Why Early Orthodontic Intervention?

Dentistry and orthodontics are a logical pair. At KidCo, you can find both under one roof! Our pediatric dentists work closely with the orthodontists at our partner office, Diamond Braces.

This close coordination allows us to catch orthodontic issues early, even before they arise, and address them with minimal intervention, saving your child from needing more invasive orthodontic care later on.

With orthodontic care right next door, we’re keeping tabs on your child’s dental development from top to bottom, with an eye towards great oral health, beautiful smiles, and a lifetime of strong, happy teeth.

Why Early Orthodontic Intervention?

Healthy teeth are about more than just keeping cavity-free! Adult teeth also need to be monitored to ensure proper development and correct alignment.

Improper bites and misaligned teeth can have negative impacts on your child’s oral health and overall health, as well as hurt their confidence in adolescence and beyond. A healthy bite is key to a healthy body, so our KidCo pediatric dentists carefully follow your child’s dental development to ensure adult teeth are growing in properly.

If issues in permanent teeth growth do occur, addressing the issue early can greatly improve the outcomes and reduce the need for more invasive care later in life. Early care such as space maintainers or palette expanders assist permanent teeth in growing into their correct positions.

By encouraging proper growth during development, rather than moving the teeth after they settle into their final positions, pediatric orthodontist care can create longer-lasting, more effective results using less invasive methods.

How’s that for a reason to smile?

Kid-Friendly Orthodontic Care to Keep Them Smiling

The American Dental Association recommends children see an orthodontist beginning at age 7. By collaborating closely with our partner orthodontists, our KidCo pediatric dentists can easily refer your child for orthodontic evaluation.

While children should begin braces or Invisalign treatment only when all their permanent teeth have grown in, there are a variety of early orthodontic treatments designed to support proper dental development and redirect potentially misaligned teeth.

Space Maintainers 

If a child loses a baby tooth prematurely – either from an accident, severe decay, or genetic factors – the adult tooth may begin to erupt in the space left behind. This can cause the early adult tooth to drift into positions reserved for other permanent teeth. This can cause crowding, gaps, and twisted teeth later on.

We’ll use space maintainers to protect the space and guide the early tooth into its correct position. We may use a fixed appliance made of metal or plastic and bonded to the teeth, or a removable retainer, depending on the case and the needs of your child.

Palatal Expanders

For children whose mouths may be too small to support the healthy growth of all their teeth, a palatal expander – also known as a maxillary expander – can help expand the upper palate.

Because the mid-palatal suture (the two halves of the upper jaw) does not fuse until a child is around 15 years old, a palatal expander can be used to facilitate proper dental growth and make room for all the teeth.

Children may benefit from an expander around 7-10 years old. The expander is safe, easy to use, and comfortable. It requires a small amount of maintenance. Use of a palatal expander may be followed by braces, depending on the condition and your child’s specific case.

Retainers

Retainers can help guide children’s growing permanent teeth into their correct positions. They provide gentle pressure on the teeth that guides them towards correct alignment, to reduce the need for orthodontic intervention later on.

We offer removable wire retainers, as well as Invisalign First®, a patented Invisalign treatment program designed to help growing teeth develop properly.

Streamlined, Cooperative Pediatric Dentistry & Orthodontics for Better Comprehensive Care

By combining quality pediatric dentistry with world-class orthodontics, we’ve made caring for your child’s oral health easier than ever.

We’ve eliminated the need to send records back and forth: instead, we work closely with our partner orthodontists on-site to consult on your child’s case, and provide early corrective treatment and orthodontic care, to ensure the best possible results.

With KidCo pediatric dentistry, your child’s smile is protected every step of the way, from their first baby teeth to their selfie-ready smiles, and beyond.