Many people associate straight teeth with an excellent smile, but straight teeth are important for health reasons as well. When teeth aren’t in their proper positions, they begin to shift and may become loose or even cause more serious oral health issues. For this reason, it is important to have an orthodontist such as Dr. Jordan Jaffe examine your child’s teeth as soon as he or she has more adult teeth than baby teeth. For some children, this occurs as early as seven years old.

The Need for Early Treatment

In decades past, parents often wouldn’t take their child to an orthodontist until they were 12 or 13 years old, but today’s experts feel that earlier is better. This is because new technology makes it easier to find problems and fix them with interceptive treatment before teeth become too misaligned. Interceptive treatments are available for a range of misalignment issues, specifically teeth that are growing too close together or too far apart. Some bite issues are also treatable early on. When these problems are minor and receive earlier treatment, they are less likely to require more advanced, costlier treatments in the future.

Early Treatment Isn’t Always the Answer

When seeking out Barrington, RI, kid’s braces, it’s important to know that early treatment options aren’t always the answer. For example, if your child has an overbite, most orthodontists recommend waiting until he or she is at least 10 years old to treat the issue. Overbites are easier to treat once all the adult teeth have come in, which typically happens between 10 and 13 years old. Sometimes, an overbite corrects itself as more teeth come in, so treating it too soon could mean unnecessary procedures and money spent. Additionally, if your child has severe crowding or spacing issues, it is likely to wait for the same reasons. If the problem doesn’t repair itself, you can look into treatment options once most of the adult teeth have erupted.

Available Treatment Options

If your child needs orthodontic treatments, he or she may have several options. Traditionally, braces were metal and often uncomfortable. These days, metal options are still available, but there are also clear options or even braces in different colors. The options allow your child to pick something that not only treats his or her orthodontic problems but displays personality as well. Of course, not all misaligned teeth require a full set of braces. Your orthodontist might also recommend expanders, retainers or mouth guards to treat issues and prevent further problems.

Schedule a Consultation Today

Do you suspect your child needs kid’s braces in Barrington, RI? Jaffe Orthodontics is ready to help. Contact us at 401-245-2626 or by filling out this form to schedule an appointment.

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