- What is a Pediatric Dentist? |
- When Will My Baby Start Getting Teeth? |
- Proper Tooth Cleaning |
- Healthy Diet for Healthy Teeth
- Importance of Regular Dental Check-ups |
- Sealants |
- Baby Bottle Tooth Decay |
- Eruption of Child's Teeth |
- Oral Habits
- Tooth Coming In Wrong |
- Why is it Important to Save Baby Teeth? |
- What is the Best Time for Orthodontic Treatment?
- Management of the Fearful or Anxious Child |
- Special Needs for Your Special Child |
- Sedation and Hospital Dentistry
- Sports Guards |
- Mouth Guards |
- Space Maintainer
Developing malocclusions, or bad bites, can be recognized as early as 2-3 years of age. Often, early steps can be taken to reduce the need for major orthodontic treatment at a later age.
Stage I – Early Treatment: This period of treatment encompasses ages 2 to 6 years. At this young age, we are concerned with underdeveloped dental arches, the premature loss of primary teeth, and harmful habits such as finger or thumb sucking. Treatment initiated in this stage of development is often very successful and many times, though not always, can eliminate the need for future orthodontic/orthopedic treatment.
Stage II – Mixed Dentition: This period covers the ages of 6 to 12 years, with the eruption of the permanent incisor (front) teeth and 6 year molars. Treatment concerns deal with jaw malrelationships and dental realignment problems. This is an excellent stage to start treatment, when indicated, as your child’s hard and soft tissues are usually very responsive to orthodontic or orthopedic forces.
Stage III – Adolescent Dentition: This stage deals with the permanent teeth and the development of the final bite relationship.