The relationship between orthodontics and tooth development is an important issue that reflects how changes occur during the growth and development of teeth and jaws. Due to the fact that children’s teeth may not have fully developed when seen by an orthodontist, orthodontic wires will not be placed on underdeveloped teeth.
In children, two stages of treatment are usually considered because the teeth and jaw do not develop. Primary treatment, known as stage one treatment that includes removable braces, is often performed when your child has a mixture of deciduous and permanent teeth and when the upper jaw is not fully developed. (from approximately 7 to 12 years old). Early orthodontic treatment can be used to correct a minor problem or to diagnose a defect in the development of the jaw and facial bones. This is where the orthodontic relationship becomes evident as the jaw grows, as a movable device is used to correct the position of the jaw.
Comprehensive orthodontic treatment, also known as stage 2 treatment, occurs when most of the permanent teeth have grown in and the face has developed during puberty (from 12 to 18 years, depending on each child’s individual development). The goal of the second step is for the orthodontist to make sure that each tooth has its exact location in the mouth and that the lips, cheeks, tongue and other teeth are aligned. When this balance is established, the teeth work together properly. The second stage usually involves the use of orthodontic braces, which requires less time because the first stage is performed.
In children who discover deformities in the jaws by referring to the orthodontist, jaw movement begins. Jaw deformities transmitted from parents to children for a variety of reasons, including genetics, will be professionally treated with a removable orthodontic appliance before puberty, fully developed jaws and teeth.
