Early Orthodontic Treatment & Airway Orthodontics

A Healthier Smile Starts with the Right Bite

Orthodontic treatment helps create a balanced, functional bite by aligning the teeth and jaws properly. When everything is in harmony, your child can chew, speak, and smile with confidence—and with a reduced risk of tooth decay, gum disease, or dental injury. Proper alignment also enhances facial symmetry, making for a naturally attractive smile and better long-term oral health.

When Should My Child See an Orthodontist?

At SoCo Dental Specialty Group, we follow the American Association of Orthodontists’ recommendation that children should visit an orthodontist by age 7, or earlier if any issues are noticed. By this age, most children have a mix of baby and permanent teeth, which allows us to evaluate how their smile and jaws are developing.

An early orthodontic evaluation doesn’t always lead to immediate treatment—but it’s a crucial step in identifying any concerns before they become more complex. In many cases, early monitoring can help avoid more invasive procedures later.

What Is Early (Phase One) Orthodontic Treatment?

Early treatment, also known as Phase One treatment, focuses on correcting jaw growth and certain bite problems while a child is still growing. It can also help ensure there’s enough space for permanent teeth to erupt properly, potentially preventing the need for extractions down the line.

Examples of orthodontic concerns sometimes addressed with early treatment include:

  • Severe crowding

  • Open bite or deep bite

  • Crossbite

  • Underbite or large overbite

  • Narrow dental arches

  • Jaw growth issues

  • Thumb-sucking or oral habits

  • Protruding front teeth

By guiding growth during these formative years, we can often use gentler, more efficient treatment methods compared to when the face and jaws are fully developed.

Not All Children Need Early Treatment

In many cases, no immediate action is needed. Instead, we’ll simply keep an eye on your child’s development through our Growth Observation Program.

This program includes no-cost checkups every 6 to 12 months, where our orthodontist monitors jaw growth, tooth eruption, and bite changes. These visits help ensure we intervene only when it’s truly beneficial—and allow your child to grow confidently, with professional support along the way.

Why Early Orthodontics Matters

Certain orthodontic issues, if left untreated at a young age, can have long-lasting effects. Early intervention can reduce treatment time in the future, minimize the need for surgery, and improve outcomes. Plus, it sets the foundation for better oral health habits and higher self-esteem during a child’s most important developmental years.

Airway Orthodontics

Orthodontics is about much more than just straightening teeth and creating a beautiful smile. At SoCo Dental Specialty Group, we are invested in your smile but also focused on supporting your overall health and well-being. Certain oral habits and jaw deformities can be linked with medical concerns such as Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Sleep Disordered Breathing.

When a child’s smile appears crowded or crooked, it may be a sign that the jaw is not developing properly. A narrow upper jaw can restrict the size of the nasal cavity, making it difficult for children to breathe through their noses. As a result, they may resort to mouth breathing, particularly at night, which can lead to snoring, dry mouth, and disturbed sleep. Over time, these sleep issues can affect a child’s focus, behavior, and growth.

Early Intervention with Orthodontic Expanders

Early treatment may involve use of an orthodontic palatal expander. A palatal expander is an appliance that attached to the upper molars and sits near the roof of the mouth, and slow expansion is performed at home with a key. Using a palatal expander, we can widen the upper jaw and open the nasal airway, making it easier for children to breathe through their noses. This improved airflow helps reduce snoring and promotes deeper, more restful sleep. By improving the airway, our goal is to enhance health and overall quality of life.

Lower Jaw Advancement with Herbst Appliance

The Herbst appliance is a fixed functional appliance commonly used in sleep dentistry. This appliance is appropriate for children and teens who have a smaller lower jaw and works by extending the lower jaw forward. The appliance consists of metal rods and connectors attached to the upper and lower teeth, and the components work together to gently advance the lower jaw forward, thereby repositioning the tongue and soft tissues in the throat to open up the airway. The Herbst appliance can contribute to improved oral health by promoting proper jaw relationships.

Modern Technology

In our office, we use a cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) which is a modern 3D imagining technology to assess the airway and sinuses. We also use an intraoral digital scanner to help you visualize what a narrow jaw may look like and how we can use palatal expansion to widen the narrow jaw.

Schedule a Complimentary Exam

The easiest way to find out what your child needs is to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with our experienced team. If treatment isn’t necessary, we’ll simply continue to monitor development at no cost to you. If early intervention is beneficial, we’ll walk you through your child’s personalized treatment plan and timeline.

Give your child the best start for a confident, healthy smile. Contact SoCo Dental Specialty Group via text or a phone call at 707.978.2077 today to book your complimentary new patient smile consultation.