Why Age 7
Posted: Wednesday, April 08, 2009
by Avis Ward
GeoVi's Home for Pregnant Teens
In the past, orthodontic treatment was often postponed until the adolescent years, when all the permanent teeth came in. We now know that many orthodontic problems can be treated earlier and much easier by working with the growth that takes place in younger children. Although treatment may not begin at this young age, an early examination allows an orthodontist to monitor your child's dental development to determine the best time to start.
Getting your child orthodontic treatment has proven to be beneficial in numerous ways. Let us now count some of them:
- Stop detrimental habits such as thumb/finger sucking and tongue-thrust swallowing
- Retention of teeth without need of prosthodontics
- Avoidance of periodontal disease
- Circumventing temporal mandibular joint (TMJ) pain and discomfort
- Elimination of bruxism or grinding of teeth
- Increased self-esteem and confidence
- A beautiful smile to last a lifetime
Tackling these problems at a young age is easiest for the orthodontist and provides tremendous benefits to the patient. Early detection and sometimes early treatment are warranted. An ethical orthodontist will not begin treatment before it's time.
As a reminder, a dentist's referral is not necessary for a child to see an orthodontist. Parents can request a referral or call the orthodontist's office and ask questions. Also, earlier than age seven is highly unlikely for an orthodontic evaluation unless the dentist has concerns. This is true especially if a child is slow to develop.
2009 by Avis Ward of Digi-SoftT
This Article has been viewed 255 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)Hi Avis.What is tongue-thrust swallowing?I guess that going to a dentist or orthodontist earlier in one's life and having a good experience of it would be very beneficial. But it seems to me that the very young don't often know what is expected of them in such a situation and may not make the best choices or give good answers to questions like "Is your mouth numb now?" My parents weren't too smart about good dental hygiene and at a very young age I had a couple of cavities in teeth that I would be needing for a while yet and so the decision was made to have them filled. Imagine my shock at the pain of the needle going in and then the pain of drilling when I wasn't yet fully numb.Still, I understand your point (you're not so much talking about filling cavities as correcting structural or habitual defects) and think that this article will be a good wake-up call for many parents. It just that your article brought back so many painful memories for me that I had to comment.DianneHi Dianne,
Tongue-thrust swallowing occurs when someone swallows and thrusts their tongue forward. The tongue being a very powerful muscle will mimic orthodontic appliances by separating the teeth causing spaces and pushing them forward, causing protrusion. Oftentimes this happens because the tongue is simply too large for the oral cavity and even at rest, rests/pushes against the teeth. A habit appliance can be used to stop this and it's easier to break a habit such as this at a young age. Correction can be achieved after age 16 or so but the habit is likely to cause the teeth to separate and/or protrude again. That's why age 7 is vitally important for the initial consultation. The appliance gives the tongue something else to do and prevents it from coming forward.
Your experience as a child is 100% avoidable with simple patient care. But you know Dianne, one has to care, regardless. I do not toot my own horn often but I have the love notes from parents and kids because I cared. Time was taken to explain what to expect and answer all their questions. If time ran out, I called to speak to the kid then parent to make sure they understood. The practice I worked was highly successful because caring was a contributing factor.
Ironically, it's not something that I have found I can train others to do. Either they care or they do not. Pretense won't last forever as too many factors will reveal there is something wrong with the system.
I can get worked up over this because ... well Dianne, because of the reason I quoted in your most recent cats 'n noogies article. Can't we just like one another? Can't we just be real?
Sorry you have terrible childhood memories regarding your dental care. And no, I wasn't talking about drilling teeth but it starts there. A child goes to the dentist before a dental specialist such as an orthodontist. Bad experiences at the former can create problems at the latter, for a lifetime.
Thanks for reading. I appreciate you so much. I don't always comment either. I understand you on that! *smile*
Hugs,
AvisHi Avis.Well I got curious about the tongue-thrust after I asked you that question and put it into a search engine. I think that most likely that is why I lisped as a child [such a terrible word for a person who does that :)]. I didn't actually get rid of my lisp until my freshman year in high school. I elected to study German and the language has very sibilant "s's" and no "th" as in thumb to speak of. I was having a very hard time of it and started watching people say "s" and eventually worked my way around it. But you know, the resting position for my tongue is still pressed up against my front upper teeth. And when I am congested, I tend to press pretty hard there. Thankfully, by mouth is so small (had to have my wisdom teeth that were developing under my back most molars surgically removed when I was 16) that my teeth never separated from the pressure.My fear of the dentist is a constant problem for me. I only go when something is wrong, which thankfully has only been once in my entire life ... Oh goodness ... knock on wood. Probably should have said "so far." I do care very well for my teeth on my own. I brush with a Sonicare and floss every day. I use a scaler on my teeth myself, even though I know it is not generally recommended. My husband, though, is very good about going every six months for a cleaning and exam. It shames me somewhat to admit this, but there you are. It's the truth.Any help for someone who has only ever suffered pain while having her teeth cleaned or filled or anything to do with visiting a dentist?DianneDianne, very clever of you to take German. Speech therapy is often recommended for children with tongue-thrust swallowing, too. That's in essence what you did, and learned a new language to boot!
"Any help for someone who has only ever suffered pain while having her teeth cleaned or filled or anything to do with visiting a dentist?"
The advancements today are on your side, Dianne. Now, your fear is real and maybe sedation is needed. I have beautiful but highly sensitive teeth. Everything is done to help and they all do but I am numbed for a mere cleaning, too. Request nitrous oxide if you aren't allergic or something to sedate you when you get to the office. You may even want just one or two pills in a prescription to take one before arriving. And ask for novacaine if it hurts.
Offices are so hi-tech now. I listen to music. They provide headphones and your selection of genres with Internet radio. You can take an iPod. Movies are being played while undergoing treatment. If your dentist isn't up-to-date with these gadgets, find one who is. There are waterfalls indoors and out, at my dentist's office. They are pretty large, too. Listening to that is tranquil and relaxing.
If you're only sedated twice a year for dental checkups, that's not overdosing. *grin* It's worth it to your mental and dental health.
You know I'm not a dentist. If a patient or prospective patient is unable to ask a dentist or other medical professional questions and get answers, they should demand it or find one who will. The competition is real and they know it. They are paying big $ to grab a bigger market share. They are being told patient care ranks up there with their skills/knowledge.
Thanks again, Dianne. I've enjoyed this. I'm ready for a seminar now! *laughing*
Don't be afraid. I would be remissed if I didn't say, go to God in prayer about it but I have a sneaky suspicion you already have. God made drugs for good reasons!
Hugs,
Avis
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