| Treatments
1. Early treatment
Modern Orthodontics: Early Intervention Has Benefits
Most parents would agree: seeing a big, warm smile on your child’s
face is one of the most gratifying things about being a mom or dad.
But keeping that smile healthy and bright requires good dental care
that starts early in life and teamwork involving the patient, his
or her family, the family dentist, the orthodontist and as needed,
other dental specialist.
When most people think of orthodontics, they think of teenagers.
And the fact is, most orthodontic treatment begins between the ages
of 9 and 14, however, by age7, most children have a mix of adult
and baby teeth. Orthodontists can spot subtle problems with jaw
growth and emerging teeth while some baby teeth are still present.
That’s important, because some orthodontic problems are easier
to correct if they’re found early. For these reasons the American
Association of Orthodontists recommends that your child get an orthodontic
check-up no later than age 7. While your child’s teeth, there
could be a problem that only an orthodontist can detect. Of course,
the check-up may reveal that your child’s bite is fine, and
that can be comforting news.
Even if a problem is detected, Dr. Tosun may not recommend immediate
treatment. Chances are, he will take a “wait-and-see”
approach, checking on your child from time to time as the permanent
teeth come in and the jaws and face continue to grow. For each patient
who needs treatment, there’s an ideal time for treatment to
begin in order to achieve the best results. The orthodontist is
the specialist who has the knowledge to determine when the time
is just right.
In some cases, Dr. Tosun might find a problem that can benefit
from early treatment. Early treatment may prevent more serious problems
from developing, and may make treatment at a later age shorter and
less complicated. Typically, early treatment involves the use of
orthodontic appliances to guide the growth of young bones and create
a better environment for adult teeth as they emerge. In some cases,
Dr. Tosun will be able to achieve results that wouldn’t be
possible once the face and jaws have finished growing. Early treatment
gives him the chance to:
• Guide jaw growth
• Lower the risk of trauma to protruded front teeth
• Correct harmful oral habits
• Improve appearance and self-esteem
• Guide permanent teeth into a more favorable position
• Improve the way lips meet
• Some patients may require a second phase of treatment at
about 12-14 years often with braces to complete the tooth and jaw
alignment that was started during the first phase of treatment.
Signs That The Bite ‘s Not Right:
It’s not always easy to tell when your child has an orthodontic
problem. Even teeth that look straight may be hiding a problem bite
and that’s why it’s important to take your child for
that first orthodontic check-up no later than age 7.
Here are some clues that may indicate the need for orthodontic
attention:
• Early or late loss of baby teeth
• Difficulty in chewing or biting
• Breathing through the mouth
• Thumb-sucking
• Crowded, misplaced or blocked-out teeth
• Jaws that are too far forward or back
• Biting the cheek or biting into the roof of the mouth
• Protruding teeth
• Upper and lower teeth that don’t meet or meet in an
abnormal way
• An unbalanced facial appearance
• Grinding of the teeth
What are the differences between early (interceptive treatment)
and full (comprehensive) treatments ?
Early or interceptive treatment usually starts when children have
most of their baby teeth and a few of their permanent incisors.
This stage in development usually occurs about the age of seven.
The goal of early treatment is to intercept a moderate or severe
orthodontic problem early in order to reduce or eliminate it. These
problems include some skeletal discrepancies, cross-bites and crowding.
early treatment takes advantage of the early growth spurt and turns
a difficult orthodontic problem into a more manageable one. This
helps reduce the need for extractions or surgery and delivers better
long-term results and treatment options. Some early patients require
a full treatment in order to achieve an ideal bite.
Full treatment starts usually after all permanent teeth come out.
The goal of full treatment is to achieve an ideal occlusion with
all of the permanent teeth.
An Affordable Investment With A Lifetime Of Benefits
In addition to improving oral health, orthodontic treatment can
provide the confidence that comes with a healthy, attractive smile
for years to come. And you may be pleasantly surprised to find how
affordable such a great investment can be. Dr Tosun will work with
you to arrive at a payment plan that fits within your budget. In
addition, many dental insurance plans now include orthodontic benefits.
Dirhams for dirhams, when you consider the lifetime benefits of
orthodontic treatment, it is truly a great value.
• For A Smile that’s Good for Life:
• Make regular visits to your dentist at least every six months.
• Take your child for an orthodontic check-up no later than
age 7. If a problem is detected, Dr. Tosun can determine the best
time to start treatment.
• Get your child an orthodontic check-up even if he or she
is past age 7. Although an early check-up can be extremely beneficial,
the fact is that most orthodontic patients begin active treatment
between ages 9 and 14.
Remember that successful orthodontic treatment is the result of
a partnership. The orthodontist, family dentist and, especially,
a cooperative patient all work together to create a healthy, beautiful
smile that’s good for life.
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