Orthopedic Dental Treatment for Children

Orthopedics is a specialized area of dentistry that deals with the prevention or correction of irregularities of the teeth and/or bite alignment. The goal of this treatment is to guide facial development and growth, typically in the jaw bones so that the teeth line up normally.

Early treatment allows preventing the problems from either developing or worsening. Early treatment is based on arriving at the cause of the problem and addressing the issue rather than simply treating the problem after it has developed. Orthopedic treatment has become one of the best preventative treatment modalities for children.

As mentioned above, children are the best candidates for this type of treatment typically up to age 11. After age 11 and in adults, it is much more difficult to correct the abnormalities because the jaw bones are fully formed and hardened. Usually, surgery needs to be performed. It is for this reason that it is vital for children to see a specialist in dental orthopedics by no older than 11 years of age.

• Minimize or eliminate severe bad bites
• Improve facial appearance and the child’s self esteem
• Reduce protrusion (buck teeth) to decrease chance of injury
• Reduce the need or minimize the number of permanent teeth extracted
• Improve the alignment of the upper to the lower jaw
• Decrease or eliminate adverse habits such as thumb sucking or tongue thrusting during swallowing as the dental arches are developing making more room for the tongue
• Make the orthodontic (braces) treatment easier/shorter or eliminate the treatment altogether
• Improve nasal breathing and improve health
• Prevent headache and ear ache