Is There a Benefit to Early Treatment?

Issaquah, WA  – Egger Orthodontics and the American Association of Orthodontists recommend that children have their first visit with an orthodontist around the age of seven. Dr. Egger treats patients of all ages and uses early-phase orthodontic treatment to correct issues in her youngest patients when needed.

While seven may seem young, this is actually the ideal time to begin a relationship with an orthodontist for several reasons. A trained orthodontist can identify discrepancies in jaw growth or issues with how the permanent teeth are coming in, and then create a plan to address these issues before they can become significantly worse. This can then allow for a more normalized pattern of growth and development for your child.

Many parents may wonder if they schedule a consultation for their child at the age of seven if that means the child will have to start orthodontic treatment right away. Dr. Egger treats every patient like the unique person they are. That means, some patients may begin treatment, while others may benefit more from taking a wait-and-see approach as we monitor their growth and development.

What is The Advantage of Early Orthodontic Treatment?

There are some things parents can look for that may indicate their child could benefit from early orthodontic treatment. These include:

• Missing or extra teeth
• Teeth that are erupting in the wrong direction
• Impacted teeth
• Severe crowding
• A discrepancy in jaw growth
• Tongue thrust
• Thumb-sucking or pacifier use
• Mouth breathing
• Tooth grinding
• Protruding front teeth

While not every child who presents with the above issues may require early orthodontic treatment, it is beneficial to begin a relationship with an orthodontist early. This allows Dr. Egger to monitor your child and then begin treatment when it can have the most impact on the smile. Early treatment can address the biological factors, such as jaw growth, that are more difficult to properly address once your child has stopped growing. Early treatment allows us to guide the growth of the jaw, creating a harmonious bite and a better environment for the permanent teeth to erupt. This then makes the straightening phase of treatment much easier to accomplish.

While many orthodontic issues are best left to be treated once all of the permanent teeth have erupted, early treatment may be ideal for your child if Dr. Egger believes their issue could become more serious over time if left untreated. When treating our younger patients, Dr. Egger is looking to intercept the problem, eliminate the cause of the problem, and then guide the growth to allow proper space for the remaining permanent teeth.

Contact Us For An Initial Consultation at Egger Orthodontics.

When indicated, early Issaquah orthodontic treatment can ensure your child has a healthy, stable bite and beautiful smile that will last a lifetime. And your initial consultation is complimentary, so call Egger Orthodontics today at 425-392-2499 to begin your child’s smile journey.