Early treatment at Red Deer Orthodontics

Dr. Robert Cram will tell you that braces were originally considered to be best suited for teens. But these days, kids as old as seven are beginning their orthodontic treatment. Yes, seven! Because preadolescent kids are usually not self-conscious, our friends at the American Association of Orthodontists say it could be a good idea to start earlier than usual.

Experts, however, will say it depends on the treatment required. Some children who get braces at an early age end up in a second phase of treatment, and end up having braces well into their teenage years despite starting at a young age.

Most orthodontic treatment begins between ages nine and 14, and the folks at AAO estimate most orthodontic treatment lasts from one to three years, with two years being the average. It’s important, however, that children be screened no later than age seven for Dr. Cram to assess what the best age for treatment is.

Hope this helps! Give our team at Red Deer Orthodontics a call at 403-340-8000 if you have any questions about your child’s treatment!

Talkin' retainers with Red Deer Orthodontics

If you've recently completed your orthodontic treatment with Dr. Bob Cram, our entire team would like to congratulate you! Now that your braces have been removed successfully, Dr. Cram will provide—or has provided you—with retainers. After braces are removed, teeth can - and do - shift out of position if they are not stabilized. Retainers, you see, provide that stabilization, and are designed to hold teeth in their corrected, ideal positions until the bones and gums adapt to the treatment changes. Wearing retainers exactly as instructed by Dr. Cram and our team is the best insurance that the treatment improvements at our office last a lifetime.

To learn more about the advantages of wearing retainers after your orthodontic treatment at Red Deer Orthodontics, we encourage you to read this helpful article about retainers from KidsHealth or give us a call at 403-340-8000.

The importance of straight teeth, from Red Deer Orthodontics

People ask our staff and Dr. Cram all the time: "Why are straight teeth so darn important?" Well not only does it feel great to have perfectly-aligned teeth, but straightening your teeth can also keep them healthier. Straight teeth are also less prone to decay, because they collect less plaque—the sticky colorless substance that forms on our teeth and leads to tooth decay. And, straight teeth are easier to keep clean!

If you’re wondering whether your teeth might cause problems because they are crooked, please give us a call to set up a consultation. Dr. Cram can help you decide whether or not you will benefit from orthodontic treatment at Red Deer Orthodontics.

Ask Dr. Cram: What is malocclusion?

Malocclusion, or what Dr. Cram calls “bad bite,” is the improper alignment of teeth and/or jaws. When your teeth and jaws are not properly aligned, it may impact your bite, the ability to properly care for your teeth, your gum tissue health and even your appearance.

Most people experience some degree of malocclusion, but it generally is not severe enough to require corrective measures. If your malocclusion is serious enough, however, treatment at Red Deer Orthodontics may be necessary to correct the issue.

Untreated malocclusion can lead to gum disease, tooth decay, chipped and cracked teeth, as well as uneven tooth wear. The most common solution for malocclusion, however, is orthodontic treatment. The actual course of treatment, including the length of time you will require braces, will be determined by severity of the malocclusion. If overcrowding is causing the problem, Red Deer orthodontist Dr. Cram may need to remove one or more teeth as part of treatment.

At Red Deer Orthodontics, we use the most advanced technology in the field in order to ensure that you receive the best possible results during your treatment. If you have any questions about malocclusion, please give us a call and we’ll try to answer any questions you may have.

When Are Two Phases of Treatment Necessary?

Usually patients in orthodontic treatment already have their permanent teeth – they are pre-teens, teens and adults. But in some cases we have to start treatment earlier, even before the patient’s permanent teeth come in. We call this “two-phase treatment.”

When we have patients with clear developmental problems at an early age, it’s best to start work when they are young, before the problems get bigger and more difficult to treat.

Examples include:
• An upper or lower jaw that is not growing correctly
• A mouth growing in a way that doesn’t leave enough room for all the permanent teeth to come in
• A severe malocclusion, or bad bite, which means the jaw doesn’t fit together correctly

In these cases we will start early and do one round of treatment – phase one – while the patient still has their baby teeth. Phase one usually does not involve braces, but can include a different type of appliance that helps the jaw grow into place properly. We’ll follow up with phase two usually a few years later, when permanent teeth are in place. Generally phase two involves standard braces.

In order to catch early problems, we recommend that children have an orthodontic check-up no later than age seven (and so does the Canadian Association of Orthodontists). However, if your dentist or pediatrician sees any sign that early treatment might be necessary, he or she may recommend your child visit our office even sooner.

--Red Deer Orthodontics

Orthodontic Treatment for Kids!

Kids

It's best for the orthodontist to see children by age seven to advise if orthodontic treatment is required and the best time for that patient to be treated. The first permanent molars and incisors have usually come in by that time and crossbites, crowding and other problems can be evaluated. When treatment is begun early, the orthodontist can guide the growth of the jaw and guide incoming permanent teeth. Early treatment can also regulate the width of the upper and lower dental arches, gain space for permanent teeth, avoid the need for permanent tooth extractions, reduce likelihood of impacted permanent teeth, correct thumb-sucking, and identify abnormal swallowing or speech problems. In other words, early (Phase I) treatment can simplify later (Phase II) treatment.