Does your child suck their thumb? Perhaps they aren't losing their teeth as soon as the rest of their classmates. Maybe you've noticed a speech impediment forming as their permanent teeth come in. Though it may seem too soon to consider corrective dentistry, the American Association of Orthodontics recommends that parents take their children to a dental professional for an orthodontic checkup by age 7. Here are some reasons why your Decatur orthodontist wants to evaluate your child's teeth as soon as possible:
Still growing
A child's bones and facial structure are still taking shape, meaning that alignment problems in the jaw and teeth are easier to correct. As people age, their bones become more rigid, which makes their bite more difficult to adjust through traditional methods. This makes children and teenagers between the ages of 7 and 14 the best candidates for the first phase of orthodontia, which involves rerouting the growth pattern of the emerging adult teeth. Even though at this point, adult teeth are still coming in, the crowding and irregular formation that necessitates treatment can be anticipated by a trained professional.
Intervention means prevention
Identifying and fixing orthodontic issues early in life will likely mean fewer problems in the future. Poor habits can be modified, appearance can be improved, and more invasive dental procedures can be avoided later in life.
Saving money
As mentioned before, the processes for realigning teeth for adults is much more complicated and extensive than that of younger people. When the teeth are fixed into place and the skull has finished growing, the dental appliances used for children will have little or no effect. More invasive and long-term - and therefore more expensive - procedures are typically used for adults with alignment problems.
Call Corley Family Dental Today!
Each orthodontic case is unique, so discussing your options with Drs. Natalie and Chad Corley, your child's Decatur-based dentists, to devise a plan is essential.
Are you a patient of Corley Family Dental? If so, we would love to hear about your experiences below!