Early Orthodontic Treatment

Child’s Orthodontics In Woodbury, MN

At Horton Orthodontics, we are passionate about treating smiles of all sizes. We know that prioritizing your child’s oral health should start early, and Dr. Horton and our team look forward to determining if your child is ready to start orthodontic treatment—and to start them on their journey if they are! Whether it’s with palatal expansion, metal braces or custom clear braces, our team will prescribe a custom treatment plan tailored to your child’s specific needs to ensure they have a healthy and confident growing smile.

Early orthodontic treatment
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Why Is Early Treatment Important?

According to the American Association of Orthodontics, you should make sure your child has their first orthodontic appointment by age seven. Why age seven? Many orthodontic issues are easier to treat at an earlier age, and by age seven, your child should have a mix of baby and permanent teeth. Dr. Horton will evaluate your child’s teeth and jaw to determine if they have any orthodontic issues that can be addressed through early orthodontic treatment. This is also the perfect age to allow Dr. Horton to monitor their teeth and bite as they grow to ensure they receive orthodontic treatment down the road that is best suited for their unique needs.

Your Child’s First Orthodontic Visit

When you and your child first visit us at Horton Orthodontics, you will be greeted by our welcoming team. We will take care of all your information, including dental history and insurance forms. Then, our amazing Dr. Horton will perform an evaluation by assessing your child’s teeth and jaw to look for any orthodontic issues. This may include taking X-rays. After, we will discuss treatment options and come up with a plan that is personalized and unique to your child’s situation.

Child Orthodontics At Horton Orthodontics

Early orthodontic treatment for kids, also known as interceptive or Phase One treatment, involves addressing orthodontic issues in children before all of their permanent teeth have erupted. This type of treatment typically occurs between the ages of 7 and 11. However, the specific timing can vary depending on your child’s unique needs and Dr. Horton’s recommendation. If Dr. Horton determines that it is best to wait before starting treatment, she will recommend that you bring your child in for monitoring every few months to determine the best time to start. We offer several convenient and effective options to treat your child’s smile: metal braces, custom clear braces, Invisalign® and custom clear aligners.

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Custom Clear Braces

Custom clear braces are customized, clear brackets designed to straighten your child’s smile in shorter office visits. Utilizing advanced technology, including 3D printing and robotics, we create customized braces tailored to your child’s specific dental anatomy. Here are some benefits of choosing this option:

  • Customizable: They are custom-designed for each patient using digital scans and 3D printing technology, ensuring a more precise fit and effective treatment compared to traditional braces.

  • Comfortable: The personalized fit can reduce discomfort and irritation often associated with traditional braces.

  • Effective: The braces are designed to move your child’s teeth into their correct positions more quickly and with fewer adjustments needed over time.

  • Aesthetic: While metal braces are noticeable, custom clear braces are designed to be less conspicuous. They use clear brackets and tooth-colored wires, making them less noticeable and more aesthetically pleasing.

Metal Braces

Today’s metal braces are more comfortable and sleek than the braces of the past and are a classic option for straightening your child’s teeth. In the case of early treatment, metal brackets are usually attached to the upper four front teeth to guide or tilt the teeth downward. They have many benefits during early treatment, including:

  • Customizable: Kids love being able to change the color of their ties. Whether they want a more discreet color or fun, bright colors, kids are able to customize the look of their braces.

  • More Comfortable Than Ever: Today’s metal braces are less bulky and are smaller than they used to be, which means they cause less discomfort.

  • Cost Effective: Metal braces remain a great cost effective option for early treatment. They are less expensive than their counterparts, making them a more affordable option.

  • Durable: Metal braces are made of stainless steel, a very durable material. As long as your child follows Dr. Horton’s guidelines, especially when it comes to food restrictions, metal braces are a strong treatment option.

