Early Treatment

Early treatment usually begins when a child is between the ages of seven and ten, unless a significant problem is detected earlier. At these ages, orthodontic treatment starts before the loss of all the "baby" teeth.

Correcting tooth abnormalities at an early age has numerous benefits, such as reducing the likelihood of fracturing protruded ("buck") teeth, preserving or gaining space for the permanent teeth - which allows for less removal of permanent teeth, and correcting unfavorable bites to allow for normal facial growth.

In some cases early treatment may greatly reduce - or eliminate - the need for further treatment after the remaining permanent teeth erupt. In these instances, treatment time is shortened and less expensive than beginning treatment once all the permanent teeth are in place.

Of course, it is best to have Dr. "Mark" determine the best age to start treatment in order to achieve maximum improvement with a minimum amount of time and expense.

Below are examples of malocclusions or "bad bites" that may benefit from early orthodontic treatment.

Crowding of the teeth	Openbite: Front teeth don't touch	Deep overbite: Lower front teeth bite into palate
Missing lateral incisors	Underbite: Lower front teeth in front of uppers	Spacing of teeth
Overbite: Protruding front teeth	Non-braces treatment	Phase I