Orthodontics for All Ages

Seven years old. This is a recommendation by Dr. Briggs and the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO).

At seven years old, the first adult molars have erupted. This allows Dr. Briggs to get an initial baseline diagnosis for your child’s bite and skeletal growth pattern.

This evaluation allows Dr. Briggs to guide you about future treatment needs and timing and identify any interceptive treatment that would prevent more significant problems in the future.

An orthodontic consultation does not necessitate orthodontic treatment. In fact, most children do not need early orthodontic treatment.

The appropriate time to begin your child’s early interceptive orthodontics will vary depending on the type and severity of their malocclusion and their stage in dental development.

Dr. Briggs believes that early orthodontic treatment should only be administered when absolutely necessary. After a thorough consultation, you deserve and can expect an honest recommendation for timing your child’s treatment.

These are a few of the most common results of interceptive treatment:

• Enhancing/Influencing jaw growth to establish facial symmetry
• Reducing the need for removal of permanent (adult) teeth
• Creating space for unerupted teeth
• Creating space for crowded and erupting teeth
• Reducing overbites and correcting underbites
• Minimizing the risk of trauma to protruding teeth
• Correcting asymmetrical jaw alignment due to crossbites
• Reducing the risk of treatment complications and difficulties after growth has stopped

• Finger or thumb-sucking habits
• Speech impediments
• Trouble eating or chewing
• Mouth breathing
• Early or late loss of baby teeth
• Open bite (front teeth do not come together)
• Protruding teeth
• Underbite
• Jaw asymmetry

After your free consultation, if Dr. Briggs determines that your child does not need any interceptive treatment, he’ll put your child on “recall” status at our office. Your child will return for recall appointments every 6-12 months for Dr. Briggs to monitor their growth and dental development.

Visit us at our Austin orthodontic office for a free early evaluation of your child. Most parents who bring their seven or eight-year-old child to our office leave again with the comfort of knowing that orthodontic treatment can wait.

Those who learn that they need early intervention treatment benefit from avoiding more invasive and expensive treatments later in life. In short, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain by visiting Austin Orthodontics today!