Early Treatment
7 is the best age to first meet an orthodontist. Our goal is to correct and assist the teeth and jaws as a patient grows. The first permanent molars and incisors have usually come in by that age, and cross bites, crowding, and other problems can be evaluated.
How do you know if your child needs braces?
Here are a few signs that you should bring your child in for a consultation:
- Early loss of baby teeth.
- Uncomfortable or painful biting or chewing Mouth breathing.
- Sucking on thumbs past the age of 5.
- Any major speech impediment.
- Teeth are protruding.
- Teeth are experiencing significant crowding in the mouth.
- Incorrect bites.
- Facial imbalance.
When treatment begins early, the orthodontist may be able to guide the growth of the jaw and guide incoming permanent teeth. Early treatment can also regulate the width of the upper and lower dental arches, gain space for permanent teeth, avoid the need for permanent tooth extractions, reduce likelihood of impacted permanent teeth, correct thumb-sucking, and eliminate abnormal swallowing or speech problems. In other words, early treatment can simplify later treatment.
Consultation appointments for children are quick and easy and will give you peace of mind knowing that early intervention can be done if needed.
No referral is necessary, just call the office to book a consultation with Dr. Dumore & Team!
Braces for Kids
Placing braces on your children’s teeth will depend on several factors, though mainly, if it is needed for their dental health.
At Dr. Tim Dumore & Team Orthodontics, we like to see every child at the age of seven for an orthodontic checkup. This helps us see how their teeth are coming in, if overcrowding is a problem, if baby teeth should be pulled to allow permanent teeth the space needed and more.
This evaluation may prevent larger orthodontic work in the future. Dr. Dumore would love to meet with you and your child to evaluate and discuss their dental health and what you can do now to help.
Common Orthodontic Questions Parents Ask
The Canadian Association of Orthodontists recommends that children see an orthodontist as early as age seven.
Dr. Dumore is frequently asked questions including:
- What is the difference between early orthodontic treatment and regular orthodontic treatment?
- Early orthodontic treatment is known as Phase One. Phase One is early treatment in which we can intercept larger orthodontic issues from occurring. Orthodontic appliances such as palatal expanders, space maintainers and more are used to encourage proper growth.
- Why might my child need early treatment?
Early treatment can save you time and money. By noting those areas of potential problems before they become problems, we can prevent larger issues.
How will early treatment benefit my child in the long run?
Dr. Dumore’s goal of early treatment is to correct, or assist, the growth of your child’s jaw and incoming teeth. Early treatment can also help your child have the room necessary for permanent teeth to come in properly, lessening the chance of needing one or more extractions in the future, saving your child pain, and saving you time and money.
These are just a few of the questions surrounding the topic of early orthodontic treatment for children. At this point, the orthodontist will evaluate whether your child will need orthodontic treatment.
Does my child need early orthodontic treatment?
Receiving early orthodontic treatment as a child can help prevent the need for orthodontics as an adult, leaving little to no chance of extraction or surgery in the future.
We particularly like to see a child if they have experienced any of the following:
- Your child has had particularly early or late loss of baby teeth. In most cases, children start losing their baby teeth at age 5 and should have all of their permanent teeth by age 13.
- Your child is experiencing difficulty in biting or chewing.
- Your child breathes through their mouth, opposed to their nose.
- Your child has continued to suck their thumb past the age of five.
- Your child has speech difficulties or impediments.
- Your child has protruding teeth, either their top or bottom teeth extend out much further than they should.
- Your child's top arch and bottom arch are not closing together like they should.
- Your child finds that their jaw shifts when they open or close their mouth, known as a crossbite.
- Your child is visibly experiencing overcrowding issues by the age of seven.
At Dr. Dumore & Team Orthodontics, we can help your child’s teeth come in with better placement, helping them avoid larger issues in their future.
Our team will work with your child, ensuring they receive the appropriate treatments and options. We want your child’s needs to be met with understanding and respect.
Dr. Tim Dumore is available to answer all of your questions about braces and the various options to straighten your child’s teeth, and help their permanent teeth come in with better spacing.
For more information, contact our Winnipeg Manitoba, Canada office at: 204-832-3910.