Early Treatment: Protect Your Childs Smile
Did you know that according to the American Association of Orthodontics, children should receive an orthodontic evaluation by age 7? At Olsen Orthodontics, we are proud to offer Early Treatment, or Phase 1 Treatment, to children ages 7 and up. Once your little one can sit still through an x-ray, we believe they are ready for an orthodontic evaluation. Early Treatment is used to prevent dental abnormalities and to keep orthodontic issues from becoming more complex. Phase 1 treatment is perfect for children with mixed dentition, or both baby and permanent teeth.
At Olsen Orthodontics, the main goal of Early Treatment is to correct any existing orthodontic issues, to prevent abnormal development, and to encourage proper tooth eruption. We use this treatment to not only improve your child’s smile now, but also improve the function and aesthetic of their future smile. Our Phase 1 treatments are focused on specific problem areas and typically only lasts 6-12 months. After this first round of treatment is complete, Dr. Olsen and his team will continue to monitor your child and their orthodontic development to determine if any further orthodontic treatment is necessary. Sometimes Early Treatment is the only form of treatment a child needs, and sometimes it is just the first step in a treatment process, but it does help lessen the time and complexity of additional treatments.
Early Treatment: Prevent Orthodontic Issues
Our number one goal with Phase 1 Treatment at Olsen Orthodontics is to prevent the need for future, complex treatments for your child. Tackling orthodontic issues when they are less severe, and when your child has such an influential jaw can help shorten treatment times, saving your child unnecessary discomfort, and can even save you in excessive funds. Our team encourages Early orthodontic treatment because proactive orthodontic treatment is so much easier and faster than reactive orthodontic treatment.
Overbites & Underbites
Early Treatment very commonly treats jaw misalignments such as overbites and underbites. Correcting these issues early help your child avoid more extensive treatment down the road.
TMJ/TMD
Early detection and treatment of TMJ problems can prevent the condition from worsening and can relieve painful symptoms, helping your child avoid more serious complications and pain later on.
Impacted Smiles
When teeth can’t erupt properly, they become impacted beneath the gums. Without Early Treatment to correct this, impacted smiles can lead to misalignments, overcrowding, and general damage to the teeth.
Why Choose Us For Early Treatment
Our team at Olsen Orthodontics is focused on improving your child’s smile while ensuring their treatment experience is fun and light-hearted. We understand how intimidating orthodontic treatment can seem, especially for a child as young as 7-years-old, and that is why we are dedicated to making treatment enjoyable for your little ones.
At Olsen Orthodontics, your child could receive palatal expanders, limited braces, or space maintainers to help prevent future orthodontic complications and to complete Phase 1 of their orthodontic treatment journey. Each of these treatment options are full of colorful patterns and fun options to choose from, to make treatment an exciting time rather than a scary and cumbersome experience. Choosing Olsen Orthodontics for your child’s Early Treatment means choosing a team that is dedicated to providing an experience your child will enjoy and results you will love!
FAQ: Early Treatment
At Olsen Orthodontics, we understand committing to an orthodontist is a difficult decision to make, especially when you’re making that decision for a young child. Before you begin early Treatment for your child, we want to make sure all of your questions are answered and that you feel comfortable with the treatment process. Below you will find some of our most frequently asked questions to act as a guide for you. If you have any other questions or concerns, please call our office as soon as possible.
Is my child a good candidate for early orthodontic treatment?
Because each smile is unique, we like to begin with a complimentary consultation to determine if your child is a good candidate for early treatment. Some signs that indicate your child might be a good candidate are mixed dentition, meaning they have some baby and some permanent teeth, accompanied by any of the following orthodontic issues: crowding, overbites, underbites, cross bites or open bites.
What age should my child first see an orthodontist?
It is recommended by the American Association of Orthodontists that all children visit an orthodontist by age 7. Even if your child doesn’t need treatment right away, we can still create a plan to set them up for orthodontic success.
What types of orthodontic issues can be corrected with early treatment?
Early treatment can help correct issues such as crowding, crossbites, overbites, underbites, jaw growth issues, and oral habits such as thumb sucking.
How long will the treatment process take?
Every child and every smile is unique, so there is no standard treatment time for early treatment, however, on average, treatment lasts anywhere from 6 to 12 months.
Is the treatment painful or uncomfortable for my child?
While your child may experience some discomfort as they adjust to their new appliance, their early treatment experience should be virtually pain-free.
What kind of results can we expect from early treatment?
After early treatment is complete, expect to see proper jaw alignment, adequate space for tooth eruption, reduced treatment times, and improvements in speech and breathing.
Lander, WY • Riverton, WY • Rawlins, WY • Worland, WY
One Practice, Multiple Locations
Each member of our team at Olsen Orthodontics has a passion for serving the community and providing the best orthodontic care to each patient we see. We are grateful for the opportunity to serve in multiple local communities in Wyoming, including Lander, Rawlins, Riverton, and Worland. Find the location that suits you best and prepare for impeccable customer service and unbeatable results.
Lander Office
799 S. 2nd St. #B Lander, WY 82520
Rawlins Office
1101 W Spruce St Rawlins WY 82301
Riverton Office
831 W. Sunset Dr. Riverton, WY 82501
Worland Office
209 S. 7th St. Worland, WY 82401