The American Association of Orthodontists® recommends that children should have an initial orthodontic screening at 7 years old. However, early evaluation doesn’t always lead to early treatment. In most cases, it means that we will monitor the development of your child’s oral structure until we believe it is time to begin. Monitoring your child’s teeth allows us to get the best results while helping prevent future issues.
Every child’s oral development is unique, although in most cases their first adult molars usually start to emerge around 6 years old. These and other developmental markers help us get a feel for the overall alignment of their teeth and determine if there is adequate room for all your child’s adult teeth to erupt. If this is not the case, then we may recommend early treatment.
When Earlier Treatment Is Preferable
Most common orthodontic problems occur between 9 to 14 years old, when all the baby teeth have gone and the adult teeth have emerged. But there are certain conditions that are much easier for Dr. David Sherman to treat if they are caught at an early age and are addressed while a child is still growing.
- Severe crossbite is a condition where the upper teeth close inside the lower teeth. We can treat this by using a palatal expander to gradually widen the upper jaw. This treatment is more efficient while the jaw is still developing and prevents a more complicated procedure like oral surgery from having to be used later down the road.
- Severe crowding is when your child’s jaw is too small to accommodate all of their adult teeth. Either palatal expansion or tooth extractions are recommended to give the adult teeth room to erupt and will likely be a less complicated treatment, even if braces are required later on.
- Protruding teeth, either from a severe underbite or overbite, can cause serious bite problems and are prone to chipping and teeth fractures. It can also affect a child’s self-image. Oral appliances like braces and headgear can correct these problems during the developmental stage and help avoid oral surgery later on.
Breaking Bad Habits
Sucking one’s thumb is a natural reflex for early children and usually disappears between 2 to 4 years old. But if it persists, it can have a detrimental effect on the development of their teeth and jaw. The pressure of the thumb on the front teeth can change the shape of their jaw into what is called an “open bite,” which can also impair your child’s speech. The pressure of their tongue pushing against the teeth, also known as “tongue thrusting,” can also cause open bite.
Mouth breathing is also a bad habit that affects your child’s oral structure and development. Breathing openly through the mouth can cause the upper and lower jaw to develop abnormally and create serious orthodontic problems later down the road. This alteration comes from variations in the muscular function of the face and tongue. While mouth breathing stems from physical difficulty, it can turn into a difficult habit to break.
Our orthodontist and team will always be here to help you achieve your goals for a straighter smile at Sherman Orthodontics. We invite you to schedule your next orthodontic treatment with us in New York, New York, by calling 646-370-3768. You can also contact our Manhasset office by calling 516-487-0660.