Get a Head Start on a Beautiful Smile
As a parent in Orange Park, you want the best for your child. That includes healthy teeth and a pleasing smile.
Dr. Gardner will treat your children like our own by giving them the best possible orthodontic care.
Kids Should Get an Orthodontic Check-Up By 7
By seven years old your child's teeth have developed enough for subtle problems with jaw growth and emerging teeth to still be spotted while some baby teeth are still present.
This check-up may reveal that your child's bite is fine, and braces for kids aren't necessary.
Or, Dr. Gardner may identify a developing problem but recommend monitoring your child's growth and development, and then, if indicated, begin treatment at the appropriate time for your child.
In other cases, Dr. Gardner might find a problem that can benefit from early treatment.
What is Phase 1?
This treatment involves the dynamic planning of orthodontic treatment on an individual basis to achieve the desired result: a beautiful and straight smile.
Early treatment may prevent or intercept more serious problems from developing and may make treatment at a later age shorter and less complicated.
The first phase of treatment is concerned with the healthy development of the jaw, so that it will support all of the adult teeth without any teeth becoming impacted or pushed out.
Many children display the first signs of these problems early, which is why taking preventative steps while the jaw is more susceptible to adjustment is all the more effective. This will encourage the healthy development of the jaw, as the child grows older and phase two treatment is needed.
In some cases, Dr. Gardner will be able to achieve results that may not be possible once the face and jaws have finished growing.
Choosing the Best Time for Treatment
While the age that kids get braces may vary, orthodontic treatment most often begins between the ages of 9 and 14. Some orthodontic problems are easier to correct if they’re treated early.
If Dr. Gardner thinks your child will need treatment, he’ll let you know when it will be best to begin treatment. This gives your orthodontist the best chance to:
- Guide jaw growth
- Lower the risk of trauma to protruded front teeth
- Correct harmful oral habits
- Improve appearance and self-esteem in your child
- Guide permanent teeth into a more favorable position
- Create a more pleasing arrangement of teeth, lips and face
Phase Two Treatment
There’s a resting period following the first phase to allow the rest of the adult teeth to erupt. The second phase works to keep the newly formed smile healthy, with a properly formed bite.
As children and teens become adults, their teeth and jaws will set permanently. Phase two is dedicated to keeping the new beautiful smile intact for years to come.
Signs the Bite's Not Right
It's not always easy to tell when your child may need braces or has an orthodontic problem. Even teeth that look straight may be hiding a problem bite.
Here are some clues that may indicate the need for orthodontic attention:
- Early or late loss of baby teeth
- Difficulty chewing or biting
- Breathing through the mouth
- Thumb-sucking
- Crowded, misplaced or blocked-out teeth
- Jaws that are too far forward or back
- Biting the cheek or biting into the roof of the mouth
- Protruding teeth
- Upper and lower teeth that don't meet, or meet in an abnormal way
- An unbalanced facial appearance
- Grinding or clenching of the teeth
Learn More at Your Free Consultation
If you have any questions about how two-phase treatment works or if you would like to set up an appointment, please contact us by setting up a free consultation at our Orange Park orthodontic office.
We can talk about your child's orthodontic options and develop a treatment plan customized to your child's needs. Developing beautiful and straight smiles for years of enjoyment is Dr. Gardner’s priority.