While it may be tempting to put off orthodontics, there are significant benefits to correcting orthodontic problems as soon as is feasible. Costs and outcomes improve across the board with earlier intervention; repairing the damage of orthodontic problems only becomes more difficult and more expensive as a patient grows and ages—and in some cases, impossible. Here are just a few of the reasons to consider scheduling orthodontic intervention as soon as possible for your child, your teen, or yourself.
Efficiency
Early intervention is significantly more efficient in achieving worthwhile results, because younger patients have more malleable jaws, gums, and teeth. Major corrections are easier, because a young mouth will adapt and heal in a way that an adults jaw, gums, and teeth will not. Minor corrections over time are also less taxing, because a long enough time frame can minimize the pain or discomfort involved with orthodontic adjustment.
This also makes early intervention significantly cheaper, as it reduced both the complexity and frequency of treatments necessary to achieve ideal results.
Physical complications
By the time a patient with orthodontic problems reaches adulthood, he or she will already have some level of physical complication stemming from misalignments. This can be simple and direct, such as unusual wearing on teeth due to uneven usage or headaches due to strain, or more complex direct and indirect problems in the jaw.
Early intervention eliminates these complications, which in turn leaves a patient healthier and happier with less expense. Dealing with minor misalignment now is far easier than correcting the damage caused by decades of living with that cramped jaw, overbite, etc.
Psychological benefits
One area frequently overlooked in assessing whether to intervene early with orthodontics are psychological benefits. Parents considering intervention for children and teens often worry about stigmas about braces, but forget the role of teeth in both self-image and public perception.
Early intervention allows a patient to have a flawless smile from an earlier age, with all the benefits to self-esteem and social esteem that implies.
Learn more
If you’d like to find out more about early orthodontic intervention, you can contact Miracle Smile today to schedule an consultation at your Coral Gables or Plantation offices. Dr. Aller offers top notch cosmetic dentist and general dentist services backed by years of experience to all patients at our Florida locations.