Growth and Your Child’s Appearance
The first ten years of your child’s life will profoundly affect their future physical and mental well-being. They will experience the majority of all growth during these years. In the case of facial development, they lay the foundation between the ages of three and eight years, and their permanent teeth begin to grow in at about age six.
Science has developed the ability to project a young person’s future facial growth. Doctors perform the analysis using a computer, a technology that has been employed for half a million patients. This technique allows doctors to initiate more types of treatment in early childhood, when it is most effective. Before age six, doctors can identify and correct unfavorable facial growth patterns to provide an improved appearance for your child at maturity.
Orthodontic (braces) and orthopedic (headgear, etc.) appliances can control the position of the teeth within the jaws as well as the alignment of the jaws themselves. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment enable your doctor to guide your child’s facial development and enhance their appearance.
Maintaining Patient Health
Many childhood problems, if left untreated, reappear in later years as completely different diseases.
Temporomandibular Joint Syndrome (TMJ)
If the position of the teeth and jaws do not allow the jaw joint to function properly, this can result in pain, headaches, and hearing difficulties. TMJ problems now affect many people old and young.
Periodontal Disease
If the teeth are misaligned, or if the teeth of one jaw hit upon the gums of the other jaw, the likelihood of periodontal (gum) disease is greatly increased. Periodontal disease is now the number one cause of adult tooth loss.
Breathing Problems
Allergies and enlarged tonsils and adenoids can cause breathing difficulties. Early detection of these problems is important. Proper treatment can prevent your child from suffering abnormal facial development as a result of breathing deficiencies.
A thorough computer evaluation of dental models and head x-rays along with a clinical examination performed by your doctor are essential for diagnosing these health problems. Proper treatment during childhood will prevent more serious trouble in the future.
Early Treatment
Computer projection will indicate the possibility of potential areas that may require special treatment considerations. This projection will also indicate areas where early diagnosis and treatment can prevent future special procedures such as oral and maxillofacial surgery.
Some of the more common problems requiring special treatment:
- Impaction of third molars (wisdom teeth)
- Removal of teeth for orthodontic treatment
- Need for orthopedic treatment (headgear, palatal separation)
- Need for orthognathic surgery
If diagnosis and treatment begin early, some conditions requiring extensive treatment or surgery can be eliminated or reduced in severity. With the computer analysis now available, dentists can carefully evaluate space during the critical years of a young child’s development. Thus, if necessary, treatment can involve creating or maintaining space for teeth to erupt. When necessary, dentists remove wisdom tooth buds before teeth develop, thus eliminating the need for more complicated wisdom tooth removal as an adult.
Come into our office today for a free consultation from Dr. Nader Dayani! We have two locations, West Los Angeles and Irvine. Call us today to schedule your appointment at 310-826-7494 or 949-552-5890.