Dr. Brock is an experienced pediatric dentist and offers thorough orthodontic screenings for children of all ages in Clear Lake.
Recognizing the need for orthodontics early helps your child get the right treatment.
Regular six-month checkups and exams are a good way to identify orthodontic problems early.
A specialized screening may be required if Dr. Brock suspects your child has orthodontic issues like a small mouth, crooked teeth, or a malpositioned bite.
Orthodontic screenings are an in-depth oral exam intended to diagnose and check for common orthodontic problems in children and teens. An orthodontic screening is usually recommended around the age of 6. This is when the first permanent teeth begin to appear, and it is also when issues like crooked teeth, a narrow palate, or an overbite/underbite/crossbite may become apparent.
The process of an orthodontic screening is similar to a standard oral exam. However, Dr. Brock will inspect the position of each tooth carefully using specialized tools and x-rays. This allows the Clear Lake team at Big Picture Pediatric Dentistry to understand how your child’s mouth is developing and check for problems like improperly-erupting teeth, crowded teeth, impacted teeth, and a small mouth.
Most commonly, your Clear Lake pediatric dentist will tell you if and when you should be considering orthodontic treatment for your little one. If you’re seeing a dentist regularly every six months, your dentist will be the first to notice if your child’s teeth are not erupting properly or if they are developing an overbite or underbite.
You can also keep an eye out for these issues on your own:
In most cases, orthodontic treatment will not begin until about the age of 8-10, but some children may need treatment when they are as young as 6 years old.
If Dr. Brock believes that your child may need additional treatment after their orthodontic screening, he will refer you to a qualified orthodontist. Then, your child will undergo an additional screening and your pediatric orthodontist will recommend the proper treatment plan.
This could include a palate expander to help ensure proper jaw growth, headgear to correct bite alignment, or braces to help correct the position of your child’s teeth. The treatments required will vary based on your child’s age, oral health, and the severity of their orthodontic issues. Request an appointment for an orthodontic screening with our Clear Lake dental office today.
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