Orthodontic treatment can do much more for your child than simply straighten their teeth—it can improve their oral health, help them brush and floss more effectively, increase their self-confidence, and even enjoy a higher quality of life as they grow up! Though an orthodontist can enhance a smile at any age, screening at an early ensures the greatest potential for results and the least amount of time and expense. The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends that the initial orthodontic evaluation should occur no later than age 7. At this early age, orthodontic treatment may not be necessary, but vigilant examination can anticipate the most advantageous time to begin treatment. Though metal braces are most often associated with orthodontic treatment, we offer many other effective options that can work wonders for growing teeth and accommodate every child’s lifestyle! Our team will be happy to review them with you in greater detail during your first visit so that we can determine the best course of action for your child.
We are happy to be able to provide multiple in-office orthodontic treatment options for our adolescent patients, including:
This classic service is highly-reliable and works wonders for a wide variety of ages. At Park Place Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics, we’ll place silver brackets on your child’s teeth and then attach orthodontic archwires over them with the help of rubber elastics. The archwires will then exert gradual pressure at different points on the teeth, shifting them towards the ideal position. Traditional braces are durable enough to stand up to your child’s active routine, and they’ll surely enjoy choosing their favorite colored rubber bands to wear, too!
If you’d prefer to help your child maintain a more natural appearance throughout their orthodontic journey, talk to your child’s orthodontist about clear or ceramic braces. These braces have many of the same elements as traditional braces but the components are made out of clear and/or tooth-colored materials that have a much more subtle appearance. Though appealing, keep in mind that these braces are more delicate, and wearers will need to be extra careful with them on a daily basis!
Orthodontic problems can become noticeable in a child’s smile from a very young age. By providing treatment when they still have all or most of their baby teeth we can potentially help avoid more severe problems down the road. This process is known as Phase I Orthodontics and may involve the use of removable oral appliances or recommend at-home interventions for issues like thumb sucking.
Many image-conscious teenagers are interested in improving their smile’s appearance but they don’t necessarily want to wear noticeable metal braces for the sake of their self-confidence. If their orthodontic problems are relatively minor, Invisalign clear aligners can be a great compromise! Invisalign gets rid of brackets and wires entirely using clear, custom-made thermoplastic aligners that are hardly noticeable. With Invisalign removable trays, your teen can continue enjoying all their favorite foods and activities throughout their treatment.
There are several other orthodontic appliances that can provide growing smiles with a plethora of benefits. For instance, a space maintainer can be used if a child loses a baby tooth too early yet needs to hold the existing space open so that their adult tooth will erupt correctly. Other common appliances like palatal expanders can be placed on the roof of your child’s mouth to widen the upper dental arch, giving permanent teeth more room to erupt in a natural position.