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Preventative and Corrective Orthodontics
- Helping your child reach their full potential naturally-
Dr. Amelia Chim is committed to provide the best technology, most comprehensive treatment of the overall long term health benefit for children in her practice. Benefits of preventative orthodontic include:
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Healthy smile with optimized development of TMJ, tongue, muscles, and airway.
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Treatment is best started at an earlier age (between 3-5 years old) when patients can be more adaptable and natural growth is present.
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Permanent results with minimized rates of relapse.
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When growth complete, almost all cases do not require further orthodontic treatments.
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Using a removable dental appliance that is medical grade to be safe, latex-free, BPA-free, natural, and exceedingly more hygienic than other appliances.
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The more time we have for treatment during natural growth and development, the easier it is to achieve desire results.
Benefits of an active eruption appliance.
How do I know if My Child Qualifies?
If your child is between the age of 3-5 years old, Dr. Amelia will evaluate his/her skeletal and dental growth to determine whether or not your child qualifies for this appliance. Timing is an important factor as the appliance is designed to guide the natural growth of a child into proper position. Call us for a free consultation so you do not miss the window of opportunity.
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How does the appliance work?
Children experience periods of growth spurts leading up to puberty. Each of those spurts can be used to harness the natural forces of the body to guide ideal jaw and tooth positioning.
If your child is between the age of 3-7, It usually involves a three-step process:
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1. Habit-Corrector: This eliminates/improves current oral habits that can damage your child's dental health. He/she wears the habit corrector at night while sleeping. Your child will become used to wearing a device in his/her mouth every night. This step lasts about 1-4 months
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2. Second Phase: Dr. Amelia Chim will give your child an appliance specifically sized for your child to wear every night. It aids the incoming teeth into their proper places, correct jaw relations, and expands your child's arches for the incoming adult teeth. Your child will wear this device for 2-5 months.
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3. Final Phase: The final treatment begins with an appliance that accomodates incoming adult teeth. This is a critical phase as adult teeth are forming and gum tissue fibers are attaching to the developing teeth in the mouth. The Healthy Start ensures the teeth erupt into proper alignment and prevents shifting.
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Healthy Start appliance is just as effective for older children 8 years old and up. The steps are similar with some variation.