What Every Parent Should Know About Early Orthodontic Care

What is your smile goal?

When it comes to teeth, everyone has a different journey to their smile goal, and that includes children. For some, the goal is cosmetic improvement; for others, they are working on improving functionality. For children, straightening their teeth can be a huge confidence booster. No matter the underlying reason, some kids need braces around middle or high school, others can completely go without. But did you know that some need a bit more orthodontic work in the form of early orthodontic care?

So what does early orthodontic care truly mean? And why does it have to be done so early? Early orthodontic care is frequently needed in the case of bite or palate issues that could create more issues as time goes on. More than likely, this isn’t something that will spring up out of nowhere. Pediatric dentists, including the staff at We Make Kids Smile, begin monitoring a child’s dental growth early to see what their bite might or might not need as they grow older.

Why Early Evaluations Matter

We mentioned earlier that pediatric dentists start to monitor a child’s bite early to see what might need to be done. But why does this really matter? What are they looking for?

As your child grows, their pediatric dentist will watch how their mouth grows and changes. They will be watching the spacing of their teeth, making sure nothing is getting too crowded or too far apart. They will also watch for bite pattern problems such as underbites, overbites, or crossbites.

Why do these problems matter? Especially so early? Some things are easier to repair when a child hasn’t finished growing just yet. More specifically, their palates. Once their palate and jaw are fully formed, some bite issues are impossible to correct without major surgery. Even in the more minor cases, repairing issues earlier can sometimes mean less time with braces or other orthodontic devices over time.

Signs Your Child May Need Early Guidance

Is there anything a parent can watch for when looking to see if their child needs early orthodontic guidance?

If your child has a habit of sucking their thumb, this can be a sign that they might develop palate issues. The same goes for if your child uses a pacifier throughout toddlerhood.

If you notice your child does a lot of mouth breathing, this could be a sign that something is going on with their bite and that they might benefit from early orthodontic care.

Are you noticing that your child has crooked or overlapping teeth? In severe cases, early orthodontic care might be necessary to help your child’s teeth straighten out properly.

If your child loses their baby teeth too soon or too late, this could create problems with their bite as they grow, and they might benefit from early orthodontic care.

Remember, you’re not the only one monitoring these issues. At We Make Kids Smile, your child’s pediatric dentist is watching your child’s oral development for any of these problems and will help you make a plan if necessary. 

What Happens During an Early Orthodontic Assessment

If your child is ready for their early orthodontic assessment, you might be wondering what you can expect!

Your child will receive a growth check to see how their oral development is doing. This will include photos and X-rays to see what is truly going on with their bite and the placement of their teeth. The team will also review tooth eruption patterns to make sure everything is coming in at the proper time.

Benefits of Early Guidance

There are more benefits to early guidance than you might realize. Getting your child the help they need supports proper oral development and can help eliminate the need for orthodontic work later on in life! It often simplifies future treatment as well, and can sometimes mean they don’t have to deal with surgeries to repair the issues once they are adults.

This early guidance can also help address habits early. For example, if your child sucks their thumb, it can create problems with their palate and affect their teeth as they come in. With guidance, the team at We Make Kids Smile can help you and your child work through these habits and avoid the issues that come with them.

What Parents Can Expect After the Evaluation

What happens after the orthodontic evaluation? This can be different for every child, as each one has a different smile! Often, you will receive a monitoring schedule. This way, everyone can be aware of what’s happening as your child’s mouth continues to develop.

Sometimes, the results of the evaluation might include the need for maintainers or growth-guiding appliances. If this is the case, you will receive appointment dates and an official game plan for this.

Time for Straighter Smiles

We Make Kids Smile is a pediatric dental office that practices orthodontics. We believe that early checks help create strong foundations for healthy alignment and long-term oral development. With our help, your child can stick with the dental team they already know and trust, and still achieve a straighter smile.

Are you ready to schedule your child’s early orthodontic evaluation? Contact us today to get an appointment on the calendar.