TIMELINE
Early Childhood (7 and Under)
At Wise Orthodontics and Stonebridge Orthodontics, we treat our patients like we would treat our own family and friends. Each smile is considered one at a time in order to achieve the ultimate result for that individual. In order to do this, we like to begin the orthodontic process at an early age (7 years old for most patients). This doesn't necessarily mean that your child will begin active treatment. In fact, a vast majority of our patients who see us for the first time at this age are not ready for treatment. Instead, we begin to follow our young patient's dental development over time so that when orthodontic treatment is necessary, it can be started at just the right time. We can even help you plan your budget for orthodontic costs by giving you ample warning before any treatment begins. This is how we treat our own children and we encourage all of our patients to seek out a consultation for their children by age 7 or sooner if their family dentist recommends it.

Childhood Years (7 -12)
As our young children develop into kids, many things are happening with their smiles. The most obvious is the eruption of permanent teeth and the normal growth that is occurring.

Many times, the first few teeth are crowded out and can't come in properly. Or perhaps an overbite is developing. This is the time when orthodontics really becomes an art. Will the teeth have room? Do we need to expand the mouth? Will normal growth and development allow the teeth to come in straight with time? While many times the answers to these questions are obvious, sometimes a conservative approach, when the orthodontist becomes an observer, is the best solution.

We typically have a large window of opportunity during which we can begin treatment and still get the maximum benefit of modern orthodontics. Beginning the process too early can unnecessarily lengthen your child's treatment and make the orthodontic experience unpleasant and overly expensive. Should "early treatment" be required (expanders, functional appliances, partial braces, etc.) we are well equipped to proceed with a customized treatment plan for the child. Rest assured that at Wise Orthodontics and Stonebridge Orthodontics we will keep your child's best interests at heart.
7 Warning Signs in 7-year-olds:
An orthodontist answers the following questions when making a first evaluation. These answers are based on visual observation of the mouth and teeth. When you know what to look for, you can answer these questions, too.

The Seven Warning Signs:
 
1. Do the upper teeth protrude?
Excessive protrusion of the upper front teeth – "buck teeth" – is by far the most common orthodontic problem.
 
2. Is there a deep bite?
The upper front teeth cover the lower front teeth too much.
 
3. Is there an underbite?
The upper teeth fit inside the arch of the lower teeth.
 
4. Is there an open bite?
The child can stick his or her tongue between the upper and lower front teeth when the back teeth are together.
 
5. Is there too little or too much room for the teeth?
Crowded or overlapped teeth...
 
...or noticeably large gaps between teeth.
 
6. Do the front teeth line up?
The spaces between the two upper front teeth and the two lower front teeth should line up with each other and both should line up with the bridge of the nose. When they do not, the probable cause is a drifted teeth or a shifted lower jaw, resulting in an improper bite.
 
7. Is there a crossbite?
The upper back teeth fit inside, rather than outside of the lowers.
 
Seek Treatment Earlier Than Age Seven If Your Child Has:
  • Difficulty chewing.
  • Open-mouth breathing.
  • Thumb or finger sucking.
  • Overlapping or crowding of erupting permanent teeth.
  • Jaws that click or pop.
  • Biting of the cheek or into the roof of the mouth.
  • Speech problems.
  • Grinding or wearing down of teeth.
  • Obvious abnormal bite development of any kind.
"Rest assured that at Wise Orthodontics and Stonebridge Orthodontics we will keep your child's best interests at heart."