Answer: The optimum age for correcting a bite is in childhood or, at most, adolescence. During this period, the bone density of the jaw is less and the mobility of the teeth is higher, and it is this combination that is optimal for successful and relatively fast orthodontic treatment. Attention should be paid to the position of the teeth from the age of 3, when all the baby teeth have erupted, and the optimum age at which the incorrect position of the teeth can be corrected quickly is 5-6 years. At this age, the pediatric orthodontist only needs to guide the growth of the jaws and thereby help the teeth to form the correct bite. To do this, the orthodontist has special devices in his arsenal that act on the muscles of the maxillofacial area and the tongue, and can stimulate or slow down (if necessary), skeletal growth, change the width of the palate, and the shape of the jaw bones. Orthodontic appliances, such as braces and, in some cases, partial braces, are often used to perform the correction.
If your dentist recommends that your child see an orthodontist, don’t disregard their recommendation, because early orthodontic treatment can often successfully and quickly correct even the most difficult bite problems and give your child not only a nice smile but also the ability to chew food properly.
