Seeking orthodontic treatment promptly maximizes the treatment result. The American Association of Orthodontists’ recommendation is that every child receives an orthodontic screening by age seven. There is no magical age that is optimal for treatment. However, early diagnosis will allow Dr. Terrana to monitor growth until the right time for treatment is reached.

Early Screening opens up the possibility to intercept a problem before it worsens. The idea of interceptive treatment is to re-arrange teeth, manipulate growth, open up space for unerupted teeth, break habits, and prevent trauma all before a problem becomes more severe. Interceptive treatment is usually applied between the ages of 7 and 10. This age works well for a variety of reasons, children are flexible and compliant at this age and their growth potential is at its peak. Interceptive treatment is typically completed in a period of 4 to 12 months. After this period, the child is monitored to determine if and when the second phase of treatment should begin.

While most people picture a child or teen when they think about an orthodontic patient, adults are also perfect candidates for treatment. Adults can benefit from improved dental health and a great smile that is worth showing off.