Early treatment
Each child’s needs are unique. For some, it is best to begin treatment before all of the permanent teeth have come in and this is called Phase I ⁄ Early Treatment. For others, optimal results can be achieved once the permanent teeth are fully erupted and the roots are completely formed.
Operating in a timely manner is important because it can improve the stability, function and aesthetics of the outcome while helping prevent problems at a later stage. A proper evaluation will help us create a seamless treatment with periodic monitoring.
The benefits are:
- Guides jaw growth and permanent teeth into more favourable positions
- Reduces the possibility of removing permanent teeth in order to correct overcrowding
- Lowers the risk of trauma to protruded front teeth and other malpositioned teeth
- Manages crowding and spacing problems
- Corrects harmful habits
- Improves appearance and self-esteem
Adolescent treatment
Between the ages of 11 and 15 is the most common time for orthodontic treatment, and for good reasons. By 12, most if not all of the permanent teeth have erupted and are in place and the complete picture of the orthodontic problem can be detected. These problems will hardly ever correct themselves at a later time.
Children at this age are also growing rapidly, and Orthodontists can usually take advantage of these growth spurts to shorten overall treatment time and reduce the discomfort of orthodontic treatment.