Orthodontics for Kids/Teens

Before making the decision to pursue treatment with braces or aligners, it is important to understand what the roots of the issues are. Orthodontic problems can be dental, skeletal, or a combination of both. These problems can cause your child to have issues such as crooked teeth, an overbite, an underbite, or even a jaw that shifts to the side. The great thing about treating children and teens is that oftentimes we can use your child’s natural growth pattern to address their orthodontic needs. With braces or clear aligners, we can slowly move your child’s teeth and use their growth if necessary to achieve a beautiful, straight smile.

We typically like to start treatment right after all or most of your child’s permanent teeth have erupted, which is usually in the early teen years. This treatment can be either comprehensive or targeted, depending on your preference and the issues that are present.

Sometimes, however, kids need orthodontic treatment well before all their permanent teeth come in. This is commonly referred to as Phase I. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children be evaluated by an orthodontist as early as 7 years old to see if any early intervention is needed. Problems like jaw misalignment, excessive crowding, and impacted teeth can be caught and treated early for the best possible outcome. Often your child will need Phase II (comprehensive) treatment after Phase I, but it is possible that they do not. It is a decision that we make together after their permanent teeth erupt.

To learn more about our orthodontic treatments, call us at (661) 254-6464 or visit our office located at 23333 Cinema Dr Valencia, CA