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Our goal is for every person who visits our practice to have a healthy, attractive smile for life.
This isn’t something we can do on our own, however, although we may be able to help sooner than you think.
February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. Today, we want to share some of the ways our doctors could help your loved ones.
To schedule an appointment at one of our Indiana Orthodontic Alliances locations, call:
- 219-809-6584 for Michigan City
- 219-841-7795 for Portage
- 219-440-6512 for St. John
Set Up An Early Evaluation
When should you bring your child to see an orthodontist?
Many people are surprised to learn that the American Association of Orthodontists recommend bringing your child in for an evaluation when they are 7 years old.
At this stage in life, most kids have lost some primary teeth and may have some permanent teeth, too. An assessment by a specialist, like our Drs. Randy and Evan Schmidt, can help you know if orthodontic care may be needed in the future. This can help you and your son or daughter prepare for that treatment down the road.
In most cases, no steps will be needed between that day and the day your child gets braces (or another of our orthodontic services). However, we can get a sense of what issues your child may be facing, which can improve the quality of the care they receive.
Get A Head Start On a Healthy Smile
For some children, we can intervene early to affect the development of their mouth and jaw. This can make treatment with braces easier and more effective when they are older.
Children’s bones are more malleable than adults, which is why dentofacial orthopedics is possible. This is sometimes called interceptive orthodontics.
If we notice something abnormal about your child’s facial bone structure, we can recommend corrective services. For a child has a narrow mouth, we can make an expander that can guide how their mouth grows. This can create more room for teeth to erupt correctly, which can reduce crowding as more permanent teeth come in. Expanders can be made for the palate or the lower jaw.
Another common issue are primary teeth that fall out too early. If the permanent tooth is not ready to replace it, we can place a spacer there temporarily. This can prevent neighboring teeth from drifting into that space, which can make it more difficult for permanent teeth to emerge.
In rare cases, we may recommend oral surgery to correct an open bite, protruding lower jaw, or a weak chin. In those instances, we work closely with the surgical team.
Visit Us Soon
Don’t wait to talk to our doctors about your children’s oral health. You can take steps today that could give your kids a reason to smile for many years to come.
To set up an evaluation or to start orthodontic treatment, schedule a visit at any Orthodontic Alliances. Call today:
- 219-809-6584 for Michigan City
- 219-841-7795 for Portage
- 219-440-6512 for St. John