Orthodontics Specialist

Pediatric Dental Group of New York

Pediatric Dentistry located in Albany, NY & Glens Falls, NY

If your child has an untreated bad bite — meaning that their teeth don’t fit together properly — it can cause problems such as gum disease, tooth enamel breakdown, cavities, speech problems, difficulty eating, and other issues. At Pediatric Dental Group of New York in Schenectady, Albany and Glens Falls, New York, the experienced team offers personalized orthodontics diagnosis and care for children and teens. Book your appointment online or call and speak with a helpful staff member today.

Orthodontics Q & A

What issues does orthodontics treat?

Orthodontics, such as braces, treat several issues, including:

Overbite

In an overbite, your child's upper row of teeth project too far over the bottom row.

Underbite

In an underbite, your child's bottom row of teeth project beyond their top row when the mouth is closed.

Crossbite

A crossbite happens when a section of your child's upper teeth fits inside their lower teeth with their mouth closed. It's similar to underbite, but crossbite only affects part of the mouth.

Open bite

An open bite means that your child's top and bottom teeth don't meet or overlap, even with the mouth closed.

Crowding

Crowding means inadequate room for teeth. If your child's jaw isn't large enough for all their teeth, they can overlap and push existing teeth out of position.

Spacing issues

Spacing issues simply means gaps between teeth. The problem can occur when your child's jaw is too large, when their teeth are too small, or both.

Some children may have a combination of these orthodontic issues. Although these orthodontic problems can be quite diverse, what they all share is the need for treatment.

When does my child need their first orthodontics evaluation?

The American Association for Orthodontics recommends scheduling your child's first orthodontic evaluation by the age of seven.

At that time, your child typically has a combination of permanent and baby teeth. Because baby teeth pave the way for adult teeth, your child's orthodontist can identify emerging problems at that time.

What are the benefits of early orthodontics treatment?

Early orthodontics treatment can start immediately after your child's first orthodontic evaluation, if necessary. Starting treatment early can:

Guide healthy jaw development
Guide optimal tooth positioning
Correct harmful habits like extended thumb sucking
Reduce the need for tooth extractions in the future
Reduce breakage risk in protruding front teeth
Improve appearance
Improve speech
Improve chewing ability

Early orthodontics works so well because it's easiest to move teeth and bone while your child is still developing. Essentially, early orthodontics addresses problems before those issues fully develop.

At Pediatric Dental Group of New York, the group of compassionate dental care providers includes an on-site orthodontist in the Glens Falls office. Call the office or click on the online appointment maker to arrange your child's orthodontic assessment.

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