The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends that all children visit the Orthodontist by age 7 years. For most children orthodontic treatment is not needed until all or most of their permanent teeth are visible within the mouth. In my office early treatment is used to intercept and correct the following problems…
- Crowding: Most orthodontists will use a palatal expander to treat crowding. We do not use palatal expanders to eliminate crowding in the mixed dentition. We use a simple and gentle approach made available by the Damon System called the d-gainer or Dr. Damon space-gaining appliance. Six braces are placed on the top teeth, two in the back and four in the front. Over 8 – 10 months the crowding is resolved gently and predictably. Please view the pictures below.
- Front dental cross bites where one or more of the top front teeth is locked behind the bottom front teeth. If not corrected early, this can cause the bottom front teeth to flair forward and lead to gum problems.
- Back crossbites that are skeletal in nature. This means the upper jaw bone is too narrow for the lower jaw bone and the back top teeth are contacting the bottom back teeth improperly on one or both sides.
- Front crossbites that are skeletal in nature. This means that the top jaw is too short or in a retruded position, the bottom jaw is too long or in a protruded position, or a combination of the above. Early treatment is most important here to prevent a surgical procedure in late teen years.
- Ectopic permanent teeth. This means that one or more of the unerupted permanent teeth is moving in the wrong direction. These teeth can become impacted requiring later surgical intervention if not treated early.
- Thumb or finger sucking habits. It is very important for these habits to be stopped as the permanent top front teeth begin to erupt. If the habit is allowed to persist, severe front open bites and back cross bites can develop which result in the need for extensive orthodontic treatment.
It is important that you arrange an appointment with an orthodontist so they can asses your child’s orthodontal condition as they are developing. We are happy to offer your a free consultation at our office in New York’s Garden city.
To arrange your free appointment give us a call at (516) 742-4110
Or fill out our short online form and a member of our team will contact you.