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Early Orthodontic Treatment

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children be seen by the age of seven to evaluate the need for orthodontic treatment.

This may seem early, but at this age, Dr. Busciglio can identify and address many problems that if left untreated, may make later treatment far more difficult on both the child and the orthodontist.

By the age of seven, most children will have the front four adult teeth on the upper and lower, as well as the first permanent molars erupted. With these teeth erupted, we can evaluate if there is adequate space for the other teeth to erupt. In addition, we can evaluate the growth of the jaws to determine any bite discrepancy, check for crossbites, arch width, and dangerous protrusions of the front teeth.

Often, an early phase of treatment to address one or more of these issues can reduce the likelihood for extractions of adult teeth, simplify later treatment, and improve the child’s self-image during the formative years.

Advantages of Early Treatment:

  • Create space for erupting adult teeth
  • Avoid extracting adult teeth
  • Protect protruding teeth from damage
  • Correct crossbites to avoid permanent damage
  • Re-shape arches to create esthetically pleasing alignment and width
  • Reduce the likelihood of impacted teeth
  • Simplify later treatment

Adult Orthodontic Treatment

It’s never too late to achieve the smile that you’ve always dreamed of!

In addition, orthodontic technology has advanced to a point where we can now move teeth and complete adult cases as if they were children or teenagers. The days of adult treatment taking twice to three times as long as adolescent treatment are in the past. Using light-force movement and keeping the blood-flow intact encourages bone remodeling and regeneration, which leads to faster tooth movement – even in adults.

Also, many adults have been put off by orthodontic treatment in the past because they were told the only way to correct their bite was with major jaw surgery or permanent tooth extraction. This again is a thing of the past. In most cases, we are able to avoid the need for both surgery and extractions, and our results both esthetically and functionally have been beautiful.

Adult orthodontic treatment is a rapidly growing concept. A recent study showed that one in five orthodontic patients were adults.

If the look of braces is a concern to you, we now have a completely clear version of the Damon braces available for placement. In the past, the benefits of the Damon System (faster tooth movement, lack of surgery and extractions, etc.) were only available in a metal or partially clear bracket. This advancement has made it possible to combine the best functional treatment available with the discreet look that many adults are after. Schedule a complimentary consultation today to see what we can do for you!

For more information on adult braces, visit www.archwired.com