While many people associate braces with teenage years, an 8-year-old can indeed get braces or other orthodontic treatment. The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends an initial orthodontic evaluation by age seven. This early assessment allows orthodontists to identify potential issues and determine if early intervention is beneficial.
Understanding Early Orthodontic Intervention
Early orthodontic intervention, often called “Phase One” or “interceptive” orthodontics, typically begins between the ages of six and ten, before all permanent teeth have erupted. This proactive approach aims to address developing dental and skeletal problems while a child’s jaw and teeth are still growing. The primary goals of this phase include guiding jaw growth, creating adequate space for permanent teeth, and correcting harmful oral habits.
Early intervention guides jaw growth, especially when upper or lower jaws are not developing ideally. This can align teeth and jaws, potentially preventing complex procedures like jaw surgery later. It also creates space for emerging permanent teeth, reducing severe crowding and future extractions. Addressing habits like thumb-sucking or tongue thrusting early prevents negative impacts on jaw development and bite alignment.
Common Issues Addressed at Age Eight
At age eight, an orthodontist can address several dental and jaw problems that, if untreated, could lead to complications. One common issue is a crossbite, where the upper teeth fit inside the lower teeth when the mouth is closed. This can involve either the front or back teeth and can affect chewing and jaw alignment.
Severe crowding is another concern, indicating that there might not be enough space in the jaw for all the permanent teeth to erupt correctly. Early intervention can help create the necessary room, potentially avoiding future extractions.
Harmful oral habits, such as prolonged thumb-sucking or pacifier use beyond ages three or four, can also cause bite issues like an open bite or changes in jaw development. Significant overbites (upper teeth protruding excessively) or underbites (lower teeth extending beyond the upper teeth) are also conditions that can be treated early. Addressing these bite discrepancies while the child is still growing can lead to more favorable outcomes.
Issues related to prematurely lost baby teeth, due to trauma or decay, are also examined. Baby teeth serve as natural space maintainers for permanent teeth, and their early loss can cause adjacent teeth to shift, blocking the path for adult teeth.
What Early Treatment Involves
An initial orthodontic consultation for an 8-year-old typically involves a thorough examination of the child’s teeth, jaws, and facial structure. This often includes taking photographs of the face and teeth, and X-rays to assess the position of erupting permanent teeth and jaw development. The orthodontist will then discuss any identified issues and recommend a tailored treatment plan, which may involve immediate intervention or monitoring.
Unlike comprehensive orthodontic treatment for teenagers, early intervention often utilizes specific appliances rather than full braces on all teeth. Common appliances include palatal expanders, which are custom-made devices used to widen a narrow upper jaw. These expanders work by gently separating the two halves of the upper jaw, which are not fully fused until later adolescence, creating more space for teeth and improving bite alignment.
Space maintainers are another type of appliance used when a baby tooth is lost prematurely. These devices hold open the space needed for the permanent tooth to erupt correctly, preventing adjacent teeth from drifting and causing crowding. Removable appliances may also be used to apply gentle pressure to move teeth or realign the jaw, offering flexibility as they can be taken out for eating and cleaning.
The typical duration for “Phase One” treatment ranges from six to eighteen months, depending on the individual case and the severity of the problems being addressed. After this phase, there is usually a “resting period” where the child’s growth is monitored, often for about a year or more, as the remaining permanent teeth erupt. A “Phase Two” of treatment, usually involving full braces, may be recommended later during adolescence to achieve final alignment once all permanent teeth are present.