Orthodontics for Children

While there is no exact age for children to begin orthodontic treatment, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends visiting the orthodontist at age seven.

By this age, most children have a mix of baby teeth and adult teeth, making it easier for the orthodontist to diagnose and correct tooth and jaw problems if necessary.

Although we are very experienced with early orthodontic intervention and prescribe when indicated, our practice is conservative in our approach to early treatment as we feel evidence based research has demonstrated that only certain conditions will benefit from two phases of treatment.

Early treatment allows your orthodontist to:

• Correct and guide the growth of your child's jaws to help the permanent teeth come in straight
• Regulate the width of the upper and lower arches
• Create more space for crowded teeth
• Avoid the need for permanent tooth extractions later in life
• Correct thumb-sucking and help improve minor speech problems

For parents, it's not always easy to know if your child may need orthodontic treatment.

Here are a few things to look for that may mean your child needs to see an orthodontist:

• Early/late loss of baby teeth
• If your child has a hard time chewing or biting food
• Mouth breathing
• Finger or thumb sucking
• Crowded, misplaced, or blocked teeth
• Shifting of the lower jaw to onside or the other when biting
• Teeth that come together abnormally, or do not come together at all
• Jaws and teeth that are not proportionate to the rest of the face
• Crowded front teeth around age 7 or 8

Orthodontics for Adults

Our office treats many adult patients.  In fact, patients over the age of 40 are our fastest growing segment of our patient population.  Orthodontics can be accomplished at any age.  Special care is needed to ensure healthy bone, tissue and teeth are in place before tooth movement begins in our adult patients.  Our oldest patient was 83 when she recently began her treatment! 

We offer a variety of esthetic treatment options for adults.  Damon Brackets, Clear In-Ovation C brackets, Invisalign, and Incognito lingual braces all offer esthetic solutions for those who are self-conscious about metal brackets, but desire a beautiful smile.  We have been designated "Preferred" Invisalign providers and are certified incognito system providers as well.

Please contact our practice to schedule an appointment for an orthodontic evaluation.  

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