Get a Head Start on a Beautiful Smile
As a parent in Johnson City, TN or Norton, VA, you want the best for your child. That includes healthy teeth and a pleasing smile.
Dr. Sturgill, Dr. Williams, and our team at Sturgill Orthodontics will treat your children like our own by giving them the best possible orthodontic care.
Your Child’s First Visit to Sturgill Orthodontics
As a kid-friendly orthodontic practice, we make sure your child’s first visit is fun and relaxed. We speak in terms they can understand and establish a rapport so they feel comfortable.
We’ll examine their mouth and let you know if there are any red flags that need to addressed such as potential tooth crowding, gaps in the teeth, an overbite, an open bite or a gummy smile. If we do need to step in, we can develop a plan for Phase I orthodontic treatment, also known as interceptive treatment.
Kids Should Get an Orthodontic Check-Up By 7
It’s never too early to make your child’s smile a priority. In fact, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends children receive their first orthodontic screening by age seven.
In many cases, we’ll simply keep on tabs on the development of your little one’s teeth and jaws and they won’t actually undergo treatment until they’re older. Think of it as a chance for your kiddo to get comfortable with their orthodontist while they’re in this observational stage.
What Is Early Treatment?
Early treatment may prevent or intercept more serious problems from developing and may make treatment at a later age shorter and less complicated.
In some cases, Dr. Sturgill or Dr. Williams can achieve results that may not be possible once your child’s face and jaws have finished growing.
Since a young child’s permanent teeth aren’t finished erupting, early treatment is about finding and evaluating issues to prevent them from becoming full-fledged problems and causing any further harm. That's why we're voted one of the best places to get braces in Johnson City!
Proactively correcting them before they’re serious, and while the teeth and jaws are still growing, will mean easier, more affordable treatment down the line.
Choosing the Best Time for Treatment
While the age that kids get braces may vary, orthodontic treatment most often begins between 9 and 14. Some orthodontic problems are easier to correct if they’re treated early.
If Dr. Sturgill or Dr. Williams thinks your child will need treatment, they’ll let you know when it will be best to begin treatment. This gives your orthodontist the best chance to:
- Guide jaw growth
- Lower the risk of trauma to protruded front teeth
- Correct harmful oral habits
- Improve appearance and self-esteem in your child
- Guide permanent teeth into a more favorable position
- Create a more pleasing arrangement of teeth, lips and face
Signs the Bite's Not Right
It's not always easy to tell when your child may need braces or has an orthodontic problem. Even teeth that look straight may be hiding a problem bite.
Here are some clues that may indicate the need for orthodontic attention:
- Early or late loss of baby teeth
- Difficulty chewing or biting
- Biting the cheek or biting into the roof of the mouth
- Protruding teeth
- Breathing through the mouth
- Thumb-sucking
- Crowded, misplaced or blocked-out teeth
- Jaws that are too far forward or back
- Upper and lower teeth that don't meet, or meet in an abnormal way
- An unbalanced facial appearance
- Grinding or clenching of the teeth
Learn More at Your Free Consultation
If your child has a dental issue, please contact us by setting up a free consultation at our Johnson City, TN or Norton, VA offices.
We can talk about your child's orthodontic options and develop a treatment plan customized to your child's needs.
