teeth are gone, even if there are some holes in dentition from late-erupting permanent teeth, full braces can get underway.
- Earlier braces might be better. It might seem unnecessary to get braces before permanent teeth are all in, but delaying treatment can make some issues more difficult to correct. Starting treatment without all permanent teeth can eliminate complex, lengthy orthodontic treatment later and your orthodontist can “grab” every stubborn tooth as it erupts and blend it into the existing brackets and wires to keep treatment seamless and progressing.
- Tweak the plan. Your orthodontist will tell you that no two mouths are alike when they fit patients with braces. Dental development varies, even among siblings, and orthodontic plans for teen braces are adjusted to respect the eruption of permanent teeth, the speed with which teeth move, and the uniqueness of each patient.
Get Braces Before Permanent Teeth in Woodinville
Every child has unique dental development. Rely on you orthodontist’s evaluation at Soleil Orthodontics in Woodinville, WA, to find out what’s best for the little one in your life. Schedule a consultation with our team and find out what’s possible for a beautiful smile.
