Why are children getting braces earlier?

First, welcome to the Walkow Orthodontics blog!

This is a question I get on the soccer fields, school events, cocktail parties, and a variety of other community gatherings.

The American Association of Orthodontics (AAO) recommends that all children receive an orthodontic screening by age 7.  The permanent teeth generally begin to come in at age 6 or 7.  It is at this point that orthodontic problems become apparent.  Because the bones are still growing, it is an ideal time to evaluate a child and determine a long-term treatment plan to achieve the optimal result.

Orthodontic treatment in young children is known as interceptive or Phase 1 Orthodontics.  At this age, the teeth are still developing and the jaw is growing making certain conditions easier to address.  Before the permanent teeth come in, it may be possible to guide their eruption into better positions.    For instance, a few decades ago, the solution to crowding was to extract permanent teeth.  Today, we take advantage of the jaw growth potential and use a palatal expander to create the necessary room which reduces the need for extractions.  Increasing the amount of bone and gum tissue also leads to a decreased incidence of gingival recession as an adult.  In general, children who are candidates for early treatment have the opportunity to receive an improved long-term result and less invasive treatment during the full braces stage (Phase 2).