Around age 7, children have a mix of baby (primary) and permanent teeth. Having your first free visit as permanent teeth take the place of baby teeth, and as the face and jaws are growing, gives our doctors a lot of information.
If a problem exists, or if one is developing, our doctors are able to advise you on whether treatment is recommended, when it should begin, what form treatment will take, and estimate its length.
Remember, there is a difference between an orthodontic check-up and actually starting orthodontic treatment.
Only a few orthodontic problems will need correction around age 7. Even so, not all treatment is done using braces or Invisalign treatment, and these other corrections are called interceptive orthodontics.
If early corrections are necessary, they can often make later treatment easier or more successful.
If early treatment is indicated, it can give us the chance to:
There are generally three outcomes of an initial check-up:
We take a “wait and see” approach and have you come in for observation appointments that are also free of charge. Our doctors are then able to catch the exact best time for your child to start treatment based on their unique anatomy and bite patterns. Some orthodontic problems are easier to correct if found and treated early. Waiting until all the permanent teeth have come in, or until facial growth is nearly complete, may make correction of some problems more difficult.
Many of the appliances listed here are fixed appliances, meaning that they are not removable. It is important to avoid sticky, chewy or brittle foods with these appliances. Food items such as: caramels, taffy, gum, hard candies, ice, and gummy candies are ones to stay away from. It is a good idea to cut raw fruits and veggies (such as apples and carrots) into smaller pieces before eating. These appliances will be more effective if cared for properly.
Our Kid’s Club is the best group to get to know your Lincoln orthodontist office, get a free t-shirt, and receive a free ice cream coupon in the mail for your birthday! Anyone under the age of seven (a lot of times siblings of current patients) can join, see their photo on our wave wall, and graduate the club when they are ready for their first free visit at age seven.
The Herbt appliance is used to help encourage the lower teeth and jaw forward. In many cases, this appliance is needed to correct an overbite. If caught at the right time in development, this appliance can eliminate the need for tooth extractions or jaw surgery.
Instructions can be found here if you need help managing your current Herbst appliance.
A lower lingual archwire is commonly used as a space maintainer.
It keeps the position of the molars as adult teeth are erupting in the lower arch to eliminate crowding as permanent teeth come in.
The nance is used on the upper arch. It ensures the position of the molars and holds space to eliminate crowding as adult teeth are coming in.
The Pendulum is a fixed appliance that replaces headgear from the past. Its function is to move the upper molars back into their correct bite positions.
A Rapid Palatal Expander (RPE) is used to expand the width of the upper palate. It is commonly used to eliminate crossbites. Other benefits include increasing airway space, and eliminating functional shift (when your lower jaw slides to the side after hitting prematurely on upper teeth).