What age should my child start orthodontic care?
Orthodontic assessments typically start around age 7, allowing us to catch and address potential issues early.
Expert care tailored for Honolulu children! Our orthodontic services focus on building healthy smiles and making sure your child’s developing teeth grow properly. Start here to help set your child up for future oral health success.
What Is Orthodontics?
Orthodontics is a specialized area of dentistry that focuses on guiding the proper growth and alignment of teeth and jaws. At Keiki Smiles, we offer interceptive orthodontic treatments, such as space maintenance and habit appliances, specifically designed to support children during their critical developmental years. These preventative measures help ensure a healthy dental bite and create the best foundation for permanent teeth to come in correctly.
Benefits of Orthodontics
- Promotes proper tooth eruption: Orthodontic treatments like space maintenance guide permanent teeth into their correct positions, avoiding issues caused by crowding or misalignment.
- Prevents harmful habits from causing damage: Habit appliances gently deter behaviors like thumb-sucking or tongue-thrusting, both of which can lead to bite problems.
- Reduces future orthodontic needs: By addressing issues early, orthodontic care during childhood may eliminate or reduce the need for braces later.
- Encourages long-term oral health: Straight, properly aligned teeth are easier to clean, which minimizes the risks of cavities and gum disease as your child grows.
Why Choose Keiki Smiles of Leeward?
- A nurturing environment: At Keiki Smiles, we understand that young children may feel nervous about dental care. Our welcoming, kid-friendly office and compassionate staff ensure your child feels safe and at ease at every visit.
- Expert dental team: Audrey Rawson and our team are highly skilled in pediatric dentistry and orthodontics, offering extensive experience tailored to the unique needs of young patients.
- Focus on prevention: We take a proactive approach to dental care, emphasizing early treatment to prevent bigger problems in the future.
Procedures Offered
- Space Maintenance: If your child loses a primary tooth too early, we use space maintainers to hold the space open until the permanent tooth erupts. This prevents neighboring teeth from crowding into the gap and causing alignment issues.
- Habit Appliances: Habit appliances gently correct behaviors like thumb-sucking or tongue-thrusting that could disrupt natural jaw development, protecting the alignment of your child’s teeth and bite.
Is Your Child A Good Candidate for Orthodontics?
If your child has lost a primary tooth early, has persistent habits like thumb-sucking, or shows signs of bite or alignment issues, they may benefit from orthodontic care. Our team can help evaluate your child’s needs and recommend the best treatment options.
Space Maintenance
Space maintainers are used to keep teeth from drifting into an empty tooth space due to early loss of primary (baby) teeth. Baby teeth act as a guide for the eruption of the permanent teeth. A space maintainer is made of stainless steel and/or plastic. It can be removable or fixed to the teeth.
Distalizer / Molar Rotation
Molar adjustment can be accomplished prior to full orthodontic treatment through the use of a Distalizer. This treatment technique can effectively position molars for bracketing and significantly shorten the patient’s full orthodontic treatment time.
Frequently Asked Questions About Early Orthodontic Treatment
Will my child still need braces if we use habit appliances or space maintainers?
Early treatment may reduce the likelihood or complexity of needing braces in the future, though this will depend on your child’s unique dental development.
How long will my child need to use a space maintainer?
The timeframe varies by child, but your dentist will remove the device once the permanent tooth begins to erupt.
How do habit appliances work?
Habit appliances are small and discreet devices placed behind the teeth. They act as a gentle deterrent to habits like thumb-sucking to protect proper jaw and tooth alignment.
My child’s teeth are already crooked. Is it too late for treatment?
Not at all! It’s never too late to start orthodontic care and pave the path for healthier, straighter teeth.
Do you treat children with special needs?
Yes, Keiki Smiles is committed to providing care for all children, including those with special health care needs, in a compassionate and supportive environment.
What should I expect during an orthodontic consultation?
During the consultation, we’ll assess your child’s teeth and jaw development, discuss your goals, and explain any recommended treatment options.
