When Is My Child Old Enough to Get An Orthodontic Evaluation?

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Many kids don’t get an orthodontic treatment like braces or aligners until they’re in their teen years. Did you know many kids can benefit from orthodontic treatment when they’re seven, eight, or nine?

Early orthodontic treatment helps kids get their orthodontic troubles under control at a young age. Your child’s dentist in Solon, OH, can help. At McGuire Orthodontics and Facial Orthopedics, we help our pediatric patients by giving early orthodontic evaluations. Here’s what you need to know.

Why Get an Early Orthodontic Evaluation

Orthodontic troubles often start small and get more severe over time. Getting your child evaluated for orthopedic treatment can help your child’s dentist determine if anything can be done to prevent severe orthodontic problems. Treating problems early can save money and may mean your child’s treatment will take less time.

When to Get an Early Orthodontic Evaluation

Many experts recommend that children get evaluated for orthodontic treatments by the time they’re seven years old. If you’re unsure whether it’s too soon for your child to see a dentist for an evaluation, contact your child’s dentist at McGuire Orthodontics and Facial Orthopedics to speak with an expert. Our dental professionals can help answer your questions and decide when to bring your child in.

What to Expect During Your Child’s Orthodontic Evaluation

During the orthodontic evaluation, your child’s dentist will start by evaluating your child’s oral health history and any interventions your child has already undergone. The dentist will also take X-rays and impressions of your child’s teeth. This will help the dentist determine if your child needs intervention and, if so, what kind.

The dentist may decide nothing can be done for your child yet, but it’s estimated that 50 to 70% of US children will wear braces before adulthood. In other words, an orthodontic evaluation in Solon, OH is well worth the time and trouble! To find out more about how you can get your child an orthodontic evaluation, contact McGuire Orthodontics and Facial Orthopedics today.

Do Misaligned Baby Teeth Always Signal a Need for Orthodontic Intervention?

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Parents sometimes ask: “If my child’s first teeth appear to be crooked or misaligned, does that mean we need to start budgeting for braces when a child gets older?”

At McGuire Orthodontics and Facial Orthopedics, we believe it’s not a question about whether those first teeth are crooked as much as it is about early evaluation to determine if other concerns exist that can lead to serious health issues later in life.

Early Detection Is Vital

Although most parents are pleased when their child’s first tooth breaks through the gum, some don’t fully realize that the first year to 18 months of a child’s life is also crucial to facial development and that development is typically almost complete by the age of six.

When we identify potential problems that can affect future facial growth and development early, there are more options for successful intervention. We recommend scheduling an appointment to check for possible jaw and bite alignment abnormalities at least by age two.

What Are Some of the Issues?

Jaw misalignment or uneven growth of upper and lower jaws and common “bad habits” of tongue thrusting, thumb sucking, or mouth breathing can all be detrimental to proper facial development. They are at least as worrisome as one or two crooked baby teeth.

Parents can sometimes decrease or eliminate the need for teenage dental braces by taking measures to assure proper facial growth, using noninvasive exercises, muscle training intervention, or perhaps nighttime head braces.

How to Proceed

Some abnormalities that lead to oral health issues, as well as certain breathing and sleep problems, are difficult to detect, and it is important that you have a specialist screen your young child for these things and for the potential need for braces.

Our specialists screen for misaligned teeth and other problems that can lead to dental issues and deteriorating oral hygiene.

Call us to discuss your concerns and to schedule your child’s examination with a full-service pediatric orthodontist.

Why Get Early Intervention Orthodontics for Your Child?

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You may have heard about early intervention orthodontics if you’re a parent. This crucial type of orthodontic treatment can help young patients develop a healthy bone structure for their teeth at a young age.

Many parents don’t realize they can do something for their very young children to help their teeth grow properly, but they can. Visiting the orthodontist in Solon, OH, when your child is very young, is important for ensuring that your child gets the care they need before their dental problems become severe.

What Is Early Intervention Orthodontics?

Early orthodontic treatment is a treatment that is administered while some baby teeth are still present.

Early intervention orthodontics is a treatment your child receives at the earliest possible time to ensure that their teeth grow as they should. This type of orthodontic care can help children avoid severe orthodontic problems when they’re older by addressing orthodontic concerns when they are very young.

Who Needs Early Intervention Orthodontics?

