Orthodontic Treatment for Children and Teens
Should your child get Braces or Invisalign?
Click the link to read what Dr. Jacy Papasikos has to say in his interview with NewJerseyFamily.com
Whether your child is 7 or 13, finding the right doctor and the right treatment for your youngster is crucial. Most professionals say that orthodontic exams should begin no later than age 7. The following early warning signs usually indicate that your child should have an orthodontic exam:
• Early or late loss of teeth • Speech difficulty
• Difficulty in chewing or biting • Biting the cheek or into the roof of the mouth
• Mouth breathing • Protruding teeth
• Finger-sucking or other oral habits • Teeth that meet in an abnormal way or don’t meet at all
• Crowding, misplaced, or blocked-out teeth • Facial imbalance
• Jaws that shift, make sounds, protrude or retrude
Early Preadolscent Treatment (PHASE I)
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends visiting the orthodontist around age 7. Although most children do not require early interceptive treatment (Phase I), it can prevent more serious conditions from developing as well as the need for costly and painful tooth extractions, jaw surgery, or dental trauma. In some cases, we will be able to achieve results that may not be possible once the face and jaws have finished growing.
Goals of Early Phase I Treatment:
- Correct and guide the growth and development of the jaws
- Regulate the width of the upper and lower jaws
- Create adequate space for future eruption of permanent teeth
- Correct thumb-sucking and other oral habits
When assessing the need for Phase 1 treatment, we only recommend treatment when there is a moderate to severe orthodontic problem that should not wait until later to be treated. We always look for the most conservative treatment options which may include partial braces, palate expanders, or space maintainers. Treatment duration is typically around a year or less.
Comprehensive Adolescent Treatment (PHASE II)
Comprehensive treatment (Phase II) begins when most of the permanent teeth have erupted which is typically between the ages of 11 and 13. Those individuals that received Phase I treatment to correct severe problems often experience shorter and more simple Phase II treatment than they otherwise would have.
Goals of Comprehensive Phase II Treatment:
- Beautiful, natural looking smiles
- Properly aligned teeth in the upper and lower arches
- Teeth in harmony with the lips, cheeks, tongue, and other teeth
- Functional bite with upper teeth correctly meshing with lower teeth
During this phase, both upper and lower teeth are moved by using either braces or Invisalign® aligners, and treatment duration can range anywhere from one to two years depending on complexity. Retainers are worn after this phase to ensure that results are maintained.