A smile is a curve that sets everything straight. An alluring smile is all that needs to win hearts. It adds a lot of confidence to a person’s personality. You have the power to gift your young patient his confidence through a beautiful smile via orthodontics. Ever wondered when is the right age to initiate the orthodontic treatment?
The recommended first orthodontic consultation is when then the patient is around 7 years old. How about the other age groups?
Ages 2 to 3 – In rare events, kids as young as 2 or 3 with extremely distorted bites may require orthodontic therapy
Ages 5 to 7 – This would be the best time to counsel children against deleterious habits such as thumb-sucking or tongue-thrusting. Although many orthodontic problems might be hereditary, it would be wise to intervene these habits to prevent further deterioration.
Ages 6 to 8 – This would be the best time to correct a crossbite. This condition makes it difficult for children to bite and chew properly. If the mandible is forward than the maxilla, the latter will need to be brought forward, and the window of opportunity for doing that is at a young age.
Ages 8 to 10 – This is the target age range for correcting most other jaw problems connected with overbites, protruding maxillary teeth or open bites.
Ages 10 to 13 – Interceptive orthodontics comes into play at this age. Space maintainers can be planned to maintain teeth space and extractions can help provide enough room for the erupting teeth.
This phase may take a few months to a couple of years, depending on the severity of the problem.
Ages 10 to 14 – This is the most common phase where the kids are a common visitor to the Orthodontist’s office. The braces are effective after most of the permanent teeth have erupted. The treatment phase lasts from 12 to 18 months depending on the case scenario.
The treatment plan is solely at your discretion and careful diagnosis is the most important factor of all. Remember, diagnosis is not the end, but the beginning of practice. Come join us at American Academy of Clinical Orthodontics, to raise your own bar and reach the horizon to become a master clinician!