Treatments For Kids
About Orthodontics for Kids
As a father, Dr. Rooz loves working with kids and seeing them smile. He understands the influence of a healthy and beautiful smile on children, teenagers, and adults - patients of all ages. He strives to provide them with the best orthodontic experience possible.
Common signs that early orthodontic treatment is needed include crowded teeth, thumb sucking, and worn baby teeth. Other signs are breathing problems, unusual jaw growth, crossbite, and underbite. These issues are explained further below.
We will watch your child closely to find the best time for a personalized treatment plan. Our cutting edge technology including virtual care provide accessibility to remotely monitor your child after the initial complimentary consultation.
Braces for kids are not just for having a perfectly straight smile; they can be an important aspect of dental and overall health! Starting treatment at a younger age, between 6 and 11 years old, helps support healthy growth. This can avoid future problems and reduce the risk of injury to the teeth and mouth.
Dr. Rooz is a board-certified orthodontic specialist and an associate professor of orthodontics at the University of Washington. He does not believe in over-treating children.
Signs The Bite Is Not Right
Uneven jaw growth
Improper bite
Crowded teeth
Missing teeth
Impacted adult teeth
Extra tooth/teeth
Damaged root in developing adult teeth
Ideally speaking, the top and bottom teeth should line up like a zipper when they are closed together. Properly aligned teeth are easier to clean, so the risk of dental decay and gum disease is reduced. Moving teeth so that they align correctly is one of the countless benefits of early orthodontic treatment.
Choosing The Best Time To Start Treatment
Because dental development is different for every child, the appropriate age to intervene will vary. When you notice that your child has started losing their teeth, ask your dentist when a visit to the orthodontist would be appropriate. Younger children may also need orthodontic intervention if they are referred by their pediatric specialist.
The American Association of Orthodontists suggests that parents take their child to an orthodontist by age 7. This is important, even if your child does not need early treatment. An initial examination can help identify any potential issues. Early orthodontic treatment helps younger patients with the growth of adult teeth and their jaw development.
Clinical Associate Professor of Orthodontics, University of Washington
What to expect
Most early orthodontic screenings result in a recommendation for no treatment. Instead, they suggest regular monitoring of growth and development. After a screening of your child, Dr. Rrooz will determine whether the patient needs Phase 1 treatment or not.
Dr. Rooz has years of experience successfully treating younger patients. One of his interests is expanding clear aligner therapy in early orthodontic treatment. Pursuing its mission to provide personalized care Dr. Rooz individually customizes the treatment plan for every child. He is also a firm believer of providing only necessary orthodontic treatment to kids.
Common Problems We Treat
Flared Teeth
A possible issue that could arise from abnormal jaw growth is flared out upper teeth. This is caused by excess space between the top and bottom teeth from a smaller lower jaw.
With the teeth more exposed, children with this condition are at a higher risk of trauma. A quick and simple orthodontic treatment can help prevent a broken front tooth. This can save you from expensive dental repairs.
Problems From Habits
Thumb sucking, lip sucking, mouth breathing, and chewing objects can create dental problems in children, such as an open bite.
This means that when the mouth is closed, the child’s upper and lower teeth do not touch one another.
Dr. Rooz can help eliminate these habits and correct the alignment of teeth with an orthodontic habit appliance.
Overcrowding
When there isn’t enough space in the mouth for teeth to grow, it can lead to crowded, crooked teeth. Children with small jaw bone or large size teeth don’t have room for their teeth to fit and end up with a crowded bite. It’s a common problem for children with large teeth that don’t fit in their small jaws.
Crossbite
In a normal bite, the upper teeth cover the lower teeth. A crossbite occurs when the upper teeth are positioned inside of the lower teeth, sometimes causing the lower jaw to shift when biting down. This can occur in the front or back teeth.
Pediatric dentistry & Orthodontics
Pediatric dentistry and orthodontics are important fields. They work together to keep young children's teeth healthy. They also help maintain beautiful smiles.
A children's dentist provides complete care. This includes cleanings, fluoride treatments, and checking for tooth decay. They also teach kids how to brush and floss properly. This foundational care is crucial for a healthy smile, particularly in their early years and through adolescents age. As children grow, an orthodontist's role becomes more important. During a consultation, they check if treatments like braces are needed to align teeth better.
Pediatric dentists (DMD or DDS) and orthodontists often work together. They provide a wide range of dental services. These services include routine check-ups, orthodontic evaluations, and more complex procedures like extractions. Most orthodontists treat both children and adults. A pediatric orthodontist could refer to an orthodontist focuses on treating children.
