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Orthodontic Frequently Asked Questions
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What age should
my child have an orthodontic evaluation?
Why is it important to have
orthodontic treatment at a young age?
What Causes Crooked Teeth?
How Do Teeth Move?
Will It Hurt? |
WHAT AGE SHOULD MY CHILD HAVE AN ORTHODONTIC
EVALUATION?
The American Association of Orthodontists
(AAO) recommends an orthodontic screening for children by the
age of 7 years. At age 7 the teeth and jaws are developed enough
so that the dentist or orthodontist can see if there will be any
serious bite problems in the future. Most of the time treatment
is not necessary at age 7, but it gives the parents and dentist
time to watch the development of the patient and decide on the
best mode of treatment. When you have time on your side you can
plan ahead and prevent the formation of serious problems.
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WHY IT IS IMPORTANT TO HAVE ORTHODONTIC
TREATMENT AT A YOUNG AGE?
The American Association of Orthodontists
(AAO) recommends an orthodontic screening for children by the
age of 7 years. At age 7 the teeth and jaws are developed enough
so that the pediatric dentist can see if there will be any serious
bite problems in the future. Most of the time treatment is not
necessary at age 7, but it gives the parents and dentist time
to watch the development of the patient and decide on the best
mode of treatment. When you have time on your side you can plan
ahead and prevent the formation of serious problems.
Doing orthodontic treatments in two steps provides
excellent results often allowing the doctor to avoid removal of permanent
teeth and jaw surgery. The treatment done when some of the baby teeth
are still present is called Phase-1. The last part of treatment after
all the permanent teeth have erupted is called Phase-2.
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WHAT CAUSES CROOKED TEETH?
Crowded teeth, thumb sucking, tongue thrusting,
premature loss of baby teeth, a poor breathing airway caused by
enlarged adenoids or tonsils can all contribute to poor tooth
positioning. And then there are the hereditary factors. Extra
teeth, large teeth, missing teeth, wide spacing, small jaws -
all can be causes of crowded teeth.
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HOW DO TEETH MOVE?
Tooth movement is a natural response to
light pressure over a period of time. Pressure is applied by using
a variety of orthodontic hardware (appliances), the most common
being a brace or bracket attached to the teeth and connected by
an arch wire. Periodic changing of these arch wires puts pressure
on the teeth. At different stages of treatment your child may
wear a headgear, elastics, a positioner or a retainer. Most orthodontic
appointments are scheduled 4 to 6 weeks apart to give the teeth
time to move.
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WILL IT HURT?
When teeth are first moved, discomfort
may result. This usually lasts about 24 to 72 hours. Patients
report a lessening of pain as the treatment progresses. Pain medicines
such as acetaminophen (Tylenol) or ibuprofen (Advil) usually help
relieve the pain.
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