A beautiful smile is something that takes works. For those with straight teeth, managing their oral hygiene is essential, but what happens if your teeth are not straight? That’s a scenario that thousands of kids face each year. Their teeth are misaligned, or maybe there is a gap or too many teeth. These are all problems that require orthodontic services like those offered by Lovett Dental Beaumont. A pediatric orthodontist works with children who have a misalignment. But, when does a child need to see an orthodontist?
What to Expect from an Orthodontist?
Of course, they have orthodontists all over the world, not just in Houston, Texas. But for residents living there or in surrounding communities, it’s important to find one the fits your needs. If you have a child, that would mean a pediatric orthodontist.
An orthodontist is a dental specialist with training in diagnosing, correcting, and preventing misalignments in the teeth and jaws. Misalignment is an umbrella term that covers many conditions, including:
- Poorly aligned bite patterns
- Crooked teeth
- Crowded teeth
- Jaws that are out of alignment
A pediatric orthodontist specializes in working with kids. That’s important because your children should see an orthodontist for the first time by the time they turn seven.
Often problems with alignment are subtle at first. An early check-up with an orthodontist in Houston can identify some developing alignment issues. Early interventions might make correcting these problems easier.
What Are the Benefits of Early Treatment?
It is possible that early treatment of emerging dental problems can provide better results. The dental specialist may even fix alignment issues that can’t be corrected once the permanent teeth come into place.
Early treatment means guiding jaw growth, reducing the risk of trauma to critical front teeth, and adjusting permanent teeth into the right position as they come through the gum. An early visit might also reduce some anxiety kids feel when seeing an orthodontist in Houston, Texas.
How to Know if Your Child Needs an Orthodontist
No two children are the same, but there are some things you can watch for if you suspect your child might have a bite problem or misaligned teeth. An early warning sign comes with baby teeth. If these teeth are early, late, or seem to fall out before they should, you need to see an orthodontist.
If your child seems to have trouble chewing or refuses to eat food that is hard to chew, it’s time for an ortho check-up. The most obvious sign is crowding, improper growth, or teeth coming in at angles. These clearly can benefit from orthodontic services.
Once you decide it’s time for the orthodontist, the next task is to find the right one. Lovett Dental Beaumont serves the Houston Texas, area and offers a variety of specialty care options, including:
- Pediatric
- Orthodontic services
- Periodontist
- Maxillofacial surgeon
- Endodontist
The pediatric dental department staff at Lovett Dental Beaumont goes through additional training to learn to work with children. Regular visits to a pediatric orthodontist can give parents insight into their children’s teeth alignment. If you need a dental specialist, there is one right in practice. No need to search the city to find one.
Lovett Dental Beaumont is a full-service dental practice, which means they can care for the entire family’s dental needs. They offer high-quality cosmetic dentistry, general dental services, and even emergency dental care.
If you are still wondering whether your child needs an orthodontist, give us a call at 409-924-8100 or go online and fill out our contact form. We can answer any questions you might have and set you up with an appointment. We hope to see you soon!
