One of the first things people notice about your teeth is the alignment. Straight teeth go a long way in helping you make a great first impression, which is why our Red Bank NJ dental team offers both adult orthodontics and early orthodontic intervention. We care about maintaining the health of your teeth and giving you a more beautiful smile.

Early orthodontic is a way for us to intervene and encourage healthy tooth and jawbone development. A lot of our patients have questions about when their children should undergo orthodontics or when they should first see the dentist about orthodontic issues. Today I want to clear up a few things about about early orthodontic treatments and give you advice about what we can do for your children’s teeth.

When to have orthodontic visit

According to the American Association of Orthodontist, your child should be seen by an orthodontist — or a dentist skilled in orthodontics — by the age of 7. That’s the age where most children are developing their permanent teeth, and their jawbones are changing radically. These early visits will give parents peace of mind, as we can identify problems such as losing baby teeth too early, crowding, crooked teeth, and bite issues.

Because of office is a general dental practice that also focuses on orthodontic treatments, we can notify parents when their children should have orthodontic treatment. The evaluation will take only about 15 to 20 minutes of your child’s time. We’ll look into the mouth and take an X-ray. When you leave the office, you’ll know about the issues, possible duration of the suggested treatment and cost.

Using early orthodontic treatment

Early orthodontic treatment usually involves a multi-faceted approach. The treatments differ when we consider the individual child’s needs, but there are many things that can go into early orthodontic treatment.

Expanding the palate — Some people have narrow palates, which leads to crowding problems or bite issues. People with narrow palate are also more likely to develop sleep problems. By expanding the palate, we can get out in front of major bites problems and give the permanent teeth more room to come in.

Jaw movement — When we move the upper jaw into a better position, we can prevent underbites and alignment issues. A bad bite can lead to jaw pains and even increase the risk of tooth fractures, as the distribution of bite force is off.

Braces — In some cases, we can apply partial braces to the teeth even before all of the permanent teeth erupt. This will straighten a few teeth in the mouth to give the rest of your permanent teeth. This gives the child a better smile and reduces the duration of future orthodontic intervention.

Partner with Red Bank NJ Dentist for a Straighter Smile

Our dental team is here to give you a better, bright smile. We have orthodontic solutions for both children and adults. Modern orthodontics is faster and more predictable than ever before. If you’re ready for your first evaluation, give us a call today at 732-945-5343 to request an appointment.