Patient question for Dr. Ginsberg: Are there benefits to early orthodontic treatment?

Our office has been approached by some patients asking about the need for early orthodontic treatment. It is the policy of some orthodontists to start treatment at age 8 or 9 followed by a second stage when the permanent teeth erupt.

The questions have been analyzed by a number of research studies in which the policy of starting treatment at age 8 or 9 and then a second stage when the permanent teeth come in was compared to waiting to begin treatment later with only one stage of treatment. The results of these controlled comparison studies have shown that there was no difference in the final orthodontic results. On the other hand, there have not been any studies showing any benefits from two stage treatment.

The child who started early was in treatment longer, and there were extra costs involved. There has also never been any research showing that expanders placed on children with no crossbites have any effect on whether permanent teeth will require extraction

Of course are some types of problems which should be started early. These include crossbites (when the upper teeth are inside the lower teeth) either the front or side teeth, when the child is being affected socially by other children, or when problem is affecting self image. If you would like to obtain copies of some of these studies we shall be happy to send them.

Also, if you would like to discuss this information information, Dr. Gerald Ginsberg will be happy to talk to you.