The American Association of Orthodontics suggests all children be evaluated no later than 7 years old by an orthodontic specialist. Dr. Nicole can spot a subtle problem with jaw growth or emerging teeth while some baby teeth are still present. Oral habits like finger sucking, mouth breathing, grinding and speech issues should also be evaluated and treated as early as possible. Crossbites of the back teeth is very common problem that should be evaluated early. Crossbites can be corrected in a short amouth of time with a simple appliance.

A check-up may reveal that your child’s bite is fine in which case, regular monitoring may be appropriate. Even if a small problem is detected, close monitoring may be the only thing recommended. Because patients differ in both development and treatment needs, Dr. Nicole will provide each patient with the most appropriate treatment at the most appropriate time.

 

Early treatment may prevent or intercept more serious problems from developing and may make treatment at a later age shorter and less complicated. In some cases, Dr. Nicole may be able to achieve results that may not be possible once growth is complete.