Every parent hopes that their child will be able to express their emotions freely as they grow up—laughing heartily when they feel like it, crying loudly when they need to, and letting go of all their worries. 하지만, some children may struggle to express their emotions. This could be due to a more introverted personality, or in some cases, some children are afraid of being laughed at by their peers because their teeth are crooked. While children of this age rarely mean to mock others, an offhand joke can sometimes lead to feelings of inferiority in some children. 사실은, proper tooth alignment not only affects appearance but also impacts dental health and nutrient absorption. 그러므로, when a child’s teeth begin to erupt and develop, it is important to intervene early and correct any improper alignment.
1. What is early orthodontic treatment?
Early orthodontic treatment refers to intervening and correcting existing or potential dental and dental arch abnormalities during the early stages of a child’s dental development. This stage typically occurs during the deciduous tooth phase (ages 3 에게 6) and the mixed dentition phase (ages 7 에게 12). It is important to take advantage of the physiological growth window during which children’s teeth are developing to reduce the severity of malocclusion and ease the difficulty of correction.
Primary dentition stage:
Interventions primarily target harmful habits such as persistent tongue thrusting, tongue biting, severe lip biting, or thumb sucking. These habits may lead to open bite malocclusion, an O-shaped mouth, or primary dentition reverse occlusion (commonly known as “underbite”). 이 단계에서, treatment primarily focuses on “guidance,” reminding the child to avoid these harmful actions. If correction is not feasible through speech, removable orthodontic appliances can be used to help the child correct bad habits, improve the alignment of primary teeth, and prevent severe malocclusion in primary teeth.
Teeth-shedding period:
This period is crucial because permanent teeth gradually replace milk teeth, the problem of misaligned milk teeth can be corrected. If milk teeth fall out prematurely before permanent teeth erupt, it can lead to uneven pressure on surrounding teeth, causing them to shift toward the missing tooth space, resulting in insufficient space for permanent teeth to erupt properly. Intervention at this stage is most appropriate, such as using a space maintainer to preserve the space at the missing tooth site, allowing permanent teeth to erupt normally and preventing the development of malocclusion.
The optimal period for early orthodontic intervention is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Children of different ages have distinct characteristics in tooth and jaw development, and the focus of treatment also varies. Parents should select the appropriate intervention timing based on their child’s age and specific circumstances.
2. Why is early orthodontic treatment necessary?
Many parents may wonder why they shouldn’t wait until their child’s permanent teeth have completely replaced their milk teeth before seeking orthodontic treatment. After all, milk teeth are going to fall out anyway, so isn’t it a waste of time and money? 사실은, this view is incorrect. 앞에서 언급했듯이, the milk tooth stage and the tooth replacement stage are the golden periods for early orthodontic treatment. Milk teeth act as guides for permanent teeth and can influence the alignment of permanent teeth. 게다가, orthodontic treatment during the deciduous dentition period involves correcting some bad habits of children, which is very important for the alignment of the dental arch. The following is a detailed discussion of the benefits of early orthodontics:
2.1. Leveraging growth potential to reduce treatment complexity
During the tooth replacement period of children, the jawbone is developing rapidly and the plasticity of the bone is very strong. 이 시점에서, if misaligned teeth or problems with jawbone development are detected, intervention through early orthodontic methods, such as removable appliances or functional appliances, can guide the jawbone to develop in a normal direction. This is like providing signposts for the eruption of permanent teeth, allowing them to grow in the correct positions.
예를 들어, for children with an underbite, if correction is performed during the deciduous tooth stage, in most cases, worsening of jawbone developmental abnormalities can be avoided, and complex orthodontic treatment may not be necessary during the permanent tooth stage. 하지만, if the golden period of tooth replacement is missed, once the jawbone has fully developed, orthognathic surgery must be combined with orthodontic treatment to achieve complete improvement, resulting in a longer treatment period and higher costs.
2.2. Improve dental function and prevent future health issues
Early orthodontic treatment is not only about improving the appearance of teeth but more importantly about correcting children’s unconscious bad habits and restoring normal dental function. 예를 들어, children who breathe through their mouths for a long time may experience a narrowed maxilla and a high arch of the palate due to the constant passage of air through the mouth. This can lead to problems such as crowded upper teeth and a receding chin. By wearing functional appliances at an early stage, children can develop the habit of breathing through their noses.
This not only corrects the development trend of the jawbone but also improves sleep quality, avoiding health problems caused by getting more and more sleepy after sleeping. For children who prefer to chew on one side, early orthodontic treatment can restore a normal chewing relationship, prevent facial asymmetry caused by unilateral chewing, and at the same time reduce problems such as excessive wear of unilateral teeth and periodontal diseases due to occlusal trauma.