Early intervention in orthodontics is provided to children with orthodontic conditions that may worsen over time. Children who suck their thumbs may need early orthodontic treatment. In addition, children who have problems like underbite, overbite, crossbite, crowded teeth, or excessively spaced teeth all may benefit from this type of orthodontic care.

You can find out if your child needs early intervention orthodontics by bringing your child for an evaluation as early as two years old.

Why Get Early Intervention Orthodontics?

Getting early intervention orthodontics can help your child maintain healthy, straight teeth. Do you think your child needs early orthodontics in Solon, OH? Call McGuire Orthodontics and Facial Orthopedics to learn more about our early intervention orthodontic care.

pediatric sleep therapy

Breathing Patterns in Your Child: What’s Normal?

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Breathing patterns in children can tell you a lot about their oral health. If you’re wondering whether your child’s breathing is normal, regardless of whether they’re awake or asleep, we’ll look at what’s standard and when you may want to schedule a check-up with anorthodontist in Shaker Heights.

Abnormal Breathing Patterns in Kids

Abnormal breathing patterns may look like any of the following:

  • Mouth Breathing: Mouth breathing can be caused by a deviated septum, which can make it hard for air to pass through the nose.
  • Obstructive sleep apnea: Snoring is common for kids, but if it happens all night or it’s very loud, it could be a sign that their airway is blocked while they’re asleep.

As a general rule, the problems have to be fairly advanced before you should start worrying that there’s a blockage. Reminding your child to breathe through their nose or getting breathing strips could easily solve the problem if the issues aren’t severe.

How Can an Orthodontist Help with Breathing?

In the case of a more complex problem, you may want to have your child see an orthodontist. Abnormal breathing patterns can lead to anything from a dry mouth to an elongated face to sleep disruptions. They may be more prone to cavities or even gum disease. Abnormal breathing patterns can also impact how the teeth and jaw align, leading to expensive orthodontic treatments in the future.

See an Orthodontist in Solon, OH 

At McGuire Orthodontics and Facial Orthopedics,airway-focused orthodontics in Solon, OH, can have a huge impact on your child’s oral health and quality of life. To learn more about how it can help open up the passages, contact us today for more information.

How Soon Can an Orthodontist Intervene with My Child’s Teeth?

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The majority of a child’s facial development (60%) is over by the age of six. In fact, it’s the first year and a half of life that’s the most critical, which leads plenty of parents to wonder just how soon they can head off problems simply by being aware of the changes. We’ll look at what can be done and how it might save you and your child a lot of problems down the road if you can work with an expert during the developing years.

Early Intervention

Early orthodontics in Solon, OH, is a type of dentistry that focuses on modifying and improving the facial development process. This may improve a child’s airways and the aesthetic elements of growth. At McGuire Orthodontics and Facial Orthopedics, children as young as two years old can be evaluated by an expert who can see how their jaw and bite are coming together. The earlier you catch the problem, the more likely it is that the child’s mouth will have enough space for future growth. Their teeth won’t be crowded, and there are fewer odds of an underbite, overbite, or crossbite. No matter how your child’s teeth and face develop, though, the official recommendation is to have all children evaluated sometime before age seven.

Find Early Orthodontics in Shaker Heights, OH

Most parents who spring for costly orthodontics in Shaker Heights, OH would like to know at least that their investment was necessary. If it’s possible to help the teeth reach their proper positions naturally, the McGuire Orthodontics and Facial Orthopedics staff can tell you more about what to expect. With two locations, we make it easy for parents to take the proper precautions for their kids.

Monthly checkup of orthodontic treatment results

Does My Child Really Need a Crown?

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It’s understandable for many parents to wonder whether their child really needs a crown. After all, it wasn’t always common practice for dentists in Shaker Heights, OH. If you fall into this camp and you’re questioning whether your child needs a crown on a tooth they’re going to lose anyway, we’ll look at the benefits of taking this step and the risks of ignoring it.

Crowns for Children in Shaker Heights, OH

A dentist will order a crown in Solon, OH if they’re concerned about the shape of your child’s face or the development of their bite. The worse the decay is, the more likely it is that a child’s facial structure will have to adjust. If their teeth aren’t strong enough, they won’t be able to support normal development. Crowns will not just strengthen the tooth below; it will make it easier for them to chew and speak.

