Find the right time to start
As a parent in the Jersey City area, you want the best for your child. That includes healthy teeth and a straight smile.
At Heights Orthodontics, our goal is to treat your children as if they were our own, by providing them with the best possible orthodontic care and a friendly, fun atmosphere.
Some kids need treatment early
This can be surprising, but around 20% of kids ages 7-10 need early treatment for major issues involving the bite, adult teeth that aren’t erupting correctly, or severe crowding.
Don’t fret if your little one needs early treatment though. Early treatment at Heights Orthodontics can resolve major issues before they ever begin. This Phase 1 treatment also tends to shorten the second phase of treatment necessary once all adult teeth are in.
To have a smile that's long-lasting and healthy, your child needs teeth and jaws that are properly aligned —in other words, a healthy bite. The American Association of Orthodontists and Dr. Ryan Trulby recommend that your child get an orthodontic check-up no later than age seven years old.
By then, your child's teeth have developed enough for subtle problems with jaw growth and emerging teeth to still be spotted while some baby teeth are still present. This check-up may reveal that your child's bite is fine and braces for kids aren't necessary. We’ll never start treatment before it’s necessary.
Or, Dr. Trulby may identify a developing problem but recommend monitoring your child's growth and development. He will then begin treatment when orthodontic and developmental cues indicate that it’s an appropriate time for your child. In other cases, Dr. Trulby might find a problem that can benefit from early treatment.
Super happy
“I am SO happy I was told about Heights Orthodontics. Dr. Ryan is the absolute BEST—honest, friendly and just great energy all around!
The office is cool and modern, the staff is always so friendly and sweet. My daughters are super happy. We adore this practice and tell everyone to send their kids here.”
- Kate
What is early treatment?
Also known as Phase 1 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. Trulby will be able to achieve results that may not be possible once the face and jaws have finished growing.
How to choose the perfect time for treatment
While the age that kids get braces may vary, orthodontic treatment most often begins between the ages of nine and fourteen years old. Some orthodontic problems are easier to correct if Dr. Trulby treats them early on.
If Dr. Trulby thinks your child will need treatment, he’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
- Breathing through the mouth
- Thumb-sucking
- Crowded, misplaced or blocked-out teeth
- Jaws that are too far forward or back
- Biting the cheek or biting into the roof of the mouth
- Protruding teeth
- 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 you’d like to bring your child in to Heights Orthodontics for an evaluation, please contact our Jersey City office to set up a free consultation.
Dr. Trulby would love to discuss your child's orthodontic options with you to develop a treatment plan customized to your child's specific needs.
