Orthodontics for Children in Bethlehem & Kutztown, PA

Children respond well to early interceptive treatment because their jaws are still growing. By age 13, most kids lose all their baby teeth, and by the end of their teens, the jaw bones stop growing. Orthodontic procedures for adults often take more time, are more expensive, and can involve tooth extraction or oral surgery.

Children develop orthodontic problems from genetics, injury to the mouth, early or late loss of baby teeth, or thumb-sucking. We can treat these issues, which include crowded teeth, ill-spaced teeth, jaw-growth problems, protruding teeth, and bad bites.

Two Phase Treatment

Phase 1—Correct global issues
To maximize potential for seamless and successful treatment for some of our younger patients, Dr. Viechnicki divides care into two phases. Phase 1 starts around 7 to 10 years old when kids have a mix of baby and permanent teeth. The goal of Phase-1 is to correct underlying concerns such as narrow jaws, bad bites, or severe crowding.

 Because children are still developing, Dr. Viechnicki can guide jaw growth in real time rather than remedy problems later with extraction of permanent teeth or jaw surgery.

Phase 2—Guide teeth to final position 
After a resting period to allow all the permanent teeth to erupt (usually around age 11 or 12), Phase 2 begins. Here’s where Phase 1 pays off. Because the jaws are aligned with sufficient space for all teeth, Dr. Viechnicki places braces to shift the child’s teeth into their permanent, correct positions for a lifelong functional bite and brilliant smile.

If your child is between the ages of seven and eight, schedule an appointment to discuss the next best steps toward your child’s lifelong healthy smile.