Prevent more serious problems from developing and reduce the complexity of treatment later in life.

Early Evaluation Matters
Identifying potential issues early allows your orthodontist to evaluate your child’s needs and discuss an appropriate treatment plan with you. While treatment may not begin immediately, careful planning is just as important for achieving the best long-term results.

Stage 1: Early treatment (6-8 years old)

A range of dental appliances can be used to maintain space for adult teeth, or help address certain habits. In some cases, no appliance is necessary, our aim is to work directly with the child and parent to eliminate habits that could affect dental development, such as thumb sucking. At our practice, we follow a philosophy of early intervention only when it’s truly needed. If a problem can be effectively treated later, we prefer to wait and plan treatment at the optimal time.

Stage 2: Middle dentition (8-9 years old)

At this stage, treatment may sometimes be started to help teeth that are stuck (impacted) or to prevent potential problems before they happen. Early treatment can also be considered if your child feels self-conscious about their teeth or if there are other social or emotional reasons for not waiting.

If your child begins elective treatment with braces at this age, it’s important to know that full treatment is usually still needed later on. This stage is less commonly treated than the stages before or after, but when needed, it can make a big difference in your child’s smile and confidence.