What Signs Might Mean Your Child Needs Early Orthodontic Treatment?

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You don’t have to wait until your child is an adolescent to seek orthodontic care. In fact, early treatment may help lower the chance of needing braces or other orthodontic treatment later on. Our orthodontist in Bethesda and Laurel, MD, offers early treatment approaches that your child may need if you notice any of the following signs.

Trouble With Biting or Chewing

Does your child struggle to eat due to issues with biting or chewing food? This may indicate early signs of an alignment problem that we should address.

Crooked Teeth

Does your child have crooked teeth? Catching this problem sooner rather than later means we can treat it now, preventing the need for more advanced or complex treatment later.

Thumb Sucking or Continued Pacifier Use

Does your child refuse to give up their pacifier or stop sucking their thumb? These habits may affect tooth and jaw alignment, resulting in the need for early orthodontic treatment in Laurel and Bethesda, MD.

Protruding Teeth

Does your child have one or more teeth sticking out? Treating this issue early is much easier than addressing it when they’re older.

Long Delays Between Losing Baby Teeth and Getting Permanent Teeth

Does it seem to take an unusually long amount of time for your child’s adult teeth to come in after their baby teeth fall out? This may be due to an orthodontic problem that we can treat early.

Set Up an Orthodontic Consultation for Your Child

Is your child showing any signs of needing orthodontic care? At Heller Orthodontics, we offer early orthodontic treatment in Bethesda and Laurel, MD, to set your child on the path toward proper jaw development and a healthy mouth.

Isn’t it Too Soon For My Child to Get Braces?

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It’s not unusual for parents to be taken aback when the orthodontist in Bethesda, MA brings up the possibility of braces for their child who’s only a pre-teen. In the not so distant past, braces were reserved for teenagers, for better or worse. Better for the treatment outcome, but worse for self-conscious teens in high school. Early orthodontic treatment may be a newer concept, but it’s one worth considering for several good reasons.

Early Checks Spot Big Problems

Even if your child’s baby teeth are still hanging on, their jaws and new teeth are already shaping up. Issues like crowding, crossbites, or severe overbites start to show themselves early and an observant orthodontist can spot the potential for problems down the road. Besides, starting treatment at this stage doesn’t always mean a full set of braces—it might involve expanders or partial braces that gently direct how teeth and jaws grow. Taking care of these problems now can make future treatment easier and shorter.

Avoiding Issues Later On

When certain problems go untreated in young kids, they can turn into bigger challenges as teens. Early treatment can help avoid tooth extractions or even jaw surgery down the road. It also sets up the right path for adult teeth to come in, reducing the chances of major crowding.

Helping Kids Feel Confident

Beyond health, early orthodontic work can also help kids feel better about their smiles. Fixing obvious issues sooner often means they’re less self-conscious at school or in photos, giving them a boost when it matters most.

So if your orthodontist suggests early orthodontic treatment in Bethesda, MD, it’s not about jumping the gun—it’s about maybe preventing problems down the pike. Want to know if now’s the right time for your child? Reach out to Heller Orthodontics today.

Child Smiling

Early Orthodontic Treatment to Stop Destructive Thumb Sucking

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At some point, your child will probably need to see an orthodontist in Laurel, MD. But when, at what age, and for what issues? In some cases, early orthodontics can help curb destructive habits like thumb-sucking. So, let’s talk about that for a moment.

At What Point Does Thumb Sucking Become Destructive?

Thumb sucking is normal behavior. Between 60-80 percent of children suck their thumb during infancy. It’s a self-soothing mechanism. This behavior usually wanes after six months of age or so. However, if your child is still sucking their thumb after the age of five or six, it could result in serious damage.

The Damages Thumb Sucking Can Cause

Thumb-sucking should be curbed at some point. If it’s not, the following are just a few of the consequences.

  • Misaligned teeth
  • Open bite or overbite
  • Speech impediments
  • Social abuses

And if the thumb-sucking continues after your child’s permanent teeth have come in, it could result in permanent damage.

Using Early Orthodontic Treatments to Stop Thumb Sucking

If you can’t seem to stop the thumb-sucking behavior, early orthodontic treatment in Laurel, MD, could be the solution. But what are early orthodontics? Keep reading…

Orthodontists have a dental appliance for this. The orthodontic “fence” is placed on the roof of your child’s mouth. It’s designed to stop thumb-sucking. It works by breaking the sensation a child gets from sucking their thumb.

Once your child doesn’t experience the self-soothing sensation of sucking their thumb, they won’t continue to do it. The orthodontist will go over everything in more detail with you.

Looking for an Orthodontist in Laurel, MD?

If you are concerned about your child’s thumb-sucking habits, we can help. Please Contact Heller Orthodontics today. We can make some recommendations based on your child’s needs, and together, we can decide on the best path forward.