Invisalign® And Custom Clear Aligners

By offering Invisalign® and custom clear aligners for early treatment, we empower our young patients with a convenient, effective and aesthetically pleasing orthodontic solution while addressing misalignments and bite issues proactively. These virtually invisible aligners provide young patients with enhanced comfort and confidence, as they can maintain their daily routines without the discomfort and self-consciousness often associated with metal braces. Moreover, the removable nature of Invisalign® and custom clear aligners facilitates better oral hygiene, reducing the risk of dental issues such as cavities and gum disease.

Benefits Of Early Orthodontic Treatment

At Horton Orthodontics, our goal is to help your child get a head start on their orthodontic treatment through early orthodontic treatment. There are many reasons your child may benefit from interceptive treatment. Some of these include:

Common habits in children, such as thumb-sucking, can cause misalignment, and if not treated early on, further issues may arise like difficulty chewing or speaking.

Early treatment can address bite problems such as crossbites, overbites, underbites and open bites. Correcting these issues early can prevent them from becoming more severe as the child grows.

By addressing overcrowding or spacing issues early on, our orthodontists can create the necessary space for permanent teeth to erupt properly, which reduces the chance of teeth becoming impacted or misaligned.

Aligned teeth are easier to clean, reducing the risk of cavities, gum disease and other oral health problems.

During early orthodontic treatment, we can identify if your child has a narrow upper jaw. This can cause problems such as impacted teeth, crooked teeth, and even breathing problems and obstructive sleep apnea. To widen the upper palate and prevent further issues, we may suggest palatal expansion. You can read more about expansion here.

FAQS About Two-Phase Orthodontic Treatment 

At Horton Orthodontics, we’re here to answer any questions you may have about two-phase orthodontic treatment. Below, we’ve outlined our answers to some of our parents’ burning questions about the two phases of treatment so you can better understand our recommendations for your child.

Do you recommend two-phase orthodontic treatment for every child?

No. We are not an office that “pushes” two-phase treatment. Every child is different. No two patients have the same growth pattern, the same jaw development or the same orthodontic needs. Our treatment recommendations are based entirely on what is best for your individual child.

Phase 1 treatment, also called early orthodontics, begins while a child still has a mix of baby teeth and permanent teeth. While not every child needs this, it is sometimes recommended to:

  • Guide jaw growth
  • Correct significant bite problems
  • Address airway or expansion concerns
  • Prevent more complicated issues later

We are very careful and thoughtful in our treatment planning. If early intervention could prevent a larger issue later, we will explain why starting sooner makes sense. If it won’t provide a meaningful benefit, we will recommend waiting. For example, many children we see do not need Phase 1 treatment. Sometimes monitoring growth is the best approach.

Referring doctors, especially pediatric dentists, are becoming more educated about when early intervention may help prevent bigger problems. That doesn’t mean every child requires early treatment—it simply means we’re evaluating growth earlier to determine the right timing.

That’s completely normal. Many children only need one comprehensive phase of treatment during their teen years. If your child doesn’t need early treatment, we’ll let you know!

It’s simple:

  • We do not follow a one-size-fits-all mode
  • We do not treat early unless it benefits the child
  • We design treatment around the individual patient

Schedule Your Child’s Complimentary Appointment

We recommend bringing your child in by the age of seven to evaluate if your child needs early orthodontic treatment. At your appointment, Dr. Horton will examine your child to determine if treatment is necessary at that time. If it is not yet time for your child to begin orthodontic treatment, she may recommend periodic monitoring to decide when is the best time to intervene. Give us a call at (651) 738-9060 or fill out our online form to schedule an appointment with Horton Orthodontics in Woodbury, MN, where we create beautiful smiles for life!

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Dr. Horton looking at orthodontic technology
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Locally Owned and Smiles That Are Locally Grown

Individualized Orthodontic Care In Woodbury, Minnesota

Dr. Horton is a board certified orthodontist with years of experience and expertise in her field. She is proud to provide a locally owned and operated practice that offers a welcoming environment and cutting-edge orthodontic technology for all patients. Get started with the smile of your dreams today!

Woodbury Office

8480 Woodbury Crossing, Suite 110
Woodbury, MN 55125

Call or Text:
(651) 738-9060

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