2.3. Protecting children’s mental health and boosting self-confidence
The appearance of a child’s face and teeth during childhood has a significant impact on their mental health. If a child is mocked by peers due to misaligned teeth, an underbite, or protruding teeth, they may develop feelings of inferiority and sensitivity, and even become reluctant to communicate with others. Early orthodontics can promptly improve a child’s teeth and facial appearance, helping them get rid of the psychological pressure brought by their looks and maintain confidence during their growth.
3. How to determine if a child needs early orthodontic treatment?
Generally speaking, if a child exhibits any of the following conditions, early orthodontic intervention should be considered:
- Poor habits: prolonged thumb-sucking, lip-biting, tongue-thrusting, mouth-breathing, or unilateral chewing.
- Premature loss of primary teeth or excessive spacing between teeth due to cavities.
- Primary or posterior crossbite leading to functional mandibular deviation, resulting in a crooked jaw.
- Abnormal development of the maxilla and mandible.
하지만, it is important to note that not all dental issues require early intervention. Some mild malocclusions or deep bites may be related to ongoing jaw development or may represent normal physiological gaps, which may resolve on their own once jaw development is complete.
4. 5 Key Questions About Early Orthodontics
When it comes to early orthodontics, many parents can’t help but have doubts, ~와 같은 “Will early orthodontics affect children’s tooth replacement?” and “Is my child too young to cooperate with treatment?” We will address these frequently asked questions one by one:
4.1. Will early orthodontic treatment affect my child’s tooth replacement?
아니요. The core of early orthodontics is “guidance” rather than “forced correction”.Dentists will select appropriate treatment plans and appliances based on the child’s teeth. 예를 들어, correcting an underbite during the milk tooth stage will not affect the normal eruption of permanent teeth. 반대로, orthodontic appliances can improve the development environment of the jawbone, create sufficient space for the eruption of permanent teeth, and reduce the probability of tooth crowding and misalignment during the permanent tooth period.
4.2. At what age is it most appropriate for a child to start seeing an orthodontist?
It is recommended that parents bring their child for their first orthodontic examination around the age of 3, when the milk teeth have mostly erupted. 이 단계에서, the dentist can conduct an initial assessment of tooth and jaw development to determine if there are any bad habits or developmental abnormalities. A second comprehensive assessment should be conducted between the ages of 6 그리고 8 (the early stage of the mixed dentition period). This is a critical period for the dentist to determine if early intervention is necessary, allowing for a more accurate formulation of the subsequent treatment plan. Even if the child does not currently have obvious issues, regular check-ups can help parents stay informed about their child’s oral development, enabling “early detection and early intervention.”
4.3. What kinds of orthodontic appliances were used in early orthodontics? Will the child feel uncomfortable?
The main types of orthodontic appliances used in early orthodontic treatment are “removable appliances” and “functional appliances.” Compared with the fixed aligners (steel braces) commonly used during the permanent teeth period, these aligners are lighter, more comfortable and have less impact on children’s daily lives:
Removable orthodontic appliances: such as jaw pads, reed orthodontic appliances, and gap retainers, 등. Children can remove and put them on by themselves, which is convenient for cleaning. There may be a slight foreign body sensation when wearing them initially, but they usually adapt within 1-2 주.
Functional orthodontic appliances, such as muscle agonists, adjust the development of the jawbone by guiding the movement of the muscles in the jaw and face. They are usually worn at night or for a certain period of time during the day, offer a relatively high level of comfort, and are also well accepted by children.
4.4. Is further orthodontic treatment needed during the permanent dentition phase after early orthodontic intervention?
It depends on the specific situation of the child. If early orthodontic intervention is timely and effective, the child’s jawbone develops normally, the permanent teeth emerge neatly and the occlusal relationship is good, then there is no need for orthodontic treatment during the permanent tooth period. 하지만, if a child still shows obvious tooth crowding or misalignment after the permanent teeth have erupted, it may be necessary to undergo further fixed orthodontic treatment (orthodontic wires, fixed braces) around the age of 12 when the permanent teeth have fully grown in, in order to achieve a more ideal effect. 하지만, for children who have had an early orthodontic foundation, the difficulty of orthodontic treatment during the permanent tooth period is usually greatly reduced, and the treatment cycle is also shortened.
결론
The development of a child’s teeth and jawbones is an irreversible process. Once the golden period is missed, it may take more time and effort to correct it later. As parents, we don’t need to be overly anxious, but we must always remain “vigilant”. Early orthodontics is not only for children to have neat teeth and beautiful faces, but also for safeguarding their oral and mental health.
