Braces for Your Child or Teen
 Today, orthodontic treatment is being taken more seriously at a younger age than it was when we were kids. In our day, it was normal to see the orthodontist for the first time during our teen years and to go through high school with metal braces. Today, the recommendation is to see the orthodontist as soon as a child's permanent teeth come in, which could be around the age of 6 or 7.
Why the Earlier Treatment?
Orthodontists today consider the time that a child's bone structure is still developing to be the best time to determine changes that need to be made. This does not mean that all kids will receive orthodontic treatment immediately following this first appointment; it is simply a good idea to get things started early in order to determine the best treatment plan for your child.
In addition, orthodontic treatment that takes place early in a child's life, while their jaw is still developing, can help to prevent overcrowding. Since this is such a prevalent problem in children, it can be an amazing treatment for some kids. This could prevent the need to extract teeth, which was the more traditional treatment method when going through braces. The ability to help the jaw expand and permanent teeth to erupt in their correct positions is a step forward for orthodontic treatment, and could help many kids today avoid those awkward teenage years with braces. |
