A straight, attractive smile can benefit your children in so many wonderful ways. In addition to improving their appearance, a great-looking smile can increase their self-confidence and self-esteem — for a lifetime. And it starts with an early orthodontic evaluation no later than age 7, as recommended by the American Association of Orthodontists. Drs. Lee and Katie Graber will check for compromising conditions that can be present at this age. For example, bite problems that are left unattended can be more difficult to correct at a later age or even cause irreparable damage to the permanent teeth. Crooked teeth can throw off the bite, hinder proper cleaning and cause problems as your child grows older, including improper jaw function, gum disease, cavities and speech disorders. Drs. Lee and Katie Graber understand how important your children are to you. We will conduct a comprehensive evaluation to check for these and other problems:
- Jaw growth problems
- Poor tooth fit and function
- Excessive tooth wear and chipping
- Crowding of teeth
- Finger/thumb-sucking and/or tongue-thrusting habits
- Crossbite of the front and/or back teeth
- Underbite problems
- Problems with permanent tooth development
The benefits of correcting bite problems early.
Early detection and treatment can prevent your child from needing more costly and time-consuming dental care in the future. You'll be happy to know that Drs. Lee and Katie Graber always look at conservative treatment options first. They use the latest interceptive methods to correct problems before they progress badly and require more extensive treatment. Early treatment options may include expansion devices, partial braces, space maintainers, retainers, jaw growth guidance braces and habit appliances. Early intervention can reduce treatment time for your child's braces later on and help to provide a stable, healthy bite for a lifetime. For some children, improving their smile at an early age helps to provide a better self-concept, allowing them to smile with confidence.
