Early Period Orthodontic Treatments
The first orthodontic examination age is recommended by the Turkish Orthodontic Society as 6-7 years old. Since the early treatments applied in the period starting with these ages are performed in the growth-development period, it is very important to achieve the desired skeletal change in the treatments for the cases where the orthodontic problem is at the skeletal level. In the treatment of a problem related to the development of the lower and upper jaw, the desired level of treatment cannot be achieved without surgical applications in the adult period, while the desired skeletal changes can be achieved with only orthodontic treatment in childhood.
Since the 6-7 age period is the period when permanent dentition begins, the follow-up of tooth eruption, if any, detection and treatment of teeth that do not erupt or that will cause problems during eruption relieves the future orthodontic treatment and shortens its duration.
Close up of orthodontist placing orthodontic brackets on patient teeth. Person with cheek retractor and metal braces on teeth having dental procedure in clinic. Concept of orthodontic treatment.
Long-term use of pacifiers and bottles in infancy, and harmful habits such as thumb sucking, lip sucking, teeth grinding or mouth breathing in childhood negatively affect the development of the lower and upper jaws and the positions of the teeth. With orthodontic appliances made to stop these harmful habits, a simple solution can be provided without a skeletal problem.
Because the dysfunction caused by harmful habits negatively affects the growth and development of the jaws and the eruption of the teeth. It is much easier to quit bad habits at this age than at older ages. An existing habit, such as thumb sucking, also negatively affects the psychosocial state of the child. These bad habits in childhood need to be treated.
Early orthodontic treatments reduce the difficulty, duration and cost of comprehensive orthodontic treatments to be performed afterwards. For this reason, it is very valuable to apply certain orthodontic treatments in this period.