Orthodontic Treatment for a Healthy Smile?

​As soon as children start losing their primary teeth and their adult teeth begin to emerge, the picture of what smile will look like starts getting clearer. That's when many children who show signs of needing orthodontic care begin seeing a specialist. While children can get orthodontic treatments early on to address smile issues like crowded or crooked teeth or a misaligned jaw, Dr. Alexandra George says the treatment is not limited to children alone.

George practices dentistry in Pittsburgh and has helped patients both young and old correct bite and smile issues with orthodontic treatments. She says there are different types of orthodontic treatments, and there are some signs parents can look for if they suspect their child might need braces.

George says that, although children do not start getting orthodontic treatments like braces until they are about 8 to 14 years old, children should begin seeing the orthodontist as early as 7. If you also notice things like thumb sucking, bite issues, teeth protrusion or any other abnormality, these are signs that your child should see an orthodontist as soon as possible even if they are under the age of 7 or over the age of 14.

"Braces are just as great for adults as they are for kids," George says. "The biggest benefit I've observed in patients who have undergone orthodontic treatment is the visible change to their appearance, but the personality changes are incredible too. I've seen wonderful transformations in a lot of patients who have gone from being shy to being completely confident and always smiling once they were proud of their smile."

Anyone can also benefit from the cosmetic, dental and overall health advantages of a healthy and beautiful smile. Offset jaws and misaligned teeth can have serious dental health effects, from jaw abnormalities to gum disease, tooth decay and tooth loss.