Should my child have braces at 7, 10, 15, or not at all?

Dr. Stebbins is dedicated to the philosophy of an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. This is what we provide in our growth and development monitoring. This program begins with an initial consultation and close monitoring of your child's growth to determine when and if treatment would be best for their specific case. Dr. Stebbins monitors the growth with complementary periodic checks.

It's best for the orthodontist to see children by age 7. The first permanent molars and incisors have usually come in by that time and crossbites, crowding and other problems can be evaluated. Severe problems can be avoided or minimized if caught early.

If early treatment is required, the orthodontist can guide the growth of the jaw and incoming permanent teeth. Early treatment can also regulate the width of the upper and lower dental arches, gain space for permanent teeth, avoid the need for permanent tooth extractions, reduce likelihood of impacted permanent teeth, correct thumb-sucking, and eliminate abnormal swallowing or speech problems. In other words, early treatment can simplify later treatment.