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About Orthodontics for Kids

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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 alike. He strives to provide them with the best orthodontic experience possible.

 

Common signs that early orthodontic treatment is necessary include: crowded (crooked) teeth, thumb sucking (or habits such as using a pacifier), baby teeth that are worn down, breathing issues, unusual jaw growth, crossbite, and underbite (these are further explained below).  We’ll keep an eye on your child to determine the best time to intervene, and help you know what to look out for as things progress.

 

Braces for kids are not just for having a perfectly straight smile; they can be an important aspect of dental and overall health! When we start treatment at a younger age (6-11 years old) we are able to support healthy growth, potentially avoiding future complications and minimizing risk of trauma to the teeth and mouth. Dr. Rooz, a board certified orthodontic specialist, 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.

 

Regardless of whether your child needs early orthodontic intervention, the American Association of Orthodontists encourages parents to take their child to see an orthodontist by the age of 7 for an initial examination. Early orthodontic treatment is an intervention designed for younger patients to help guide the eruption of adult teeth as well as skeletal development.

Dr. Rooz Khosravi, DMD, PhD, MSD
Dr Rooz is an industry expert on digital orthodontics and modern orthodontics who teaches other orthodontists.
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What to expect

The majority of early orthodontic screening leads to a recommendation for no treatment, and to monitor growth and development on a regular basis moving forward. 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 relatively quick and simple orthodontic treatment can prevent the possibility of a fractured front tooth that needs costly dental repair.


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 & orthodontics represent a vital cross-section where specialized dental services converge to ensure the oral health and beautiful smiles of young children.

 

A children's dentist focuses on providing comprehensive care, including cleanings, fluoride treatments, monitoring tooth decay, and guidance on proper brushing and flossing techniques. This foundational care is crucial for a healthy smile, particularly in their early years and through adolescents age. As children grow, the role of an orthodontist becomes increasingly significant, especially during an orthodontic consultation, where the need for treatments like braces to move teeth into better alignment is assessed.

 

Pediatric dentists (DMD or DDS) and orthodontists often work in tandem, offering a full spectrum of dental services from routine check-ups, orthodontic evaluation to 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 recieve health care from various sources and oral care plays a vital role in overall health. New patients in a pediatric dentistry or orthodontic clinic work with often board-certified providers and hygienists to evaluate and mainatain a healthy teeth. A child’s smile goes beyond just the teeth.

Phased Treatment

Phase 1

early treatment

Collectively, successful phase I treatment addresses structural problems that would otherwise require teeth extractions or surgery, which can become more complicated with age. 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 during the phase I, which requires a second round of treatment with a different treatment plan that is tailored based on each individual’s bite. 

The gap between these two treatments varies between 1 and 5 years.


Phase 2

Teen braces

Phase I, or early orthodontic treatment, is a limited orthodontic treatment often in kids transitioning from baby teeth to adult teeth. Dr. Rooz offers Phase I treatment to correct abnormal skeletal growth and for managing space for adult teeth to 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

Skeletal changes orthodontist before

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 place excessive stress on different areas of the mouth and interfere with basic functions, like eating, breathing, sleeping, and speaking.

Abnormal growth of the jaws, such as a smaller or set back lower jaw, can create a large gap between the upper and lower teeth. Alternatively, an underbite is characterized by lower teeth overlapping the upper teeth, which is often rooted in a small upper jaw.

Skeletal changes orthodontist after

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.

Since the upper jaw does not fully develop until adulthood, the upper palate can be gradually expanded by a special appliance. This will aid in the redirection of growth and help avoid skeletal issues in the future.

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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 practitioner- he is incredibly knowledgeable, his attention to detail and focus on the patient journey and experience is always first.  I work in the medical field and very much value the patient experience- knowing you have a doctor that will listen and address your concerns and is responsive is critical. 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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