At Olson Orthodontics, we are proud to offer early treatment options for kids! Early treatment is also commonly referred to as interceptive treatment because it’s designed to be performed while the child still has some of their baby teeth and serve as a preventative step.
The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) suggests that your child see an orthodontist for an exam at age seven. You might be asking yourself: “What’s so special about age 7?” At the age of seven, a kid has enough of their permanent teeth for Dr. Lauren Olson to catch potential problematic alignments or jaw problems that might arise in the future. In fact, this is early enough to possibly prevent a more severe case!
AFTER THE INITIAL CONSULTATION
According to the AAO, there are three possible outcomes after a child’s first visit to the orthodontist:
No further treatment is necessary at that time.
There is the potential that treatment might be needed in the future. The child will continue to come in for check-ups as the mouth continues to grow.
Dr. Olson identifies a problem that indicates early interceptive treatment is necessary.
WHAT IS EARLY TREATMENT?
If Dr. Olson identifies a problem in your child’s bite, early interceptive treatment may be necessary. The purpose of such treatment is to correct any present problems that might only continue to worsen in the future if not treated. By doing so, this could help guide the continued growth of the teeth, facial structure and jaws as your child patiently awaits the arrival of their permanent teeth.
Early treatment could include phased treatment. This means that the orthodontic treatment plan is divided into two parts – Phase 1 and Phase 2. The early treatment would be considered Phase 1. This means that Dr. Olson will treat your child’s bite with braces or another appliance to prevent worse issues later on in their life. They will then have this set of braces (or appliance) removed and will undergo a “resting period” until they are ready for Phase 2 of treatment. During the resting period, we will have you come in for checkups so that we can begin Phase 2 at the optimal time. Phase 2 will consist of another set of braces once more permanent teeth have come in.
SCHEDULE YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY!
If you have a child around age 7, or if you’ve identified a problem in your child’s bite, consider bringing them in for a consultation with Dr. Olson. At Olson Orthodontics, we want to do everything we can to ensure the comfort of our patients, and we are eager to assist you on the journey toward your new smile. Please contact our office with any questions, or click here to schedule your appointment today!