Right Age

Orthodontists today can successfully correct most problems regardless of the patient’s age. But that does not mean that the orthodontic treatment starting age does not matter. In fact it may play a significant role in the total time and expenses required for the completion of the orthodontic treatment.

Dr. Bauer and the American Association of Orthodontists recommend that children be seen by an orthodontist around age 7. This is the time in your child's development when they usually begin the transition into their permanent dentition. It is also the time that Dr. Bauer can begin to pick up on any growth and development concerns that may be present.

Dr. Bauer's treatment philosophy centers around insuring that your child's orthodontic care is timed appropriately for their individual needs. Often this means that braces are put off until all of the permanent teeth have erupted. This means you will never feel pressured or rushed into treatment.

Early Intervention

Early intervention can make a dramatic impact on establishing the proper occlusal foundation. The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends that all children have a check-up with an orthodontist by the time they reach age 7, for early detection of any potential problems. By the age 7, some of the permanent teeth have erupted, so that most children have a mix of adult and baby teeth. At this stage of mixed dentition, we can spot potential orthodontic problems related to jaw growth and eruption of adult teeth. Some growth-related orthodontic problems are easier to correct when they are identified early…while the facial bones are still growing.

An early exam allows us to determine how and when a child's particular jaw and/or dental problems should be corrected for the optimal results. Early treatment, or phase one therapy, may be needed to create a better environment to idealize the occlusion for the patient or possibly create an environment to elevate treatment forever. An early orthodontic examination does not always result in immediate treatment. After evaluating your child, we may simply want to monitor your child periodically while the permanent teeth erupt and the jaws and face continue to develop.

Adolescent Treatment

Timing is everything when it comes to orthodontics. Most orthodontic problems are ideally treated during adolescence. Usually, all or most of the permanent teeth are erupted and patients are at one of their most active phases of growth and their growth can be most easily modified during this time. In order to minimize patient involvement during the treatment process, Dr. Bauer will work very hard to maximize ideal treatment goals with his adolescent patients.

Adult Treatment

Healthy teeth can be moved at any age, and it is never too late to improve your smile. More than 30% of our current patients are adults. That number is increasing each year. Adults who have tolerated dental malfunctions throughout their lives are thrilled with their new smile. they realize the value of improved dental health as well as the increased self-esteem derived from improving their appearance.