{"id":800,"date":"2024-02-15T15:20:35","date_gmt":"2024-02-15T20:20:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.skororthodontics.com\/blog\/?p=800"},"modified":"2024-03-29T10:11:20","modified_gmt":"2024-03-29T14:11:20","slug":"primary-teeth-early-orthodontic-treatment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.skororthodontics.com\/blog\/primary-teeth-early-orthodontic-treatment\/","title":{"rendered":"The Importance of Primary Teeth & Early Orthodontic Treatment for Oral Development"},"content":{"rendered":"

They say an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. But did you know this applies to orthodontic treatment\u00a0<\/span><\/span>too.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0While braces\u00a0<\/span><\/span>are seen as<\/span><\/span>\u00a0a way to adjust your permanent teeth into their ideal position, early orthodontic treatment can prevent problems from oc<\/span><\/span>curring in the first place! This form of treatment, referred to as early interceptive treatment, can help\u00a0<\/span><\/span>guide your child\u2019s oral development<\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a0to avoid\u00a0<\/span><\/span>potential malocclusions<\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a0and health risks.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Why Primary Teeth Are important<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Because they\u2019re temporary, primary teeth are often thought of by parents or children as less important than permanent teeth.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>This couldn\u2019t be further from the truth! While it is true that they won\u2019t need to last\u00a0<\/span><\/span>as long as<\/span><\/span>\u00a0permanent teeth, your primary teeth are significant for many reasons:<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

They\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Help Establish Dental Care Routines<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Primary teeth are around long enough to develop issues like cavities, which means they need to be taken care of just the same as permanent ones. During early childhood, parents s<\/span><\/span>hould encourage good oral health habits that will translate into lifelong dental health with their children\u2019s permanent teeth.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Oral health care can start even before primary teeth erupt! Using a\u00a0<\/span><\/span>soft<\/span><\/span>\u00a0cloth and water, parents can get infants used to the feeling of brushing by gently wiping their gums, which helps keeps gums cl<\/span><\/span>ear of bacteria that cause gingivitis.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

They\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Aid in Speech Development<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Making sounds is natural for children but learning how to speak<\/span><\/span>\u00a0a language<\/span><\/span>\u00a0and pronounce words properly requires a lot of practice. This is because the way we make sounds is complicated; speech requires coordination between the mouth, tongue,<\/span><\/span>\u00a0teeth and nasal cavities!<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A healthy set of teeth makes a difference when it comes to\u00a0<\/span><\/span>developing clear speech and avoiding speech impediments<\/span><\/span><\/a>. If primary teeth aren\u2019t properly cared for, children can learn habits that cause issues like lisps, inability to form<\/span><\/span>\u00a0certain sounds and more.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Primary Teeth\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Prepare\u00a0<\/span><\/span>Your Mouth\u00a0<\/span><\/span>for Permanent Teeth<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

The\u00a0<\/span><\/span>most important aspect of primary teeth is that they hold the positions for\u00a0<\/span><\/span>permanent teeth.\u00a0<\/span><\/span>As you age, and adult teeth replace your baby teeth, they will generally come in where the baby teeth were positioned.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If\u00a0<\/span><\/span>a child<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>lose<\/span><\/span>s<\/span><\/span>\u00a0a<\/span><\/span>\u00a0baby t<\/span><\/span>ooth\u00a0<\/span><\/span>early, either due to injury or severe decay issues, the remaining teeth typically shift to fill the new gap left by the lost tooth. This can lead to many different development issues, like large gaps between teeth, teet<\/span><\/span>h erupting at severe angles and more.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How Early Orthodontic Treatment Helps<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Around the age of seven, it\u2019s recommended that children have an orthodontic exam. This gives an orthodontist time to see how your child\u2019s teeth are developing while still leaving time for early orthodontic treatment.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0Almost all orthodontic issues caught in early exams\u00a0<\/span><\/span>lead to<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>a\u00a0<\/span><\/span>better prognosis and easier treatment.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Because the position of your child\u2019s teeth will impact the development of their jaw, issues that are left untreated early may have permanent ramifications in their adult life<\/span><\/span>. While treatment later in life can\u00a0<\/span><\/span>help mitigate or correct problems<\/span><\/span><\/a>, the treatment cycles may be longer or more challenging. On the other hand, early treatment will\u00a0<\/span><\/span>reposition teeth to encourage natural, healthy development. This can completely more severe oral health issues years or decades later!<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Remember to consider this exam even if your child isn\u2019t displaying any obvious signs of issues! Orthodontists are trained specialists with years of experience at spotting things that even a general dentist could miss.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What Is Two-Phase Orthodontic Treatment?<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

One of the common approaches to early orthodontic treatment is what\u2019s known as\u00a0<\/span><\/span>two-phase treatment<\/span><\/span><\/a>. Your orthodontist will split the treatment between two phases, with separate goals in each stage:<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The first stage\u2019s primary goal typically to help with immediate issues and prevent<\/span><\/span>\u00a0problems associated with development when teeth are misaligned. A first-phase treatment may correct your child\u2019s bite, help them chew or speak properly, and establish stable positioning for the teeth.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Phase two, which happens after your child has had time to develop and adjust to the phase-one treatments, is about putting the \u201cfinishing touches\u201d on their treatment. In phase two, your orthodontist may focus on minor bite issues and adjusting the permanent teeth\u00a0<\/span><\/span>into their final positions.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Two-phase treatment is\u00a0<\/span><\/span>recommended in cases where a child\u2019s primary teeth are likely to cause an issue with how perma<\/span><\/span>nent\u00a0<\/span><\/span>teeth with develop. By treating severe alignment issues early, it makes the\u00a0<\/span><\/span>second<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span>phase of the treatment easier and\u00a0<\/span><\/span>able to achieve better results than simply waiting for the permanent teeth to begin treatment.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0\"Information<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

Schedule a Free Consultation<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

Do you have questions about Invisalign or orthodontic treatment? We can answer your questions to keep your teeth and gums healthy \u2013 schedule a free consultation!\u202f<\/span><\/span>Contact us online<\/span><\/span><\/a>\u202for call\u202f<\/span><\/span>440-842-8015<\/span><\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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