Should Children Get Orthodontic Treatment? Orthodontic Clinic in Daechi-dong

If you are looking for an orthodontic clinic for children’s orthodontic treatment in Daechi-dong,

Children’s Orthodontic Treatment at Yonsei Jeongwon Dental Clinic

Hello, I’m Yoon Jeongwon, the chief director of Yonsei Jeongwon Dental Clinic, an orthodontic clinic in Daechi-dong.

Parents who come in for orthodontic consultations often wonder whether their child actually needs treatment. If a child has a severe underbite that is obvious to anyone, or if the front teeth bite in the reverse direction, the problem is clearly visible. In those cases, there usually isn’t much doubt. But otherwise, it is often difficult for parents to judge whether orthodontic treatment is necessary.

Unless a dentist checks through regular examinations, it is not easy for parents to know whether orthodontic treatment is needed, or whether it might be too late or too early. Honestly, if it’s your own child, even crowded teeth can look cute—that’s how parents feel, isn’t it?

When is children’s orthodontic treatment necessary?

1. When there is an imbalance in jaw growth

The normal way teeth bite is for the upper front teeth to slightly cover the lower teeth. If the lower jaw develops more than the upper jaw, the front teeth will bite in the opposite way. In that case, treatment is needed as soon as it is detected. If this reverse bite is left untreated, it can develop into a severe underbite, and there is a very high chance that surgical orthodontic treatment will be needed in adulthood.

Underbite

If a reverse bite is treated during the growth period, the results are relatively very good. Therefore, as soon as it is found, it is necessary to visit an orthodontic clinic and have a detailed examination.

Receding chin

As shown in the illustration above, a receding chin, where the upper jaw is smaller than the lower jaw, generally allows a bit more flexibility in when treatment should begin than an underbite. For receding chin treatment, the best time to start is during the 'peak adolescent growth spurt'—around ages 10 to 12 for girls, and about two years later, around ages 12 to 14 for boys—when height suddenly increases. This period is also when facial bones grow noticeably, and rapid skeletal growth can be used to improve a receding chin effectively.

To determine the correct timing for orthodontic treatment, it is important to decide through detailed examinations, along with growth plate testing (hand X-ray images), and similar evaluations.

2. When a baby tooth falls out earlier than expected

If a baby tooth is damaged from a fall or a collision, or falls out earlier than its normal time due to cavities or other reasons, then if the space is not maintained, the surrounding teeth will move into the empty space. Later, there will not be enough room for the permanent tooth to erupt. In such cases, teeth may come in from the wrong position, crowding can occur, or if the tooth becomes trapped in the jawbone between the gums, it may not be able to erupt at all.

To keep the space open until the permanent tooth erupts after a baby tooth falls out early, a space maintainer is needed. However, it is usually not easy for parents to know whether the baby tooth fell out earlier than it should have, or by how much earlier. That is why regular dental checkups are recommended whenever possible.

3. Impacted teeth or supernumerary teeth

Starting from age 6 to 7, baby teeth fall out and permanent teeth begin to erupt. If there is a problem with the eruption path of a permanent tooth, the tooth may not be able to come out and become impacted, or it may not be able to erupt because of a supernumerary tooth beyond the normal number of teeth, or problems with the bite may occur. A tooth buried in the bone may shift without the person even knowing it.

In such cases, surgical treatment may be needed to remove the supernumerary tooth, or orthodontic force may be used to move an impacted tooth into the correct position.

August 2024, Yonsei Jeongwon Dental Clinic

4. Crooked teeth

If there are no skeletal problems such as an underbite or receding chin, but there are issues with tooth position or alignment, orthodontic treatment can be started after the upper elementary school grades through middle school age, when baby teeth have fallen out and permanent teeth have mostly erupted.

“Won’t I have to get braces again when I’m older? Is there a need to do it early?”

If there is no need to correct a skeletal problem, many people ask whether it is really necessary to start orthodontic treatment now. Of course, it can be done as an adult, and it can also be done later in life. Orthodontic treatment can be started at any time. However, if treatment is going to be done anyway, I believe it is better to do it when the child is young.

