ORTHODONTIC TIMING

It’s never too early, and it’s never too late…

 

An orthodontic appointment with a scrupulous specialist is always a good idea. A qualified specialist can discern whether orthodontic treatment is necessary or not, and when the best time to start treatment may be. There different treatment phases,  separated according to the age of the patient whenz the therapy began.

CHILDHOOD

At this age it is very important to have a check-up, even if there are no apparent problems. A specialized orthodontist appointment should figure among the routine check-ups for a growing child. It is often possible to prevent serious and expensive problems further down the line by a routine check-up. More often than not, a pre-emptive check-up will simply confirm that there are no existing problems. A check-up timeline program can be established. Having a set program helps the child get used to having a dentist in their life, as well as being quite happy to sit in a dentist’s chair.

ADOLESCENCE: True Orthodontic Therapy

This is a very variable moment. Age-wise, the best time to begin a full orthodontic treatment is when all the adult teeth are present. This can happen between the ages of 12 and 16 years old. Like with children, it is best to fix an appointment whose purpose is to define the best treatment to follow, taking all existing problems into account.

ADOLESCENCE: True Orthodontic Therapy

This is a very variable moment. Age-wise, the best time to begin a full orthodontic treatment is when all the adult teeth are present. This can happen between the ages of 12 and 16 years old. Like with children, it is best to fix an appointment whose purpose is to define the best treatment to follow, taking all existing problems into account.

ADULTHOOD: “Corrective” orthodontic treatment

Smiling is good at any age. It is commonly thought that orthodontics is only for children. This is not true. Orthodontic treatment can be appropriate at any point during adulthood too. It is never too late to take care of your health and to prevent any complications later on. Teeth shifting happens for the same reasons in an adult as it does in a child. An adult takes on orthodontic treatment to cure teeth alignment, re-establish smile esthetics and solve functional problems. These problems occur due to bad alignment, which also affects gum health, the temporomandibular joints, and the masticatory muscles.

In children and adolescents, treatment is aimed at assisting skeletal growth as well as teeth alignment. The skeleton is still developing, and this makes it very important to intercept bad bite alignment as soon as possible.