Does My Child Actually Need Braces for Baby Teeth?

With orthodontics, the average patient age is between 9 and 14 years old. At that optimal age range, a child’s jaw and mouth are still developing, but a lot of permanent teeth have already come in. However, should parents hold off on braces until their child loses all their baby teeth?  

Although it may sound confusing, early intervention can be crucial for achieving the best outcomes and shorter active orthodontic treatment, according to J. A. Duval, DDS, of Duval Orthodontics. In this blog, Dr. Duval explains the mechanics of orthodontic treatment and the factors that determine the best time to seek treatment for your child.

Orthodontics explained

Let’s set the stage for this discussion by doing a quick primer on the mechanics of orthodontics and tooth movement. Orthodontic treatment occurs when your orthodontist uses braces or Invisalign® to move a patient's teeth into an optimal position.

During an orthodontic treatment timeline, targeted bone cells, known as osteoclasts, break down old bone, which gets reabsorbed into the bloodstream. As treatment progresses and teeth move into a new position, another type of bone cell, called osteoblasts, builds new bone through a process called ossification.

Keep in mind that the ossification process does not take into account whether you're an adult or a youth, nor does it depend on the patient having all their permanent teeth. The beauty of orthodontics is that capturing your best smile is timeless.

Stages of orthodontic treatment

While teeth movement can occur at any age, every orthodontic case differs from patient to patient. The more severe the issue addressed, the higher the likelihood that early orthodontic intervention may be necessary. Orthodontic treatment typically has three stages.

Stage 1: Early intervention

Your orthodontist may recommend early intervention while your child still has a mix of baby and permanent teeth, or if your child has a narrow jaw, and if their teeth are crowding. Your provider may use an orthodontic appliance, called an expander, to create space in your child’s mouth for emerging teeth or to prepare for braces.

If your child suffers from severe bite issues, your orthodontist may recommend early intervention, which can be more difficult to correct if you wait until permanent teeth erupt. Addressing issues, such as tongue thrusting and thumb sucking, which will disrupt proper jaw and dental development, may also warrant early intervention.

Stage 2: Active Treatment

Active treatment is the actual stage where the orthodontic treatment transpires. Specifically, your provider installs braces or clear aligners like Invisalign to move your teeth to address bite and jaw issues.

With each treatment option, patients visit the office to check progress. With braces, they make an appointment about once a month so that your provider can adjust the archwires. Patients using Invisalign can expect fewer visits. Generally, patients with braces can expect to be in active treatment for several months to a few years. With Invisalign, treatment is typically 12 to 18 months. 

Stage 3: Post-Treatment

The post-treatment stage is all about maintaining that gorgeous smile your child worked so hard to get. This stage is just as important as the active treatment stage. Once active treatment concludes, your teeth need to settle into their new optimal positions. Your orthodontist prescribes a custom retainer to support this process.

For the first three months after active treatment, your provider typically recommends wearing the retainer daily for 24 hours per week. After that time, if everything looks good and there are no signs of your child’s teeth moving back into their old position, your provider may wean them to nightwear only, or for a few hours during the day.

Get started with an orthodontic evaluation by age seven

Since every child develops differently and no two bite or jaw scenarios play out the same, the best way to determine when your child should seek treatment is to bring them in for an orthodontic evaluation no later than age seven, as recommended by the American Association of Orthodontists.

During the evaluation, your orthodontist checks your child’s bite and the size and development of your child’s jaw. The overarching goal is to determine if there’s a potential issue and, if so, establish a future treatment plan. Remember, getting an orthodontic evaluation doesn’t trigger active treatment, but helps you plan for future potential needs.

If your child needs braces or has concerns about their jaw or bite issues, contact Duval Orthodontics for an orthodontic evaluation by calling the office in Warner Robins or Albany, Georgia, or book an appointment online today.