These orthodontic treatment aim to address malocclusion (bad bite) and misalignment of the teeth in a child’s mouth. Different types of braces (metal brackets or ceramic braces) and plastic aligners are used for teeth alignment. Headgear, jaw expander and other kind of braces fix the skeletal problems. Most of early braces focus on limited treatment. Certain bite issue like deep overbite are corrected more efficiently in the second phase of orthodontic treatment.
Children receive health care from various sources and oral care plays a vital role in overall health. New patients at a pediatric dentistry or orthodontic clinic work with board-certified providers and hygienists. They help evaluate and maintain healthy teeth. A child’s smile goes beyond just the teeth.
Phased Treatment
Phase 1
Successful phase I treatment helps fix structural problems. These issues could lead to tooth extractions or surgery later on. As people age, these procedures can become more complicated. Children with phase I orthodontic treatment often pursue a second round of braces for two primary reasons:
i) Fine tune the bite and create an exceptional smile
ii)Unsuccessful treatment in phase I needs a second round. This round will use a different treatment plan for the bite.
The gap between these two treatments varies between 1 and 5 years.
Phase 2
Phase I, or early orthodontic treatment, is a type of limited care for kids. It usually happens when they are losing baby teeth and getting adult teeth. Dr. Rooz provides Phase I treatment to fix abnormal bone growth. This treatment also helps make space for adult teeth to come in and replace baby teeth. The objective of this treatment is limited and the treatment takes approximately 12 months.
To correct orthodontic problems early on, Dr. Rooz can use two types of appliances; fixed or removable. These include lite version braces for kids, clear aligners for kids, expanders, habit appliances, or functional appliances.
case study
Skeletal Orthodontic Problems Indicating Braces For Kids
Smaller Lower Jaw Results In Gap Between Upper and Lower Teeth
Orthodontic problems can occur when the upper and lower jaw do not meet evenly, resulting in an imbalanced bite. This can put too much stress on parts of the mouth. It can also affect basic functions like eating, breathing, sleeping, and speaking.
Abnormal growth of the jaws can cause problems. For example, a smaller or set-back lower jaw can create a big gap between the upper and lower teeth. An underbite happens when the lower teeth overlap the upper teeth. This condition often comes from having a small upper jaw.
Phase 1 Treatment Allows The Orthodontist to Redirect The Growth
Early orthodontic treatment can redirect the growth of teeth and prevent these scenarios from happening.
The upper jaw does not fully develop until adulthood. A special appliance can gradually expand the upper palate. This will aid in the redirection of growth and help avoid skeletal issues in the future.
Parents Reviews
We love the Porth crew! They are warm, professional and have a state of the art practice. We’ve had a few mishaps and they’ve always been able to get us in with no problem. My older daughter is almost done with her Phase I treatment and we are extremely happy with the results. She actually looks forward to her ortho appointments!
Valerie H.
From my first time calling in I knew we had made the right choice! Crystal was warm friendly and made us feel at home right away. When we met with Elly for our consult things just got better. She explained our options very thoroughly and answered all our questions. My daughter was excited and a bit nervous but Dr Rooz made her feel comfortable immediately. He was kind and direct about what she would need and she liked him so much she asked when we could come again! We will definitely be recommending him to everyone we know!
Shea m.
My son has just started his journey with Porth in June and wow what a great beginning it is! From the initial contact and visit to the first few appointments- a remarkable, smooth process. Do they sleep? Sometimes my son reaches after hours and gets a response the same day.
For us, aligners with Dr. Rooz is definitely proving to be the best decision! Thank you Porth and keep it up!
Aleks B.
Dr. Rooz and his team at Porth are amazing. Our entire family has seen him for our Orthodontia needs Adults to my young teen. We are all happy and thrilled. The office is state of the art; the staff and technicians are fabulous knowledgeable and friendly. Dr. Rooz is an excellent doctor. He knows a lot and pays great attention to detail. He always puts the patient’s journey and experience first. I work in the medical field and value the patient experience. It is important to have a doctor who listens. A doctor who addresses your concerns and responds quickly is essential. The fact Dr Rooz is exceptional in this as well incredibly knowledgeable is amazing combo!
We moved in the middle of my sons orthodontia journey and so glad we choose Dr Rooz. My son loves him And he now has a beautiful smile too! For me I had braces as a kid but several teeth had moved and had a complicated issue with my bite. We even changed direction early in the process -they were so supportive And patient with me it was incredible.
I fully recommend Porth/Dr Rooz! there are lots of options for orthodontists however You will be thrilled with your choice of Dr Rooz!
Jacquelyn C.
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Start a virtual consultation today or schedule an in-person appointment at our Sammamish or Bellevue clinic. Your first free appointment includes recommendations for orthodontic treatment.