Did you know that orthodontists at myKIDSdds treat children, teenagers, and adults? It’s a common misconception that we only work on the little ones, especially since our office combines Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics. However, our orthodontic team loves working with patients of all ages. We often have parents that find it incredibly convenient to coordinate their orthodontic appointments with their kids’ cleanings or orthodontic adjustments. And what better bonding experience than transforming your smile with your child’s smile at the same time?
Children
The timing of both the first orthodontic examination and braces treatment is EXTREMELY important. Although the vast majority of young children do not require early orthodontic treatment, there are a few significant bite problems that should be diagnosed and treated before all the permanent teeth have erupted. We recommend an orthodontic evaluation for any children who have lost some baby front teeth and have permanent front teeth growing in. As we mentioned before, most of these kids do not require treatment, but a baseline evaluation will allow us to properly monitor tooth eruption, jaw growth, and facial development and time treatment for the best result.
An orthodontic advantage kids have that adults do not is the growth and development of their jaws and face. Many teeth and bite problems are corrected much more easily and predictably in children than in adults.
Some common issues we will assess at your child’s first orthodontic evaluation are:
- Tooth crowding
- Overbites
- Crossbites
- Open bites
- Prematurely lost baby teeth with subsequent space loss
- Thumb sucking or tongue thrusting habits
- Troubled nighttime breathing and sleep apnea
Learn more by reading our blog “First Pediatric Orthodontic Evaluation by age 7 – Why It’s So Important,” or by contacting us directly.
Teenagers
Most of our teenage patients were initially seen by an orthodontist as children and have continued these visits into their early teenage years. These imperceptive orthodontic visits are very beneficial as they help our team pinpoint the perfect developmental stage to begin orthodontic treatment.
On the other hand, we have some patients who came to our office as teenagers for their initial evaluation. For the majority of these patients, we have all of the appropriate tools and techniques at our disposal to provide an equally excellent result.
Some of the common issues we will evaluate during a teenager’s orthodontic evaluation are:
- Tooth crowding or spacing
- Overbites due to tooth and jaw position
- Underbites due to tooth and jaw position
- Crossbites
- Open bites
- Impacted teeth
- Wisdom teeth
Adults
Many of our adult patients had braces as teenagers but lost track of their retainers after their treatment was complete. These situations are usually minor and typically involve the simple alignment of teeth without significant adjustment of the bite. We have many options available for correcting crooked and crowded teeth including adult braces, clear braces, or Invisalign – which are clear plastic trays that gradually move the teeth. We understand that all of our patients have different needs which is why we offer a variety of solutions and take the time to discuss and determine the best option for each patient.
We also see adult patients that either never had braces or didn’t accomplish all their orthodontic goals during their teenage set of braces. The majority of these patients have crooked crowded teeth and are experiencing bite problems as a result of jaws that don’t coordinate with each other. In these cases, where we don’t have growth to help us fix bite issues, we are always excited to come up with creative solutions providing patients with a smile that is both beautiful and functional.
Age and Orthodontic Treatment Differences
Every new patient in our practice will experience a very thorough, educational appointment during their first orthodontic visit. We will use photographs and x-rays to paint the whole picture, explain what can be improved, and describe the ways we can develop beautiful, straight teeth and a healthy functional bite.
Orthodontics At myKIDSdds
We are excited to have the ability to help your entire family achieve their ideal dental health. For many, this means simply creating a beautiful smile, but at myKIDSdds, we focus on establishing a healthy bite, so our patients finish treatment with a not only a beautiful smile but one that will protect their teeth and keep them comfortable for a lifetime.
We know no two patients are the same and therefore we spend tremendous time creating a unique, customized treatment plan for each patient we see. Read testimonials from satisfied patients and schedule an appointment today to take a step toward a healthier, happier you.
