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Does your child have crooked or unevenly spaced teeth? If so, they no longer have to wait until all of their permanent teeth have grown in to receive treatment. Dr. Rondeau & Associates offers its patients early interceptive orthodontic treatment before the eruption of permanent teeth. The goal of early treatment is to guide the growth of your child's upper and/or lower jaw to create adequate space for the eruption of all their permanent teeth. Children should be evaluated by the age of four to see if there are any bone problems or teeth problems. With early orthodontic treatment, your child can gain back their confidence through properly developed teeth. Correcting Functional Habits Functional habits include thumb sucking, mouth breathing or a tongue thrust habit. All of these habits can contribute to unfavorable growth of the jaws and improper development of their teeth. Oral habits can typically cause the upper front teeth to stick out, which can contribute to speech problems. The best way to intercept a functional habit is to make certain the child has a proper sized airway and can breathe through the nose. After airway considerations are addressed, an upper fixed habit-breaking appliance may be made to stop the habit. A tiny, patient friendly crib at the front of the appliance helps to remind the patient not to place their tongue, finger or thumb in this area of the mouth. Active treatment of functional habits usually will take approximately four to five months. If an arch development appliance was used, the crib can be removed after the first 4 to 5 months. The child would then wear the appliance as a retainer for another six months to prevent a relapse and keep their teeth developing properly. Benefits of Early Treatment If your child has a problem such as the upper jaw being too narrow, or an underdeveloped lower jaw, this can be corrected with a functional jaw orthopedic appliance to correct the problem. Minor tooth crowding can also be corrected early if it appears as though it may compromise the eruption of other permanent teeth. It is also less expensive to correct a problem when the patient is younger rather than wait for the problem to become more serious in the future. Some benefits of early treatment also include: * Improves profiles, smiles and self-esteem
* Corrects harmful habits, such as thumb sucking and tongue thrusting
* Functional appliances develop the arches and make more room for the tongue
* Improves speech
* Reduces the amount of time spent in fixed braces
* Increases nasal breathing which improves health
* Eliminates grinding of the teeth at night
* Prevents headaches and earaches Functional appliances work with your child's growth and development in order to guide the jaws to their proper size. If you have noticed any problems in your child's bite or teeth contact Dr. Brock Rondeau for a proper assessment of your child's teeth. It is never too early to begin perfecting your child's smile.
Sean Hartmen writes for Dr. Brock Rondeau, lecturer on orthodontics in London and worldwide, at Dr. Rondeau & Associates. Dr. Rondeau lectures on the subject of orthodontics, orthopedics, snoring and sleep apnea, TMJ, headaches and CPAP in London, further proving his commitment to educating patients on proper orthodontic care.
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