Children Orthodontics
Children Orthodontics in Arlington, Virginia
At Columbia Pike Family Dentistry, we are committed to providing comprehensive pediatric dental and pediatric orthodontic services in Northern Virginia.
We understand that your child’s smile plays an important role in health, function, and self-esteem. In addition to dental services we offer our younger patients, Columbia Pike family Dentistry also provides orthodontic care for children.
While there is no exact age for children to begin orthodontic treatment, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends visiting the orthodontist around age seven.
By this age, most children have a mix of baby teeth and adult teeth, making it easier for the orthodontist to diagnose and correct tooth and jaw problems. At this point the orthodontist can evaluate whether your child will need orthodontic treatment.
Early Orthodontic Treatment for Children
The goal of early treatment is to correct the growth of the jaw and certain bite problems, such as underbite. Early treatment also helps to make room for permanent teeth to come in properly, lessening the chance of extractions in the future.
Early treatment allows your orthodontist to:
• Correct and guide the growth of your child's jaw to help the permanent teeth come in straight
• Regulate the width of the upper and lower arches
• Create more space for crowded teeth
• Avoid the need for permanent tooth extractions later in life
• Correct thumb sucking and help improve minor speech problems
It's not always easy for parents to know if your child may need orthodontic treatment.
Here are a few things to look for that show a need an early orthodontic care:
• Early or late loss of baby teeth
• A hard time chewing or biting food
• Mouth breathing
• Finger or thumb sucking
• Crowded, misplaced, or blocked teeth
• Jaws that pop or make sounds, or shifts (crossbites) when opening and closing
• Teeth that come together abnormally, or do not come together at all
• Crowded front teeth around age seven or eight
• Speech impediments
Children Orthodontic Care in Northern Virginia
If your child is between the ages of seven and eight and shows signs of needing orthodontic care, please contact Columbia Pike Family Dentistry to schedule a consultation.