Pediatric Orthodontist in Toronto
According to the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) a child’s first Orthodontic evaluation should occur at the first sign of an Orthodontic problem or by 7 years of age. While no treatment may be necessary at this age, this important evaluation will help determine the best time to begin treatment.
Early Orthodontic evaluation can help detect:
- Crowded teeth leading to poor oral hygiene, tooth decay and/or gum disease
- Protruding teeth which may be susceptible to trauma
- Crossbites which can lead to uneven tooth wear and even unfavorable facial growth
- Open bites due to thumb-sucking or tongue-thrusting which can lead to speech impediments
- Unfavorable growth patterns of the facial bones
The advantages of pediatric orthodontic (Phase 1) treatment include:
- Being able to make room for crowded/erupting teeth
- Creating facial symmetry through influencing jaw growth
- Retracting protruded teeth to decrease the likelihood of trauma to them
- Intercepting problems before they occur/become worse, which if it were not caught may require the extraction of permanent teeth
- Elimination of deleterious habits such as thumb-sucking
If Phase 1 treatment is required, it is often short and following by a period where all appliances are removed and the jaws and teeth are allowed to develop normally. This is followed by a Phase 2 once all the permanent teeth are in. Early treatment with a Phase 1, for those who require it, reduces the total time in braces.
As a specialist orthodontist in Toronto, Dr. Nalbandian is happy to provide complimentary initial consultations for parents for parents of patients from Scarborough, Markham, North York, and the Greater Toronto area with their concerns.