American Association of Orthodontics suggests all children should get their check ups done with an orthodontist as early as 7 years of age. Depending on the condition and growth patterns, orthodontist would decide on the treatment plan whether to give interceptive appliances or skeletal related discrepancies treatments.

Initial evaluation is of utmost importance as we have seen by our vast experience that starting early has many advantages. For specific issues, like correcting jaw growth or helping adult teeth to emerge correctly, additional orthodontic appliances might be used.

Examples include palatal expanders, space maintainers, or headgear. This is a preventive approach aimed at addressing orthodontic issues in children at an early age to prevent more severe problems later on. It may involve guiding jaw growth, ensuring there is enough space for adult teeth, or correcting bad oral habits.

While it sounds a little bit scary and strange, growth modification could actually help to reduce the likelihood of your child needing complex orthodontic treatment such as jaw surgeries later in their life.

As its name suggested, growth modification treatment modifies the growth of the bone. That’s why it’s more common for this technique to be used on younger patients who are still growing and have more pliable bone tissue, though it should be noted that it is also possible for some adults to undergo this treatment.

Through wearing a specially made appliance, it is possible to actually modify the growth of the patient’s bone so that it is gradually moved to a position where their teeth fit into their mouth and jaw correctly.

As we mentioned earlier, by correcting this during the patient’s growth stage, it is often possible to avoid the need for tooth extraction and jaw surgeries. It can also work to improve a patient’s overall profile.

This includes treatment of children as well as adults with braces ( labial or lingual ) and aligners ( Invisalign ). This phase includes meticulous planning with primary records and explanation of treatment to the patient as to what to expect and which appliance is best suited for the case.

Lingual braces: In this treatment modality brackets are placed behind the teeth and mainly advised in adults as it’s aesthetic. For an adult it’s difficult to decide on treatment but with newer aesthetic appliances it’s become so easy and effective.

In some cases, surgical procedures might be needed in conjunction with orthodontic treatment, especially in adults. This could include jaw surgery to correct severe bite issues.

After completing treatment with braces or aligners, retainers are often used to maintain the new position of the teeth. They can be removable or fixed and are essential for long-term results.

Dental Monitoring: Some clinics might offer remote monitoring solutions, where patients can send progress images using a smartphone app, reducing the number of in-person visits required.