Early intervention orthodontics: Smiles all round

Early intervention can help to resolve children’s functional and aesthetic dental issues more quickly and easily. In this expert guide, highly respected American-trained orthodontist Dr Anton Bass sheds light on the aims of early intervention orthodontics and how it can benefit children’s dental health. The renowned specialist also details the most common forms of early orthodontic intervention and the ideal age for children to be assessed.

What is the purpose of early intervention orthodontics?

Early intervention orthodontic treatment is an orthopaedic approach to developing jaws which make a good framework for all of the teeth to fit, helping to achieve the best smile without any compromise on function or the long term health of the teeth and mouth.

Early intervention applies to the period of time before we would use traditional braces to move teeth into their final positions. One of the aims of early intervention is to identify issues with the jaws and modify their structure so that a good framework is in place as the teeth develop.

For example, if a child has an upper jaw which is not developing properly or is very narrow, there’s potential for crowding, as well as functional issues like crossbite. In such a case, using an orthopaedic brace can help to expand and develop the upper jaw. This is beneficial for two reasons:

• it develops the jaw so that it fits with the lower jaw, correcting the crossbite and providing the function that we want later in life
• more space is created so that we can avoid having to take adult teeth out later on

This is just one example of the many things which can be achieved with early intervention orthodontics.

Another key purpose of early intervention orthodontics is to identify issues with teeth which are still developing in the jaw. Some problems which can affect the teeth as they develop, such as becoming impacted or stuck, cannot be seen without certain types of X-ray. Picking up these little local issues early on is very impactful as there are many simple measures we can take at that stage to resolve any problems, allowing the teeth to grow into the mouth as they should.

Can early intervention orthodontics prevent someone needing braces later in life?

Early intervention orthodontics can minimise the need for braces later on. If braces are used, early intervention can mean that this treatment is much simpler and far less invasive, for example, not needing to extract teeth.

It’s rare, however, that early intervention orthodontics can completely negate the need for braces. It’s important to understand that early intervention orthodontics isn’t about moving the teeth into their final positions but rather creating the framework for teeth to grow in as best they can naturally.

There are occasional cases where early orthodontic intervention means that braces are not required later on, but some simple tooth correction may still be needed.

Who is a suitable candidate for early intervention orthodontics?

The best candidates for early intervention are children of around eight or nine years of age. Getting an expert assessment around that age is very beneficial. The earliest I usually see patients is around seven years old and even at that stage, it’s possible to identify the signs of some potential issues which may come up later.

What procedures or treatments are involved in early intervention orthodontics?

As part of early intervention, we often use orthopaedic braces. We frequently use upper or lower expander braces which help to develop each part of the jaw and encourage the mandible to develop forward. These are sometimes known as functional braces and the kind which I use in my own practice are usually quite simple and streamlined.

As they are just attached to the very back teeth, there’s not much on display and patients often get on very well with them. They are often able to wear them for twenty-four hours a day without any kind of intrusion on their daily life. Other types of treatment may be as simple as having one or two baby teeth extracted by your general dentist in order to allow teeth to grow in the correct path.

What age is too young for orthodontic treatment or braces?

It is hard to give a minimum age as tooth development can vary so much. I have rarely treated patients below the age of seven and typically, the earliest treatment or procedure may be performed around eight years old.

If you think your child could benefit from early intervention orthodontics and wish to schedule a consultation with Dr Bass, you can do so by visiting his Top Doctors profile.