Early Orthodontic Treatment in Newington, CT

Greater Hartford Orthodontics provides early orthodontic treatment in Newington, CT. Call 860-667-8277 to learn more and schedule your appointment. 

One of the biggest changes in orthodontics in recent decades is the increased emphasis on early orthodontic treatment. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child has their first orthodontic evaluation by the age of 7, or earlier if recommended by their dentist. Around this time, the first adult molars begin to erupt, which defines the back bite and allows us to assess for any issues with the bite, teeth, and jaw. 

The benefit of early orthodontic treatment is that it lets us help influence the shape of the jaw as it develops. This is much easier and more effective than the old treatment protocol, which involved waiting for the jaw to fuse together and then treating orthodontic issues. 

While early orthodontic visits are recommended for all children, this doesn’t necessarily mean that your child will need an orthodontic device. Often, we can take a wait-and-see approach, scheduling annual visits to monitor the development of the jaw, determine the ideal timeline for future treatment, and prevent more serious problems in the future.

Benefits of early orthodontic treatment include:

• Reduced need for tooth extraction prior to braces
• Increased space for crowded, erupting teeth
• Reduced risk of injury to protruding front teeth
• Maintaining space for permanent teeth
• Shortened orthodontic treatment time

Many children do not need early orthodontic treatment and monitoring is sufficient. Even if early orthodontic treatment is recommended, it’s a choice you make for your child. That said, if you choose not to pursue early orthodontics, you can expect longer treatment times and more complex orthodontic issues when your child is older.

Phase 1 orthodontic treatment is simply another term used to describe early orthodontics. Phase 2 refers to the later treatment, usually involving braces, that occurs in the preteen or teen years.

Whenever it’s needed! Early orthodontic treatment can include habit appliances to help children stop sucking their thumbs or train proper tongue position; these can be started as young as 4 or 5, depending on the severity of the problem. Other children may not need early orthodontic treatment until the age of 9 or 10.

Interceptive orthodontics, phase 1 orthodontics, and early orthodontics are all different terms for the same type of treatment. The name describes the goal of preventing problems before they progress and become more serious.

Every child is different, but it’s most common for children to get palate expander devices between the ages of 7 to 10.

Yes, palate expanders are a gentle, effective way to adjust the shape of the upper jaw. This creates more room in the upper arch in order to prevent crowding and other orthodontic issues.

Call 860-667-8277 to schedule your appointment!