FAQS
Q: Why are so many young children getting braces these days as
opposed to waiting until they are teenagers?
A: Many children benefit from early orthodontic intervention to
correct a problem that may become more severe as they develop.
For the most part, "early treatment" also called "phase
I" is best termed as "interceptive treatment".
It is highly likley that "teenage braces" will still
be required to align the teeth. Reasons for interceptive treatment
inlcude: crossbites (where most often the upper teeth fit inside
the lower teeth), habits (thumb-sucking and tongue-thrusting),
severe overbites that could lead to tooth fractures during sports
and other activities, impending problems with crowding, and large
discrepancies in jaw size and location. A very common reason for
interceptive orthodontics is attempting to gain enough space in
the mouth to fit in all of the permanent teeth; preventing future
extractions. It is often much easier and more predictable to accomplish
this when baby teeth are still present. Dr. Jernigan utilizes
very strict criteria in assessing a child for interceptive treament.
Only if the goal of treatment is clearly beneficial to the patient
and fully understood by the parents, does Dr. Jernigan recommend
that young child start an early phase of orthodontics. More often
than not, treatment will not be recommended and the child will
be placed on "Growth and Guidance" and will simply be
recalled to our office to check on his/her development.
Q: When should my child first see an orthodontist?
A: The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children
have their first orthodontic screening at age 7. It is quite unlikely
that any treatment will be neccessary, but occasionally a disturbance
in the growth and development of the jaws and teeth will be discovered
that may need attention.
Q: How does one get treatment started in Dr. Jernigan's office?
A: Easy. First you will have an initial consultation with Dr.
Jernigan. At this appointment, Dr. Jernigan will give you the
opportunity to articulate your concerns and your "chief complaint".
Then a thorough examination of the teeth and jaws will be done.
Most of the time, a panoramic x-ray is taken of the teeth if we
do not have a recent one from your dentist. After Dr. J has given
his recommendations and you have discussed treatment alternatives,
the treatment coordinator will answer any questions you may have
regarding fees, insurance, scheduling, etc. If you want to get
started, the next thing to be done is to have your orthodontic
records made. These include a profile x-ray of the face, models
of the teeth and photographs. Records can usually be taken at
the consult visit if you like; or scheduled at your convenience.
The next appointment may be different based on the individual
case. Sometimes Dr. Jernigan will have a formal treatment conference
with the family and on more simple cases, treatment will be started
on the next visit after the consultation. Either way, time is
set aside for a full explanation of what is to happen. Usually,
it takes 2-3 visits total to find yourself in braces.
Q: Should I wait until all of my child's permanent teeth are
in before braces are started?
A: Not neccessarily. The growth of the jaws and face are very
important to having a good orthodontic result. In many cases,
females complete the peak of their growth before all of the permanent
teeth are in the mouth. Waiting on all of these permanent teeth
to arrive before braces may cause there to be little or no growth
left and the patient may require extractions or even jaw surgery
to acheive good results. For boys the average peak growth is 14
years and 2 months and for girls, 11 years and 8 months.
Q: Am I too old for orthodontics?
A: No one is too old. As long as the teeth and gums are healthy,
orthodontic treatment can be done with great success.
|