How the Treatment Works

The treatment for crowns starts with removing any of the decay from the child’s tooth. From there, the dentist will need to reduce the size of the child’s tooth to make it easier to fit the crown. The dentist will then test the crown to ensure that it fits the child’s mouth and, more importantly, their bite.

It’s not always easy to determine exactly how a child’s mouth will develop, but things like crown placement can potentially stave off more expensive orthodontics in the future. So while you may be skeptical, you should talk to a dentist about the ramifications of skipping it.

Dentists In Solon, OH

With locations in Shaker Heights and Solon, the dentists at McGuire Orthodontics and Facial Orthopedics are here to help kids start off with healthy habits. The more emphasis you put on their oral health today, the more likely they’ll hold onto their teeth for their whole lives. Contact us today if you want to schedule an appointment for your child.

 

Typical Bite Problems in Children That May Require orthodontic Treatment

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Specific issues with bite alignment can emerge as a child’s face and jaws develop. Intervention with orthodontic treatment can negate bite issues and support a healthy smile for the years to come. Therefore, it is important as a parent to pay attention to signs that your child may need braces. Take a look at the bite problems that may mean your child needs pediatric orthodontic treatment in Shaker Heights, OH.

Excess Spacing

Excess spacing between teeth creates gaps that can affect how the bite aligns, put undue stress on certain teeth, and affect your child’s confidence about their smile. Thankfully, most spacing issues are considered mild orthodontic issues, which means the alignment problems respond well to treatment.

Open Bite

Open bite means the child’s teeth do not fully come in contact when the jaw is closed. This condition is common during the early childhood years but may correct itself to some degree as the jaws fully form. When the open bite issue persists, orthodontic treatment is vital.

Overbite and Underbite

Overbite and underbite are some of the most common malocclusion issues in children. Overbite means the child’s upper teeth protrude over the lower teeth. An underbite occurs when the lower teeth overlap the upper teeth when the jaw is closed. Both conditions are easily treatable with orthodontic care.

Crossbite

Crossbite misalignment occurs when teeth in the upper jaw rest inside the row of teeth on the lower jaw when the child’s mouth is closed. Crossbite may affect different sections of teeth in the mouth, and not correcting the issue can lead to lifelong bite and jaw problems.

Crowding

Crowding simply means the teeth are crowded together instead of coming in straight and even in their own defined socket. Certain teeth may appear to be positioned over other teeth, for example.

Talk to a Pediatric Orthodontist in Shaker Heights, OH

When your child has obvious bite problems, it is important to work with a pediatric orthodontist in Shaker Heights, OH for advice. Reach out to the team at McGuire Orthodontics and Facial Orthopedics to schedule an appointment.

Is Your Child a Good Candidate for Pediatric Orthodontics?

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Not all people are born with straight teeth – some have to straighten their teeth using orthodontic tools like braces or clear aligners. Many people wait until their teen years or older to get orthodontic services, but some people get these services when they’re children.

Pediatric orthodontics can help many children have beautiful, straight teeth. As your provider of orthodontics in Solon, OH, we can help you determine whether your child needs these services. If your child has misaligned teeth, here’s what you need to know.

Why Pediatric Orthodontics is Important

Some children respond well to pediatric orthodontics. Early intervention of this kind can lead to faster and more effective resolution of orthodontic issues. Sometimes orthodontic issues can lead to problems smiling, eating, or talking. For children who are having problems of this nature, getting help from a pediatric orthodontist is important.

How You Can Tell if Your Child Is a Good Candidate

Ultimately, the best way to find out if your child is a good candidate for pediatric orthodontics is to visit an orthodontist experienced in helping pediatric populations with this kind of problem. If your child has a misaligned bite, a gap between their teeth, missing teeth, or incorrect tooth eruption, they may benefit from this kind of orthodontic treatment. Your child should have healthy teeth and gums before getting started with orthodontic treatment.

Children experiencing orthodontic trouble should visit the orthodontist in Solon, OH, for the first time between the ages of 7 and 9. On this first visit, the orthodontist will be able to tell whether their patient needs pediatric orthodontics. Visit McGuire Orthodontics and Facial Orthopedics. We’ll examine your child’s teeth and let you know if your child is a good candidate for our services. Call today to make an appointment for an examination.