Early Treatment for Kids!
At Braces By Garcia, our mission is to help each one of our patients achieve a beautiful, healthy smile that lasts them a lifetime – and sometimes, that process has to start early.
Kids Orthodontics in Menifee, Orange, and Temecula
Our upscale and friendly atmosphere is designed to put you and your family at ease from the moment you walk through our doors. Our reception room is comfortable and relaxing. We have a fun zone with video games and a television area for the kids. Of course, our experienced and friendly staff always goes the extra mile to make sure all of your questions and concerns are addressed and that your time in our practice is rewarding and stress-free.
When is the Best Time for an Orthodontic Evaluation?
There are certain conditions that may qualify a child for early prevention orthodontics. These may include things like crossbites, crowded teeth or narrow arches. If crowded teeth are fixed at an earlier age, they allow more room for adult teeth to come in and may in turn reduce the need for teeth pulling later in life.
The American Association of Orthodontists and Dr. Garcia recommend kids see an orthodontist for an initial evaluation at age 7. At this age, permanent teeth are starting to replace baby teeth and it’s the perfect time to start tracking your child’s jaw growth and development. If necessary, Dr. Garcia may suggest getting your child started with the Phase One treatment to take advantage of bones that are still growing and better address problems before they develop fully.
The Advantages of Early Orthodontic Evaluation
So, why is 7 the ideal age? By age 6 or 7, a child’s first adult molars have finished erupting, establishing the back bite. This allows the team at Braces by Garcia to evaluate tooth relationships in detail, making it possible to identify potential orthodontic problems that need correction. Not all children will need treatment at this early age, but if early treatment is necessary, it greatly improves the overall orthodontic result.
What Are the Advantages of Early Orthodontic Treatment?
While it isn’t right for all patients, early orthodontic treatment comes with a range of advantages. Treating early allows us to shape the development of the teeth and mouth, letting us make significant alterations to tooth alignment that would be much more difficult in later years. In fact, because of the upper jaw has yet to solidify into a single bone during childhood, we can use a device called a palatal expander to gently widen the upper jaw and make more room for teeth – a process that would require extensive oral surgery in later adolescence or adulthood. Here are just a few of the benefits of interceptive orthodontic treatment:
- Makes more room for crowded teeth without surgery
- Prevents the need for tooth extraction
- Improves facial symmetry by influencing jaw growth
- Protects protruding front teeth from trauma
- Reduces the overall amount of time a child will spend in braces
How it Works
1. Getting to Know You
No two patients are the same. Your first visit to our office is aimed at getting an understanding of your oral health and teeth positioning. We will review your medical history and conduct a thorough exam, with X-Rays, to get a comprehensive look at your mouth.
2. Custom Treatment Plan
We create completely customized treatment for each patient to ensure you reach your full smile potential! If you are a good candidate for braces, our team can help you get started with our Same-Day braces program! Not only do we save our patients money, we save you time!
3. Your New Smile
The people who come to us for treatment are more than just names on a chart – they are family. We love creating trusting and lasting relationships with our patients and their families while creating the smile of their dreams.
Start Treatment the Same Day!
Ready to get your beautiful, new smile?
While other practices can take multiple visits before braces are put on, when you chose Same-Day Braces at your free consultation, you can get them on and be on your way to a better smile!
FAQs About Orthodontics for Kids
American Association of Orthodontists recommend you should schedule your child’s first appointment by age 7.
Orthodontic treatment and a child’s growth can complement each other. By timing orthodontic treatment to predictable stages of dental development, the orthodontist may be able to take advantage of your child’s growth and development. Some problems that can be treated quite well in a growing child may require corrective surgery or permanent teeth to be extracted if treated after growth has occurred.
We completely understand your busy schedule and are happy to accommodate. Once you pick up your child, we will review what was accomplished at the conclusion of each appointment and what is expected to be accomplished at the next appointment. We strongly recommend making the follow up appointments prior to leaving our office.
If an orthodontic issue is severe enough, then early intervention can occur while the child still has baby teeth. If your child isn’t ready yet, we’ll simply monitor their growth and development, and begin treatment when they’re ready.
Between the ages 7 and 10, some patients require phase one (early) treatment, which usually lasts about 6-18 months. The goal of early treatment is to address more significant orthodontic issues to make later treatment processes smoother. It also drastically improves the child’s confidence and self-esteem levels.
What are you waiting for?
Feel Confident in Your New Smile!
Whether you want to straighten your smile to help your oral hygiene or to boost your self-esteem, Dr. Garcia can help!
