Why should my child be seen by an orthodontist at age 4?
Aren’t braces just for teenagers and adults?
These are great questions.
IDEALLY – “FIX BEFORE 6”
Most orthodontists do not see children before 7 years of age after the first permanent molars erupt and the upper and lower incisors have erupted. At this age, traditional orthodontics may treat crossbites or abnormal jaw growth and alignment. Here is the problem with “watchfully waiting” to see if the child “will grow out of it.” THEY WILL NOT GROW OUT OF IT.
Did you know that research has shown that:
- By age 5 about 50-60% of facial growth HAS ALREADY OCCURRED!
- By age 8 about 75-80% of facial growth HAS ALREADY OCCURRED!
- By age 12-13 almost 90+% of facial growth is completed.
- Therefore “early treatment” at 4-5 years of age is not really that early when compared to the amount of growth that has already occurred.
A good example of “early therapy” that is done in early childhood is “When do physicians treat ‘Clubbed Feet’?”
WHEN THE CHILD IS BORN and not later than 1-3 months of age! Why do pediatricians treat “so early?” Because the growth during that time is occurring rapidly. Early intervention with “leg braces / casts” can remold the feet and legs to a normal relationship and by the time the child is walking, they can walk, run, jump, etc. as if they never had a problem. If you “watchfully wait” until their legs fully develop, it will take major treatment and the underlying deformity is still present. Function is NOT THE SAME.
Ultra Low dose 3D imaging is usually needed, revealing the “anatomic truth,” to evaluate the skeletal and dental structures along with the jaw joints, the airway, sinuses, nasal cavity and nasal function.
At age of 4-6 years of age Dr. William Harrell evaluates the structure of the bones and teeth and how they relate to the airway and breathing along with the TM Joints. Enlarged tonsils and adenoids, allergic rhinitis and nasal obstruction can all be factors leading to a child who mouth breathes instead of normal nose breathing. See the late Dr. Christian Guilleminault’s (the father of Sleep Medicine at Stanford University) video in the Video Section of our website on the importance of NASAL BREATHING.
If part of the problem is altered facial growth, altered positions of the upper jaw, lower jaw or both along with narrow boney arches, teeth crowding is usually seen AND EXPANSION THERAPY might be indicated. THE EARLIER WE CAN DO THIS, THE EASIER THE TREATMENT IS because of the remaining growth available.
Waiting and observing them growing into a problem until they are at the “orthodontic age of 12-13” will many times create a situation where permanent teeth may need to be extracted and this will keep the dental arches narrow, creating less room for the tongue, and possibly negatively affecting the integrity of the airways and sleep.
For more information visit the Children’s Airway First Foundation (CAFF).
We invite you to call Harrell Orthodontics at 256-234-6353 to schedule your child’s appointment with our experienced orthodontist and learn more about early orthodontic treatment in Alexander City, Alabama.
Orthodontics is a specialty of dentistry that corrects “bad bites” or malocclusions. Dr. Harrell is a Board-Certified Orthodontist by the American Board of Orthodontics (ABO).
Our office focuses on airway and TMJ friendly orthodontics. Research has shown that yes, orthodontic therapy may have a negative or positive impact on the airway and even the jaw joints depending on various philosophies of treatment. We like to see patients early (4 – 7 years old) to evaluate breathing, airway issues and TMJ dysfunction as this is the time, while they are growing rapidly, that we can have the GREATEST POSITIVE EFFECT on the GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT of your child.
We do traditional airway friendly orthodontics that create beautiful and healthy smiles in teenagers and adults and try to establish a healthy airway and TM Joints.
We use the latest in 3D technology.