Preventive Phase 1 Orthodontics in Wylie, TX
Proactive Care for Developing Smiles
Orthodontic treatment is often associated with teens or young adults, but did you know that alignment concerns are often detected while a child still has baby teeth? At TIME Pediatric Dentists, we believe in proactively caring for young smiles. We proudly offer interceptive or phase 1 orthodontics to guide proper growth and development, minimizing the need for orthodontic treatment down the road.
The Importance of Early Orthodontic Evaluation
The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends scheduling the first orthodontic evaluation by age 7. The advantage of seeing a pediatric dentist is that we continually evaluate your child’s structural growth, which becomes especially important as they approach age 7. These early evaluations allow us to assess how the bone and tooth structures complement each other and ensure we intervene, as necessary, to guide optimal growth and development.
At TIME Pediatric Dentists, we understand that each child is unique, with unique needs that may change over time. Aside from the 7-year mark, we monitor your child’s growth and development and optimize treatment over time.
Phase 1 Orthodontic Treatments
The following are some examples of phase 1 orthodontic treatments:
Space Maintainers: Premature loss of a baby tooth due to severe decay or injury can result in remaining teeth shifting toward the gap, which can lead to alignment concerns and the need for orthodontic treatment down the road. Space maintainers are custom orthodontic devices that preserve the space the adult tooth needs to come in, guiding it into the proper alignment.
Palatal Expanders: Palatal expansion involves the use of an orthodontic device to expand the upper jaw to make space for the incoming teeth to grow into their proper alignment. Correcting the width of a child’s jaw early on can help reduce teeth crowding, crossbites, underbites, and even mouth breathing.