Introduction
Treatment of early malalignment can prevent more serious dental issues, improving child s self esteem and guiding jaw and tooth development.it can also prevent future orthodontic treatment procedure and make it more cost effective.
Why age 7 ?
- The first adult molar and incisors usually erupt giving a preview of future bite and alignment.
- Jaw is still growing making it easier to guide development.
Problems that can be caught early :
- Cross bite
- Overbite
- Underbite
- Impacted teeth
- Habits:Thumb sucking related changes, tongue tie,tongue thrusting
- Early/late loss of baby teeth
Benefits of Early Detection
- Prevents invasive treatment
- Some kids may not need treatment ,but monitoring
- Myofunctional appliances
- Also can go for interceptive treatment methods
- Improves confidence early on if aesthetics are an issue
- Improves function (speech and chewing)
- Interceptive treatment : like expanders,partial braces /habit appliance