Treatment Phases
When is the Right time to start treatment?
Determining the best time to start orthodontic treatment is based on many factors. Whether the patient is 7 or 107 years old, proper timing is based on the individual patient's needs, growth patterns or dental concerns. These factors will help us to figure out how to create a gorgeous smile without years and years of treatment. Here are a few things to consider when deciding when to seek orthodontic treatment:
Interceptive Treatment
(treatment in young children)
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that all children have their first orthodontic consultation by the time they reach 7 years old. If that seems young to have braces, you're probably right! In fact, when patients are 7-11 years old, Dr. Bloom is primarily looking for major dental issues or other issues related to growth. Most of the time, these issues are corrected using orthodontic devices other than braces. Here are a few conditions to look out for:
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Crossbites
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Underbites
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Narrow palate
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Severe dental crowding
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Impacted teeth
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Not sure if your child needs treatment? Schedule a free consultation today and discuss your questions and concerns with Dr. Bloom.
Adolescent Orthodontics
For the majority of patients, comprehensive orthodontic treatment begins in their teenage years after all the baby teeth have fallen out and the adult teeth are coming in. This is also the time that many teenage patients are experiencing a rapid growth spurt which may help with orthodontic treatment. For some patients, timing treatment with this growth spurt is crucial to achieving the best results. Some orthodontic conditions you may see in your teenager include:
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Overbites
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Deep bites
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Crowding, especially the front teeth
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Excessive spacing
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Crooked teeth
Not sure if your child needs treatment? Schedule a free consultation today and discuss your questions and concerns with Dr. Bloom.
Adult orthodontics
Some adults find that over time their teeth have shifted and they no longer have the attractive smile they once had. For others, they were never lucky enough to have orthodontic treatment as kid. Whatever the case may be, it's never too late to get the smile you've always wanted. A few of the things we see in our adult patients include:
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Teeth are shifting, especially the lower teeth
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Never had orthodontic treatment
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Excessive spacing
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Need more room for future dental work
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Incorrect bite
Not sure if you need treatment? Schedule a free consultation today and discuss your questions and concerns with Dr. Bloom.