EAGAN, MINNESOTA- It\’s a question asked of orthodontists wherever they go. Why are kids getting braces at such young ages these days?
Lots of adults ask the question because they recall that when they were children, many orthodontists told parents to wait until their children had lost all of their baby teeth before beginning orthodontic treatment. But the times and treatment methods are changing. In the past 25 years or so, research has found that many orthodontic problems can be corrected easily if identified early.

\”This is not to take anything away from adult orthodontics,\” says Dr. Jennifer Eisenhuth, an Eagan, MN braces specialist. \”It\’s just that many problems, if caught early, can be corrected while children are still growing and eliminate the need for dental braces in the future.\”

A variety of orthodontic advancements has enabled orthodontists to eliminate the need for treatment or at least lessen the length of treatment down the road, and even prevent the need for tooth extraction and orthognathic surgery in many cases, Eisenhuth says.

The American Association of Orthodontists has recommended for years that children be evaluated by an orthodontist by age 7 because by then, the first adult molars have erupted. This establishes the back bite, which makes is possible for an orthodontist to evaluate front-to-back and side-to-side tooth relationships. For example, the presence of erupting incisors can indicate whether a child has an open bite, an overbite, crowding or a gummy smile.

Genetic problems such as underbite, overbite, overjet, crossbite, jaw size, tooth size, crowding, extra or missing teeth, and facial asymmetry issues are just a handful of conditions that can be treated more effectively when detected early by an orthodontist. Braces and other early orthodontic intervention have prevented tooth extraction and invasive surgery in countless cases. In the case of overjet, early intervention can lessen the risk of trauma to front teeth that protrude. There also could be times when a parent should bring their child in for an assessment before they reach age 7.

\”You know your child better than anyone else does,\” Eisenhuth says. \”You could see something going on before age 7 that needs to be evaluated. You absolutely should bring your child in, even if the end result is that you leave knowing that no treatment is necessary and your child should simply be monitored periodically.\”

Signs that an evaluation may be needed younger that age 7 include:
– Difficulty chewing food
– Early or late tooth loss
– Thumb or finger sucking past approximately age 2
– Tongue thrusting
– Chronic mouth breathing

\”Don\’t confuse the absence of any of these symptoms in your child by age 7 as meaning that your child doesn\’t need an evaluation,\” says Eisenhuth. \”There are many conditions that aren\’t as noticeable, and likely will only be detected only by an orthodontist.\”

About Dr. Jennifer Eisenhuth
Dr. Eisenhuth attended the University of Minnesota Dental School. She earned the Minnesota Association of Orthodontic Achievement Award and several academic achievement awards. She entered her orthodontic residency at the University of Minnesota and earned a certificate in orthodontics and a Master of Science degree.
Dr. Eisenhuth is a Diplomate of the American Board of Orthodontics.
She treats residents in the Twin Cities- St. Paul and Minneapolis, and their surrounding regions, including St. Paul, Inver Grove Heights, Burnsville, Eagan and Eagan, Minnesota. Her office is located at 3340 Sherman Court, Eagan, Minn., 55121.

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