Get a head start on a beautiful smile
As a parent in Lake Jackson, you want the best for your child. That includes healthy teeth and a pleasing smile. Dr. McGrory and our team will treat your children like our own by giving them the best possible orthodontic care.
Kids should get an orthodontic check-up by 7
According to the American Association of Orthodontics and Dr. McGrory, it’s best for children to see an orthodontist by age seven to advise if orthodontic treatment is required and determine the best time for that patient to be treated.
The first permanent molars and incisors have usually come in by that time and crossbites, crowding, and other problems can be effectively evaluated. When treatment is begun early, the orthodontist can guide the growth of the jaws and guide incoming permanent teeth.
Early treatment may prevent or prevent more serious problems from developing and may make treatment at a later age shorter and less complicated. In some cases, Dr. McGrory will be able to achieve results that may not be possible once the face and jaws have finished growing.
What is early treatment?
Early treatment can regulate the width of the upper and lower dental arches, gain space for permanent teeth, in some cases, avoid the need for permanent tooth extractions, reduce the likelihood of impacted permanent teeth, correct thumb-sucking, and eliminate abnormal swallowing or speech problems. In other words, early treatment can simplify later treatment!
Choosing the best time for treatment
While the age at which kids get braces may vary, orthodontic treatment most often begins between the ages of 9 and 14. Some orthodontic problems are easier to correct if they’re treated early.
Most adolescents are ready for orthodontic care when the last few baby teeth are coming out and they are close to their growth spurt. The ideal timing depends on each individual’s growth pattern, so visiting us early can ensure that treatment begins at the ideal time for your child.
If Dr. McGrory believes your child will need treatment, he’ll let you know when it will be best to begin. This gives your orthodontist the best chance to:
- Guide jaw growth
- Lower the risk of trauma to protruded front teeth
- Correct harmful oral habits
- Improve appearance and self-esteem in your child
- Guide permanent teeth into a more favorable position
- Create a more pleasing arrangement of teeth, lips, and face
Signs the bite isn't right
It’s not always easy to tell when your child may need braces or has an orthodontic problem. Even teeth that look straight may be hiding a problem bite.
Here are some clues that may indicate the need for orthodontic attention:
- Early or late loss of baby teeth
- Difficulty chewing or biting
- Breathing through the mouth
- Thumb-sucking
- Crowded, misplaced, or blocked-out teeth
- Jaws that are too far forward or back
- Biting the cheek or biting into the roof of the mouth
- Protruding teeth
- Upper and lower teeth that don’t meet, or meet in an abnormal way
- An unbalanced facial appearance
- Grinding or clenching of the teeth
