Early Orthodontics for Kids in Rancho

People tend to typically associate braces and other kinds of Rancho Cucamonga orthodontics with the teenage years - but that's not always the case. In fact, orthodontics can be utilized before a child has even grown in all their adult teeth! Known as early partial orthodontics, or interceptive orthodontic treatment, this can be a powerful technique if it's clear a child is going to have orthodontic issues as their teeth grow in.

When is early partial orthodontics the right option for a child? Let's take a look.

Understanding Interceptive Orthodontics in Rancho Cucamonga

Dentists can tell a lot about how a child's mouth and teeth will develop as early as age 7. By that point, their jaw and skull are pretty well set, and X-rays can reveal the status of the adult teeth which are coming in. If something isn't right, they'll be able to tell.

So if you already know there are orthodontic challenges in your child's future, why not look to fix them early?

When properly utilized, interceptive orthodontics can have plenty of benefits:

• Guiding the proper development and growth of adult teeth
• Correcting for issues such as spacing or crowding early on
• Preventing larger orthodontic issues during adolescence
• Avoid painful extractions from crowded teeth
• Reducing the overall amount of time spent on orthodontic work
• Saving money compared to more work later

Another reason early orthodontics is a good idea is that it can help a dentist catch bad habits your child may be forming. Thumb-sucking is notoriously bad for oral development, and there are other habits - such as ways of chewing - which can also create problems later on. Catching and correcting these early will, again, save you and your child a lot of trouble.

We occasionally have parents express concern when we bring up the idea of early braces or feel like they've done something wrong. Nothing could be further from the truth! If interceptive orthodontics will be useful, then it's good parenting to make use of them. You're fixing a health issue early on before it becomes a bigger problem!

Get Rancho Cucamonga Orthodontics from Our Family-Friendly Clinic

We love families at Empower Dental Rancho and helping children get the right start. Good oral hygiene started early, can be a lifelong habit and ensure they have a great smile for years to come. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!