For Children and Teens

Orthodontics for Children

While there is no precise age for children to begin orthodontic treatment, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends a visit to an orthodontist around age seven.

By this age, most children have a mix of baby teeth and adult teeth, which makes it easier for Dr. Kerzner to diagnose and correct tooth and jaw problems sooner and without surgery.

Early treatment allows the orthodontist to:

Correct and guide the growth of your little one’s jaw to help the permanent teeth come in straight
Regulate the width of the upper and lower arches
Create more space for crowded teeth
Avoid the need for permanent tooth extractions later in life
Correct thumb sucking and help improve minor speech problems

For parents, it’s not easy to know if your son or daughter may need orthodontic treatment.

Here are a few things to look for that may mean your youngster needs to see an orthodontist

Early or late loss of baby teeth
A hard time chewing or biting food
Mouth breathing
Finger or thumb sucking
Crowded, misplaced, or blocked teeth
Jaws that pop or make sounds when opening and closing
Teeth that come together abnormally, or do not come together at all
Jaws and teeth that are not proportionate to the rest of the face
Crowded front teeth around age seven or eight

Please contact our practice to schedule an appointment for an orthodontic evaluation. Early treatment now will give your little one a healthy, beautiful smile for the future.

Orthodontics for Teens

Braces! What now?

Don’t worry! Braces aren’t nearly as scary as you may think. In fact, today they come in a variety of styles, materials, and colors, which makes life with braces much easier, more comfortable, and even more stylish than in the past. Dr. Kerzner may also determine that you have the option of wearing clear aligners instead of braces!

How long will I have to wear braces or aligners?

The amount of time it takes to treat your smile with braces depends on three key factors:

Early treatment — Early treatment enable us to monitor the growth of the jaw and recommend further orthodontic treatment if it becomes necessary. Not everybody receives early orthodontic treatment; in some cases, it may be recommended that a patient wait to receive treatment.
What needs correction — The amount of treatment needed to correct a problem will determine how long the process takes. Different patients react to treatments differently. While it may take one patient only 12 months to complete treatment, it may take another 24 months. Treatment times can vary, depending on how quickly your body responds and how much work is needed to give you the show-stopping smile you desire.
YOU! — Your willingness to use the appliances our team gives you plays a major role in the length of time it takes to complete your treatment. Always remember to take care of your braces and appliances; this truly will help make your treatment shorter!

You have options!

Our practice offers a variety of treatments to choose from, and Dr. Kerzner will discuss what will best meet your needs. Some common options include:

Ceramic braces
Clear aligners such as Invisalign® or SureSmile
Traditional metal braces

Orthodontic treatments are a big part of life for many people your age. Today’s options make it easy to look good and feel good! Please contact our practice to schedule your next orthodontic checkup.

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