Take Control of Your Child’s Smile With Dentofacial Orthopedics in Portage
As with many things, it’s a good idea to deal with orthodontic problems as early as possible. That’s exactly what our dentofacial orthopedics in Portage, IN are intended to do. Through this process, you could:
we can shape a perfect smile
Dentofacial orthopedics is a topic that I'm truly passionate about as an orthodontist because as orthodontists, we can not only put your teeth into a better position, but we also have the ability and techniques to be able to influence the growth of the jaws. For example, if one of the jaws has outpaced the growth of the opposing jaw, which basically means you have an excessively weak or strong chin, we have different appliances that can help the jaw that's lagging behind to catch up in growth with the opposing jaw. If your upper jaw is too narrow relative to the lower jaw, causing you to bite into a crossbite or to have to shift your jaw to the side to be able to bite down fully, we also have the ability to widen your upper jaw so your teeth can bite together in harmony every time you chew down.
It's always better to attempt to intercept these problems at a younger age, and that's exactly why we always recommend patients come in for their initial consult at about the age of 7. If you think your child has a problem with jaw growth or any other sort of dental issue or orthodontic issue, please bring them in for a free orthodontic consultation, and we'll see if dentofacial orthopedics or traditional braces is right for them.
- Correct alignment issues without surgery
- Guide the development of jaws and facial bones
- Reduce the duration of orthodontic treatment
This service can help kids before they are ready for braces or other orthodontic services. Call 219-841-7795 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Randy Schmidt or Dr. Evan Schmidt at Orthodontic Alliances.
Act Now to Reduce Problems Later
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends orthodontic exams for your child around the age of 7. Most kids have a mix of primary and permanent teeth at this stage of their development and won’t need any work yet. However, this is a good opportunity to find potential problems in the early stages. We can identify any developmental problems and help you decide which solutions can have long-term benefits for your little ones.
Having too much or too little bone structure can dramatically affect how your child’s smile looks. Dentofacial orthopedics is a kind of preventive treatment for your child that can address this problem. We can guide the growth of their jaw and facial bones to create more room for their teeth to come in. If a tooth falls out early, we have ways to maintain that space until the permanent tooth is ready.
This kind of treatment won’t end the need for braces or Invisalign in most cases, but it can help avoid surgery when your child is older.
To find out more about our dentofacial orthopedics in Portage, IN, call 219-841-7795 or contact Orthodontic Alliances online.