When Should Orthodontic Treatment for Children in the Growth Period Begin?

Hello, this is Doctor Prime Dental Clinic.

I have something I’d like to share with parents of adolescents in their growth years. It is that teeth are not just about teeth.

Today, I’d like to talk about orthodontic treatment for children with malocclusion, something parents raising children in their growth period may have wondered about at least once.

When people think of orthodontic treatment, they usually picture starting in middle or high school, but in fact, it is important to check much earlier than that.

Today, I’ll explain those facts in detail!

Teeth are the link in jawbone growth

Teeth act as the link between the upper and lower jaws, and as the face grows, the upper and lower jaws each develop.

At this time, the jawbones can grow properly only if this link does its job well.

If, for some reason, the teeth are not aligned evenly, that link becomes disturbed, and the upper and lower jawbones grow in a misaligned way.

That is why it is important to know that tooth alignment guides the facial bones to grow in the correct direction.

Even if the jawbones themselves are not abnormal, if the teeth are poorly aligned and make the face look unattractive, appearance, oral function, self-esteem, and more can all be negatively affected.

Various types and causes of malocclusion

So, what kinds of tooth alignment interfere with natural facial growth? 🤔

There are many cases, including crowded teeth, crossbite, scissor bite, protrusive mouth, open bite, and gaps between the front teeth, and the causes of these alignments are varied.

Among those causes are poor habits in childhood, and a representative one is thumb sucking.

If the thumb-sucking habit continues even after entering elementary school, it will have a major effect on tooth alignment.

The upper front teeth may protrude outward, the lower jaw may be pushed backward, the mouth may look protruded, and the chin may appear recessed, leading to various side effects (mouth breathing, rhinitis, and more).

The start of orthodontic treatment may be earlier than you think

To improve these problems or prevent them in advance, orthodontic treatment to align the teeth should begin at the right time. So when is the best time?

Many people believe orthodontic treatment should be done after all permanent teeth have come in.

That is true, but sometimes treatment needs to begin even before all permanent teeth have erupted.

As mentioned above, the alignment of the upper and lower teeth serves as the link for jawbone growth, and this function continues even before all permanent teeth have erupted. Therefore, if tooth alignment is excessively abnormal and the bite between the upper and lower teeth is off before all permanent teeth have come in, orthodontic treatment should begin.

Even if there are no such severe problems, it is a good idea to receive a simple assessment of tooth alignment at age 6 or 7, or at the latest in the lower grades of elementary school.

You can also receive guidance at a general dental clinic in the neighborhood, but because orthodontic diagnosis for young children at this age usually requires looking several years ahead and making predictions, consultation with an orthodontic specialist with experience and expertise is more necessary.

You may not need to start orthodontic treatment right away, but professional guidance will be helpful for checking possible future problems and, if possible, even preventing them.

Start orthodontic treatment carefully, whenever the time is right

Sometimes, you may go only for a consultation, but then feel burdened if the clinic says treatment needs to start immediately.

In that case, if you listen to what the doctor says, you can judge whether it really needs to start that quickly, and you can also hear from one more clinic before deciding.

In clinical practice, there are children who came for this purpose of consultation, and although all their permanent teeth have not yet erupted, it is expected that if left untreated, their teeth will protrude as they come in.

In such cases, if you do first-stage orthodontic treatment for several months with a removable appliance, and then do second-stage treatment with fixed braces around the time the permanent teeth erupt, good results can be achieved.

However, if treatment begins only after all permanent teeth have erupted, there are cases where the teeth can be aligned but have to be corrected so that they protrude slightly forward, which can be disappointing...

As a parent, it can be hard to know when and how to start orthodontic treatment for children with malocclusion, but the important thing is to receive a professional diagnosis at least once without waiting too long.

The first step in helping our child grow more beautifully and healthily may be starting right now.

If you have any questions, feel free to get guidance anytime from Doctor Prime Dental Clinic, an orthodontic specialty clinic with 20 years of experience.

We will help both parents and children prepare with peace of mind! 😊

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