Timing Is Everything
When it comes to your child’s oral health, being proactive could make all the difference.
Early treatment, or what our doctor calls “pre-orthodontic guidance,” means treatment that is performed while some baby teeth are still present.
The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends that your child’s first check-up be performed when an orthodontic problem is first recognized, around age seven or eight.
Why so early? At this point, your child has enough permanent teeth for Dr. Tyler Eatchel to evaluate the developing teeth and jaw, which in turn, can provide a wealth of information. Dr. Tyler is trained to spot subtle problems even in young children.
There are generally three outcomes of an initial check-up:
- No treatment is expected to be necessary.
- Treatment may be needed in the future, so we monitor the child periodically while the face and jaw continue to grow.
- There is a problem that lends itself to early treatment.
While most orthodontic problems are best treated after all permanent teeth have come in, early treatment can be in a patient’s best interest if their problem is one that could become more serious over time if left untreated.
It Only Takes a Check-Up
Schedule your child for an early intervention consultation.
There’s no need to feel apprehensive about bringing your child to our orthodontic office. Dr. Tyler and our team of specialists have years of experience working with kids, and we’ll teach you about your child’s best options for early orthodontic treatment if necessary. These may include a short course of braces, a motion 3D appliance, expansion appliances, or removal of some baby teeth to help with permanent tooth eruption.
Waiting until all permanent teeth come in or until facial growth is nearly complete may make some corrections more difficult. That’s why we time extractions carefully to take the best advantage of a child’s growth and development. Regardless of how we reach treatment goals, the bottom line is that some orthodontic problems are much easier to correct if found and treated early.
Pre-Orthodontic Guidance
Our team has been serving our communities for generations, and we don’t intend on stopping anytime soon!
Many misalignment problems in children can be prevented or minimized through early intervention at North Attleboro Orthodontics. We do this in three ways.
Interception
- The goal of pre-orthodontic guidance is to intercept the developing problem, eliminate the cause, guide the growth of facial and jaw bones, and provide adequate space for incoming permanent teeth. In most instances, the patient will require a second course of treatment once all permanent teeth erupt.
Treatment: The small handful of problems Dr. Tyler may recommend treating while a child still has some baby teeth include:
- Thumb-sucking or pacifier-sucking that is affecting the teeth or jaw growth
- Teeth that meet abnormally or don’t meet at all
- Excessively spaced teeth
- Very crowded teeth
- Crossbites (when the jaw shifts to one side)
- Underbites (when the lower front teeth are ahead of the upper front teeth)
- Some of these orthodontic problems are inherited, while others may result from accidents, dental disease, or airway obstruction.
Monitoring
- Whether treatment has been taken or not, Dr. Tyler will continue to monitor any concerns or potential risks. As your child grows, he may recommend interceptive care or plan for future orthodontic treatment.
- Regardless, your family is not alone. We partner with you during your child’s development so we can make any adjustments when needed.
North Attleboro Orthodontics Reviews
We had a wonderful experience receiving orthodontic treatment from North Attleboro Orthodontics and Dr. Tyler! From the initial consultation visit through the completion of treatment, every step was clearly explained. We were able to get in quickly if any issues arose (wire poking a gum, or a popped bracket). I do not hesitate to recommend this practice to those needing orthodontic work.
My appointment was on time and it was very efficient! The staff were very friendly, helpful, and informative. I was treated with care and kindness.
We could not be happier with North Attleboro Orthodontics. From the welcoming front desk staff, who always go above and beyond, to Dr. Tyler who actually spends time with each patient we have been extremely pleased with every step of the process and are happy to recommend them to anyone in our circle.
All staff is friendly and professional.
I am so happy and satisfied that we chose North Attleboro Orthodontics for my son’s braces. They are excellent and experts at their work. Ashley is super helpful when it comes to administrative stuff. Amanda is so wonderful and patient! You guys rock! Dr Tyler is the star, I could not have asked for better treatment for my son
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Total Reviews
5
Star Average Rating
