Our children are our entire world, an extension of ourselves, and we have an incomprehensible, unconditional love for them. As parents, we do everything to ensure they’re well taken care of, including scheduling wellness checks at their pediatric office and dental cleanings and feeding them nutritious foods to help their growing bodies.
Since we all want the best for them, scheduling an early orthodontic screening is part of keeping them happy and healthy as they grow. Scheduling an early orthodontic screening for children does more than simply tell you whether or not your child should get braces—it can give you a full picture of their dental health, allowing a specialist to evaluate their findings and suggest treatments that would lead to desirable results. Keep reading to learn about the benefits of early orthodontic screenings for children and what to expect from one.
5 Benefits of Early Orthodontic Screenings for Children
1. To Achieve the Proper Positioning of Teeth
We can’t always help how our children’s teeth grow; genetics play a role in hereditary crooked teeth. However, some behavioral habits like using a pacifier or thumb-sucking affect how teeth grow and their ultimate positioning. An early orthodontic screening for children can help achieve the proper positioning of teeth. The appropriate positioning of teeth is like a domino effect; it can affect other oral health and dental issues, like overcrowding, underbites and overbites, and more.
An early orthodontic screening will look closer at any permanent teeth that have already grown in, and examine the alignment of future teeth. If, for example, your child’s teeth aren’t allowing enough room for permanent teeth to grow straight, a doctor can recommend early treatment like a palatal expander to help achieve the proper positioning of teeth.
2. Aid Speech Development
Young children are constantly growing, including their teeth and jawbone. As they grow, sometimes baby teeth can get misaligned, causing dental concerns that hinder speech development. Issues like overbites, underbites, and overcrowding can cause speech delays, making it difficult for your child to communicate and speak clearly.
An early orthodontic screening offers parents options for early treatments to aid speech development. Early interceptive braces, palatal expanders, or baby/impacted tooth removal can positively affect speech development, helping your child thrive.
3. Makes Room for Permanent Teeth
Sometimes children’s permanent teeth don’t emerge easily, leading to overcrowded or impacted teeth. Visiting a dental professional and having an early orthodontic screening can help make room for permanent teeth that otherwise would be impacted or have difficulty growing. A doctor will evaluate your child’s jaw and teeth to determine if teeth removal or a palatal expander would be best for your child.
4. Saves Money
Braces are an extra expense that can cost thousands and hinder your savings and budgeting. Scheduling an early orthodontic screening could be the first step to saving money on future braces and orthodontic work; early orthodontic screenings can detect dental issues that can be corrected early on, requiring less work down the road.
Does your child struggle with speech or chewing with an underbite? Whether an underbite or impacted teeth, early screenings can catch issues while your child is still growing, helping a dental professional put together a treatment plan that will correct these issues earlier, possibly costing less than future orthodontic work when they’re teens or adults.
5. Improve Self-esteem
If we think back to our youth we can all remember at least a few times our self-esteem was low. Unfortunately, it’s a part of growing as we care more and more about our outward appearance. Luckily, early orthodontic screenings can fix dental issues early on to improve your child’s self-esteem. Whether they have an underbite or overbite, or they’re self-conscious about a speech delay, getting early orthodontic work can boost their confidence.
What to Expect from an Early Orthodontic Screening
If you’re considering scheduling an early orthodontic screening for your child you’re probably wondering what it entails. Below is what you can expect from an early orthodontic screening:
Thorough Examination
A doctor will thoroughly examine your child’s teeth, looking at their positioning and inspecting how many baby and permanent teeth they have, bite, palatine bones, and jaw. Every patient’s bone structure and teeth are different so the dental professional will provide a detailed examination. They may also take photos and measure their teeth.
X-Rays
Much like X-rays during dental cleanings, a doctor will take X-rays at an early orthodontic screening. This gives them a closer look at your child’s teeth, allowing them to see their jawbone, impacted teeth, and palatine bones better than a visual exam.
Treatment Plan
Once they’ve examined your child’s teeth, jaw, and x-rays, the doctor will develop and discuss a treatment plan with you. This could include pulling teeth to allow impacted teeth to erupt, a palatal expander, early intervention braces, or other treatments.
Schedule an Early Orthodontic Screening with Rhoades Family Dentistry Today
Did you know that Rhoades Family Dentistry can help with all things orthodontics? Dr. Hahn and Dr. Driscoll offer FREE orthodontic exams to help get a treatment plan started for your child. From traditional metal braces to Invisalign or palatal expanders, Rhoades Family Dentistry has the perfect treatment plan for your child!
Book an appointment today by scrolling up and clicking “BOOK AN APPOINTMENT” on the top left of your screen or by calling (913) 782-8900. We look forward to serving you by providing excellent dental care and giving your family healthy smiles!
