Offering braces for children in Coventry and East Greenwich, RI (Rhode Island)

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that a child see an orthodontist by age 7 to advise if orthodontic treatment is required and the best time for that patient to be treated. In our office, a child who is seen prior to having all of the permanent teeth in is likely to have one of the two following recommendations. If there is no immediate or pressing problem the child may be placed on "recall" in which case it is recommended for the child to return in a specific number of months to monitor the loss of primary teeth and the eruption of the permanent teeth. This may continue for several years either until a problem manifests itself or until the permanent teeth erupt. At times no treatment is necessary at all! If the permanent teeth erupt out of alignment or the bite is improper, the diagnosis will be discussed and treatment options will be presented. In the second case, a diagnosis presents itself that requires early intervention. At that point the diagnosis will be discussed and treatment options will be presented. Early orthodontic problems include crossbites, large 'overbites', 'scissor bites', and underbites. In addition, habits such as thumb-sucking can often be stopped by use of various appliances.

By starting treatment before all of the permanent teeth have come in, we may be able to influence the growth of the jaws, increase space so that no permanent teeth will need to be removed in the future, correct crossbites so that the jaws don't grow improperly and unbalanced, and at times prevent future damage as in the case of a scissor bite or when the upper front teeth stick out too far. In addition, the possibility of needing jaw surgery as an adult often decreases when an underbite is treated early. Guidance of the teeth into more well-aligned positions also benefits the patient because treatment is often easier and treatment time is shorter. A shorter treatment time often means a lower treatment fee for the parent as well!

Dr. William M. Gordon provides braces for children for residents in Coventry, West Greenwich, Exeter, West Warwick, Scituate, East Greenwich, Warwick and surrounding towns in Rhode Island. Call us for a free consultation!