Visit Us for Your Kid’s Orthodontics Consultation
Dr. Meshia Azad DDS can examine your child and let you know whether or not it appears that they will need braces. Many parents do not realize that there are certain things you can do early on to prevent the need for braces or to decrease the likelihood that their future treatment will be a long one. Just like you can take certain steps to prevent tooth decay and gum disease, you can do things to limit the need for your child to have orthodontics. We let many of our Lake Forest, CA patients know that by simply scheduling an early orthodontic consultation, you can receive the information and tools you need as a parent to be empowered and help your child develop a healthy and beautiful smile as they grow.
Visit Us for Your Kid’s Orthodontics Consultation
We recommend that you visit our 92630 pediatric dentistry office when your child is around seven years old to find out whether they may need braces. While this can't be said with 100 percent certainty, by examining their teeth and taking x-rays, we can see whether or not their teeth are growing in the correct position, if they have enough room in their mouth, and if it is likely that they will need braces. Seven is a good age to come in because many children have some of their permanent teeth at this point.
What We Look for
While examining your child in our Lake Forest, CA dental office, we will take into consideration that they do not yet have all their permanent teeth and that their teeth are likely to move and adjust as those permanent adult teeth come in. Our experience as a pediatric dentist allows us to know how teeth are likely to respond in this situation. However, there are certain factors we will look for to determine whether it is likely your child will need braces. These factors include:
- Bite problems. If your child's bite is not coming together, they likely have an overbite, underbite, or crossbite. In this situation, they may experience discomfort while eating and chewing and may also have popping noises in their jaw as they open and close it. Bite misalignment can be caused by the position of the teeth, or it can be caused by the position of the jaw. In both cases, orthodontic treatment can be useful in addressing it.
- Overcrowding. Without enough room for all their teeth, your child will end up having teeth growing in on top of or behind each other. This will naturally result in severely crooked teeth. This can be caused by your child having a naturally small palate or losing their baby teeth too early and the remaining teeth shifting out of place as a result.
- Teeth that aren’t descending. In some cases, permanent teeth do not come down. Orthodontic treatment is required in order to gently pull them down and into position.
Why an Early Orthodontic Examination Is Important
Dr. Meshia Azad DDS can make recommendations regarding what you can do to help your child today. Since their jaw is still soft and their teeth are still coming in, it is possible to provide them with early orthodontics care before they ever need to get braces. For example, a child suffering from overcrowding can benefit from wearing metal spacers or an expander to help create the space necessary for a permanent tooth to have a place to grow into. This will help reduce the likelihood of them having severely crooked teeth.
Schedule an Exam with Our Lake Forest, CA Office Today
Dr. Meshia Azad DDS can examine your child in our 92630 dental office and let you know how their teeth are developing and whether or not it is likely that they will need to wear braces. To schedule an appointment, call (949) 625-1570.