Hi, I’m Dr. Randy Wright of Wright Orthodontics. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children have their first orthodontic evaluation at age seven. That is about the same time all of your child’s first permanent teeth are coming in and we can get an idea at that time just how much space there’s going to be, if there’s a crossbite, etc…
I am a big believer in phase one or early treatment in orthodontics. We don’t treat everybody that way but in certain cases, it can make a huge difference in the long-term result and eventual result. Some early treatment cases might need expansion in the upper jaw to correct a crossbite or get teeth out of a crossbite so it doesn’t damage the gum tissue surrounding certain teeth. If they have an underbite, we could do some good things early to correct that. I think it’s a great tool and it’s just one of the things we do here that can make a big difference in the long term.
Phase one treatment can lessen the need for extensive phase two treatment later. It can expand the jaws where the other permanent teeth come in in the right spot and solve a lot of problems early. You can also in a lot of cases, reduce the number of cases that require extractions of permanent teeth. So we try to do that, that’s a big push that we have.
In some cases, if we’re not treating them and recommending phase one, we’re observing them and waiting for some of those permanent teeth to come in. And there are some things we can do to save some space when the large baby teeth come out. We see patients periodically to monitor them and that’s an important part of this too, and the timing of treatment can be essential to get the best result.
To learn more about our early orthodontic treatment or to schedule a complimentary consultation to have your child evaluated, give us a call at (630) 208-1200 or schedule your appointment online. For your convenience, we offer both in-office and virtual appointments.
Wright Orthodontics is a 5-star family-oriented practice serving the Batavia community. We specialize in orthodontic treatments for children, teens, and adults, including braces, Invisalign, and accelerated orthodontics. Call us at (630) 208-1200 or click to schedule your complimentary consultation.