Because children in their growth period do not yet have as hard jawbone as adults, even with the same treatment plan, tooth movement is faster than in adults, allowing treatment to be completed in a shorter period.

Also, because teeth move more easily, cases that might require extractions or surgery in adulthood have a higher chance of being treated without extraction if orthodontic treatment is done while young. In particular, in children’s orthodontic cases such as underbite and receding chin, a few months of treatment during childhood can achieve results comparable to the jaw surgery that may be needed in adulthood.

The earlier orthodontic treatment is done, the more the side effects associated with treatment can be minimized. The younger the patient is when receiving orthodontic treatment, the rarer it is for black triangles to appear after treatment (triangular gaps that look black because the gum bone has receded, making the space between teeth look like a hole).

Orthodontic Clinic, Yonsei Jeongwon Dental Clinic

And above all, I want children to smile confidently and brightly. I hope children do not lose confidence in their appearance because their upper front teeth protrude or their teeth are crooked, and that they do not cover their mouths when they smile. The elementary school to middle school years are a period when emotions are sensitive and interest in appearance increases, so if orthodontic treatment gives children straight teeth, they can regain confidence and become more emotionally stable.

For orthodontic treatment, I recommend having an examination at age 7. By this age, treatment for jaw correction such as receding chin or underbite, as well as impacted teeth and supernumerary teeth, is possible. The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) also recommends an examination at age 7. In particular, ages 7 to 12, which correspond to elementary school years, are the mixed dentition period, when baby teeth fall out and permanent teeth erupt, bringing many changes. It is important to build a foundation so that permanent teeth can be used well in the future.

At Yonsei Jeongwon Dental Clinic, an orthodontic clinic in Daechi-dong, the cost of detailed diagnosis and monthly fees is included when receiving orthodontic treatment (excluding the retainer cost), so there is no need to worry about additional costs. In addition, because general dentistry is available as well, all treatment needed for orthodontics, such as extractions or cavity treatment, can be done in one place, and installment payment is available to reduce the burden of paying a large sum all at once.

Chief Director Yoon Jeongwon, who leads the orthodontic department, has specialized exclusively in orthodontics for 16 years of clinical experience and has treated many high-difficulty cases. Therefore, she can effectively treat a wide range of orthodontic cases such as malocclusion, protruding mouth, and underbite.

Dr. Yoon Jeongwon, PhD in Orthodontics and Dental Medicine

If you visit Yonsei Jeongwon Dental Clinic, an orthodontic clinic in Daechi-dong, you can accurately understand your current condition through a simple oral examination at no additional cost. During consultation, you can also compare various devices such as Clarity, Clippy-C, and Invisalign in person and receive detailed explanations of their pros and cons, so please feel free to contact us for a consultation.

Yonsei Jeongwon Dental Clinic has all the necessary state-of-the-art equipment for orthodontic treatment, including the iTero Lumina 3D oral scanner, growth plate testing, and pre- and post-treatment simulations using the Morpheus facial scanner, allowing for more precise and systematic orthodontic care.

Many people considering orthodontic treatment because of protruding mouth, crowded teeth, malocclusion, underbite, and similar concerns have likely already gathered a lot of information through online searches. Even so, comparing each appliance directly and hearing detailed explanations can be very helpful when making a decision.

Yonsei Jeongwon Dental Clinic is not only convenient for parking, but also very easy to visit from Samsung Station, Hakyeoul Station, Daechi Station, and Hanti Station, making it highly accessible from Samseong-dong, Daechi-dong, Gaepo-dong, Iwol-dong, Dogok-dong, Yeoksam-dong, and Jamsil.

Next to BMW at the Daechi-dong Woosung Apartment intersection

(Across from Starbucks / Samsung Store)

Yonsei Jeongwon Dental Clinic, an orthodontic clinic in Daechi-dong,

has convenient and free parking

Consultation and inquiries: 02-501-2879