Early Orthodontic Treatment in Chesterfield, VA

What can early treatment accomplish?

Early orthodontic treatment, sometimes known as Phase One treatment, can help correct bite and alignment issues in children. This prevents more severe problems from developing as your child grows, and helps create a more stable foundation for any future orthodontic work (known as Phase Two treatment), which may occur during adolescence.

Some benefits of early treatment include:

• Creating space for crowded teeth
• Managing crowding issues to prevent the need for tooth extractions in the future
• Monitoring, guiding and correcting jaw growth
• Regulating the width of the upper and lower arches of teeth
• Eliminating or correcting bad bites early to prevent other bite, jaw or gum issues as well as possible dental trauma
• Correcting damaging oral habits, such as thumb and finger sucking
• Addressing aesthetic concerns

Will I be able to tell if my child needs orthodontic treatment?

Some orthodontic issues may be obvious, such as overcrowding or misaligned teeth. However, other issues may be much less apparent, which makes visiting Dr. Feinstein crucial. Our orthodontist can accurately assess your child’s needs through a thorough examination, including X-rays and bite analysis.

A few signs that your child may benefit from early treatment include:

• Problems chewing or biting properly
• Early or late loss of baby teeth
• Mouth breathing
• Thumb or finger sucking
• Extremely crowded teeth
• Teeth which do not come together, or which fit together abnormally
• A jaw that is disproportionate to the rest of your child’s face

Does every patient require orthodontic work at age 7?

No. The initial evaluation simply determines if treatment will be needed. Not every child will need to receive treatment this early. However, by ensuring your child receives this initial evaluation you can also ensure that their future treatment begins at precisely the right time to produce the best results for their oral health, function and smile. Our goal is always to do what is right for your child, and their treatment plan will be carefully designed to meet their individual needs.