Early Orthodontic Intervention Options in Kelowna: Dr. Sandy Crocker & Dr. Peter Mitchell

In most cases, addressing a dental issue sooner than later really pays off. This is often the case with dental problems of any sort and oral care in general. Maintaining regular checkups once your child’s baby teeth begin erupting is vital to ensure a happy, healthy smile. Early orthodontic treatment can maximize a positive outcome by taking advantage of your child’s natural growth cycle. The goal is to make room for all adult teeth without having to extract perfectly healthy teeth down the road. Dr. Sandy Crocker, Dr. Peter Mitchell and Associates in Kelowna offer full orthodontic assessments to help ensure the healthiest smiles for you and your entire family.

Comprehensive Dental Digital X-Rays Yield Potential Treatment Options

Our experienced dental team is committed to providing you with all of the visuals and facts in order to help you determine the best route to take with your child. Digital X-rays show us how the adult teeth are lining up to come in and if there are potential problems in store. Even if your child still has plenty of baby teeth in their mouth, it is essential to start the discussion regarding the need for possible orthodontic work. The Canadian Dental Association recommends having an early orthodontic assessment as early as 7 years old in order to be proactive. Addressing issues in their infancy can drastically reduce the timeframe of wearing braces in the future.

Tooth Overcrowding Issues Are Common in the Okanagan

Clients are often surprised when their children’s adult teeth start to come in twice the size of baby teeth and run out of room. Baby teeth are commonly straight and easy to deal with and many issues are deemed temporary since these teeth will eventually fall out. Adult teeth on the other hand have the ability to last a lifetime and care needs to be taken from the beginning in order to give them the healthiest possible chance. Palatal expanders are appliances that are used to gradually widen the upper palate to make room for adult teeth. Dental impressions are taken and the appliance is constructed in the lab. It is easy to operate the turning cycle with a special key and we will provide you with all of the information you need to know in terms of how to turn the appliance and how often. This is often worn for a short period of time from 4 to 6 months and produces excellent results. Some kids even skip the need for braces altogether once the expander works its’ magic.

Imagine Wearing Orthodontic Braces For Less Time

While early orthodontic treatment does in some cases eliminate the chance of the client needing braces later on in life, this is not always the case. However, what we find is that those who underwent early treatment (for example making extra space with a palatal expander), often need to wear their braces for less time! Imagine shortening the average 18 months to 2 years down to less than a year or possibly a few months! This saves clients time, money and discomfort. Everyone has an awkward stage as different parts of our bodies grow at different times…some more congruently than others. Let us help your child minimize their chances of experiencing self-esteem issues and be proud of their smile instead! Call Dr. Sandy Crocker, Dr. Peter Mitchell and Associates today to schedule your next appointment or early orthodontic assessment!

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