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Children Orthodontics

Orthodontics for Young Children

Many of us didn't have any orthodontic treatment when we were growing up. In fact, many of us only had orthodontic treatment if our teeth were severely crooked and misaligned. Many times this had to do with the cost of orthodontic treatment.

In some cases the parent didn't think that the teeth were misaligned enough for orthodontic treatment.

Orthodontics have come a long way. In fact most teenagers and young adults have had some form of orthodontic treatment. This is because; we have learned the effects of poor alignment of the teeth. In fact we are now starting to see orthodontic treatments for children, starting at a much younger age.

There are great benefits in starting orthodontic treatment when children are much younger. The children in general don't have to wear braces for a long period of time during those awkward teenage years. It is also much easier to expand the pallet and allow room for the teeth to come in at a much younger age.

In most cases young children will not get braces, however they will have their palates are expanded by an appliance. This will make their arches wider. It allows space in the mouth for all of the child's adult teeth to properly grow.

Child Othodontist Expanders

There are a few different types of expanders that are used by orthodontist's. The first one is called a quad-helix. This type of expander is placed can be placed on the upper or lower arch. It is generally cemented to the primary molars. This type of expander is expanded by the orthodontist weekly for several weeks. Once the expansion is to the orthodontist's satisfaction, the expander will stay in place and act as a retainer for the expansion. The quad helix is generally left in the mouth for nine months to a year.

The next type of expander that an orthodontist might use in a small child is called a RPE or Rapid Pallet expander. This type of expander is cemented on to the primary molars. A RPE is only used for the upper arch. A rapid pallet expander comes with a key that the parent will use to turn the expander a quarter of a turn once or twice weekly. This will expand the pallet quickly. An orthodontist will check the expansion every 4-6 weeks and give instructions on when the expansion should stop. This type of expander is also left in to work as a retainer for the expansion.

The last type of expander used in young children is called a Schwartz. This type of expander is made from acrylic. It is usually only used in the lower arch. In most cases a Schwartz is removable; however there have been cases where an orthodontist has cemented an acrylic Schwartz. This type of expander is expanded weekly with a key. The expander can be taken out of the mouth for things like eating, swimming, sports and brushing. This makes it a good option for active children. Parents might want to consider this child's responsibility level when choosing this expander. While it is nice to have the option to remove the expander, there is the possibility that the expander may get lost or broken. These expanders can be expensive to replace.

You should talk to your dentist about your child's orthodontic needs before deciding if treatment is necessary at an early age. If you speak with your dentist, but still have concerns, consider talking with an orthodontist. In many cases a dentist will not expand a young child, but an orthodontist will. After you have consulted with your dentist and orthodontist, you should be able to make a decision on whether or not early orthodontics is right for your child.

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