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Early Orthodontic Treatments Can Benefit Young Children

Does your child have a lisp? It could be caused by his or her crooked teeth.

Many younger children (as young as age 7) could use orthodontic treatments to help correct speech impediments caused by crooked teeth.

In fact, many younger children could benefit from orthodontic treatments to correct a variety of issues, including jaw and some bite problems (such as an underbite). Such early orthodontic treatment can help ensure your child’s mouth has room for her permanent teeth, reducing the chance of having to have teeth pulled when she’s older.

Having your young child undergo “early” orthodontic treatment can help prevent major issues as he grows older.

How can you tell if your child needs early orthodontic treatment?

Your child has a speech impediment, such as a lisp.
She breaths through her mouth most of the time.
He lost his baby teeth early or late (most children start losing their baby teeth at about age 5 and have all of their permanent teeth by about age 13).
Your child has difficulty biting and/or chewing.
She continues to suck her thumb after the age of 5.
He has protruding teeth in which his top and bottom teeth extend away from each other.
Your child’s teeth don’t come together at all.
Your child’s jaw “shifts” whenever he open or closes his mouth (he has a crossbite).
Her front teeth become crowded (this often occurs at around age 7 or 8).

By the time most permanent teeth have erupted (by age 13), your child’s jaw bones will have hardened and stopped growing. Waiting to have orthodontic procedures until your child’s a teen usually takes longer and can entail pulling teeth and/or oral surgery.

Orthodontic treatments performed as a youngster can prevent the need for such treatments as an adult, as well as reducing the need for oral surgery and/or tooth extraction.

If your child has crooked teeth, a lisp, sucks his or her thumb or is presenting other signs that orthodontic care could be beneficial, contact your family dentist for an appointment, examination of your child’s mouth and jaw, and a consultation regarding possible procedures.

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