Early Orthodontic Treatment

By Dr. Alon Grosman

There is no doubt that the average age of orthodontic patients has lowered through the years. Just open a yearbook from the 50’s and 60’s and you will see many young adults wearing the stereotypical “train tracks” across their teeth. Movies have spoofed the usage of head gears during the high school years, which was common practice in that era. Braces have become smaller, sleeker, more colorful, and worn with pride by many preteens. For those of you who have young children at home, the main question is whether early treatment is right for your child.

To best answer this question, it is first important to define some terms. When discussing “early treatment,” I personally prefer the term interceptive treatment. It has the connotation of catching something before it becomes a bigger problem. The more common and practical term is “Phased” orthodontic treatment. In this case, treatment done at an earlier age (usually between 6-9 years old) is referred to as Phase I. It is aimed at correction of habits, skeletal discrepancies, as well as severe abnormalities in dental eruption. The later treatment, Phase II, is usually done at around 11-13 years old in order to place all permanent teeth in an ideal position. I call it more practical because in most cases the second treatment is needed. The name serves as a reminder to the parents of this fact. Currently, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that the first orthodontic evaluation occur by age 7. Does this mean that all children require phased orthodontic treatment? Certainly not. The criteria for starting early treatment should be better or more predictable results. In my opinion, this is certainly the case when the upper jaw is too narrow and must be expanded, when upper front teeth are so protrusive (“buck”) that the incidence of trauma is much more likely (unless corrected), and cases of underbite (when the lower jaw is forward of the upper jaw).

These treatments are “no brainers” for two reasons. The body of the younger patient is more amenable to these specific orthopedic (growth) corrections and statistically the preteen is more likely to traumatize a front tooth than at any other time. There are other times that treatment may be done for psychosocial reasons, as some children are very conscious of cosmetics.

For those parents who are considering early treatment for their children, I recommend listening with an open mind. See if the reasons for starting treatment make sense to you. The rule of thumb would be “if it does not make sense, don’t do it! I find that most parents have a life philosophy which may make them either more or less open to preventative type treatments. As a parent, I find that I know what my child will be able to handle and be up to. Most importantly, if you decide as a family to start, have fun with it.

▸The office of Dr. Maria Maranzini-Grosman (Board Certified Pediatric Dentist) and Dr. Alon Grosman (Specialist in Orthodontics) is located at

South Flamingo Road on the NW corner of Griffin and Flamingo Road. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 954-236-3434.

8/31/22

8/31/22

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