Children
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that the initial orthodontic examination should occur at the first sign of orthodontic problems or no later than age 7. At this early age, orthodontic treatment may not be necessary but vigilant evaluation can anticipate the most advantageous time to start treatment.
In those cases that prudent early intervention is required, it will guide growth and development preventing serious and more difficult-to-solve problems later.
The advantages of early intervention are many, including:
• Creating room for crowded and erupting teeth
• Creating facial symmetry through influencing jaw growth
• Reducing the risk of trauma to protruding teeth
• Reducing the need for extractions of teeth
• Reducing the treatment time with braces.
Though an orthodontist can enhance a smile at any age, there is an optimal time to begin treatment.
Beginning treatment at this optimal time ensures the greatest result and the least amount of time and expense.
Tom’s main mission in orthodontics is to treat your child as a whole, to achieve the best results for your child’s teeth but also to influence the best result for your child’s face.
This treatment philosophy may involve not taking out permanent teeth and this is used more frequently than in the past.
Tom uses the most modern and effective treatment techniques that patients find most comfortable.
