What is early intervention?

If your child is showing these signs, it may be time to think about early orthodontic treatment:

Early or late loss of baby teeth (your child should typically start losing teeth around age five or six, and will have all their permanent teeth in around age 12 to 13)
Difficulty chewing and/or biting
Mouth breathing
Sucking his or her thumb
Speech impediment
Protruding teeth (the top teeth and the bottom teeth extend away from each other)
Crowded front teeth
Teeth that don’t come together in a normal manner or even at all

Early intervention will greatly reduce the severity of your child’s case, and therefore reduce the length of treatment time and cost for a second phase of treatment when all of his or her permanent teeth have erupted. An evaluation at our Lakewood, CA office will determine if your child’s dental and skeletal growth is proceeding properly or if interceptive treatment is needed. Many times, a more severe problem can be corrected using sophisticated removable appliances instead of traditional orthodontic treatment.

To schedule a consultation for your child to visit with Dr. Joel Brodsky and Dr. Charles Brodsky, please give us a call! We will provide your child with an initial exam, and discuss with you the best steps to take toward caring for your child’s smile.