treatment options

When it comes to orthodontics there are many different options and treatment that are offered. Below are some of the basics.

Early treatment is sometimes recommended by the dentist to help prevent problems in the future. You may wonder if your child is too young for orthodontic treatment. There are many cases where doing a Phase I treatment (meaning not a full, comprehensive treatment) is very beneficial for the patient. Here are some tools we use to help patients with the eruption of teeth.

Expander:

Helps widen the maxilla (top jaw) to allow for eruption of teeth without needing extractions. It is also used to correct cross bites. It is a fixed appliance (meaning it can’t be taken out) that we make to fit each child specifically.

Lower Lingual Holding Arch (LLHA):

Helps prevent molars on the bottom jaw from shifting forward to maintain and allow for space for erupting teeth.

Nance or Transpalatal Arch (TPA):

Helps prevent molars on the top jaw from shifting forward to maintain and allow for space for erupting teeth.

Tongue Crib:

Helps children break the habit of thumb sucking.

In some cases, the patient may need assistance with the aligning of their jaw. To correct the patient’s bite additional appliances are sometimes used. Here are some tools we use to help patients in such cases.

Herbst:

Helps move the lower jaw in a forward direction which corrects the bite.

Headgear and Face mask:

Helps correct the bite using the head as an anchor.

At the end of your treatment we offer 3 different types of retainers.

If you have any questions about our orthodontic treatment options, please contact The Dentists for Kids today at 210-696-2563. We will be happy to provide you with more information and help you schedule a consultation with Dr. Cristiana (Kika) Araujo, our friendly orthodontist in San Antonio, Texas.