Orthodontics for young children or Early Orthodontics

Palatal Expander	Habit Corrector	Braces

An early phase of treatment may precede braces to take advantage of a child's growing jaws. Early treatment moves jaw bones and chewing muscles into position, setting the stage for the most stable bite correction possible. This phase may last for a year year or more.

Benefits of Early Orthodontics

• Enhancing self esteem by improving the child's appearance with proper jaw alignment.
• Creating a more stable long term result especially with severe bite problems.
• Shortening or improving results of second phase of treatment.
• Allowing for treatment at an age when children are more cooperative.
• Helping prevent fracture to buck teeth.
• Minimizing future jaw surgery.
• Minimizing removal of permanent teeth.

When is early treatment needed ?

• An unbalanced profile.
• An overbite, underbite, crossbite, gummy smile, deep smile or open bite.
• Overlapping or crowded teeth.
• Difficulty in chewing.
• Open - mouth breathing.
• Speech Problems.
• Tongue thrusting.
• Thumb or finger sucking after age of 4.
• Jaw joint problems.

• Palatal Expander - It gently widens a too small upper jaw to make room for crowded teeth.
• Habit Corrector - Helps stop thumb - sucking, tongue thrusting or mouth breathing.
• Functional Appliance - It guides growing jaws into position and teaches chewing muscles to ' bite right '.
• Braces - These move a child's teeth into position.
• Headgear - This helps realign jaws or move teeth into line.
• Retainers - These help stabilize teeth into their new position.