As one of the leading providers of Pediatric Orthodontics in the greater Sacramento Area we often get asked:
Should you wait to start treatment until all the baby teeth are gone?
What age should my child get braces or Invisalign?
Does my kid need braces or Invisalign?
Although we generally prefer to wait until all of the primary teeth are gone, there are times when it is appropriate to begin Orthodontic braces or Invisalign early. One is the presence of an impacted or blocked out tooth (crowding). If a baby tooth has not been lost because the underlying tooth does not have enough room to come in, we will usually begin Pediatric Orthodontic treatment with the associated baby tooth in place. Sometimes making room for the underlying tooth will help the baby tooth become loose on its own. If not, we may have the baby tooth removed by the family dentist. Another time we start treatment before all of the baby teeth are gone is if the patient’s smile is socially handicapping. Finally, if we’re planning on keeping a baby tooth because the underlying permanent tooth is missing, the presence of the baby tooth will have no bearing on the start time of having braces or Invisalign.
Starting treatment after all of the primary teeth are gone generally keeps the Pediatric Orthodontic treatment length as short as possible, minimizes the amount of school and work that patients and their families miss, and reduces the probability of adverse consequences that can accompany extended Pediatric Orthodontic treatment (white spot lesions, puffy gums, root resorption, etc.) If there is a good reason to get started with braces or Invisalign for your child while there are still primary teeth however, that’s what we’ll do.
October is orthodontic awareness Month and here at Holt Orthodontics we have launched our 7 and Up Checkup program. Even though most people think of pre-teens and teens when they think of orthodontics, there are good reasons your child should get a Pediatric Orthodontic evaluation much sooner. The American Association of Orthodontist (AAO) recommends a checkup with an orthodontist no later than the age of 7.
Our goal is to provide each patient with the most appropriate Pediatric Orthodontic treatment at the most appropriate time. Remember, the doctor you choose matters.
