What is Growth Guidance?

My goal is to act on the concept of gently bending a twig, rather than forcing a rigid tree.

While prevailing orthodontic practice used to focus on initiating treatment only when permanent teeth were in place, state of the art orthodontics now acknowledges that many severe orthodontic problems can be reduced by early recognition and a specific treatment program known as Growth Guidance. Growth Guidance is the practice of carefully monitoring and guiding the problematic developing dentition(teeth) throughout the growing stages. It includes manipulating that growth through the use of appliances, limited braces and managed care to ensure more stable results and minimize the extent and time necessary for full orthodontic treatment for the adult dentition. Teeth have "memory," a tendency to return toward their original positions. If the teeth can come in as straight as possible to begin with, they will have more stable positions. By correcting problems at an early age, the relapse tendency is greatly reduced.

Some of the more common problems appropriate for Growth Guidance treatment include: extra or missing teeth, impacted teeth, detrimental habits such as thumb sucking or clenching, crowded teeth, anterior or posterior cross-bite, abnormal growth patterns of the jaw, and severe overbites. These problems are usually identified during an orthodontic screening. Growth Guidance treatment timing is important, even critical in some cases, so appropriate screening by a specialist is encouraged.

Even in younger patients whose permanent teeth are coming in crowded, it is often possible to create room. With orthodontic guidance, the permanent teeth are "led" into more normal positions. Thus, the name Growth Guidance Program. When permanent teeth are left to crowd their way into crooked positions, the job to straighten them is not only more difficult and time-consuming; frequently the extraction of teeth is required. Growth Guidance is often initiated with children at 7 - 8 years of age, although some orthodontic problems can be treated in children as young as 4 or 5.

Other identified problems can be solved or partially corrected with relatively simple appliances, again guiding the teeth where they should be. In the event your child needs this kind of assistance, I will explain the type and purpose of the appliance, the recommended length of treatment, and the anticipated result to ensure that you can make an informed decision.

Appointments

Periodic visits during the Growth Guidance treatment phase are very important because growth is both rapid and sporadic in children and must be carefully observed; the process requires carefully timed steps, each based upon that child's growth pattern and his/her response to the orthodontic intervention. Only with constant vigilance can one ensure the active management of growth patterns. I have found children remarkably receptive and responsive to Growth Guidance treatment. Their curiosity and natural enthusiasm for the procedures and appliances are big treatment pluses during the recall visits, most of which last a short 5 - 15 minutes (unless an appliance is being inserted or removed).

Orthodontic Screening

Not all children need the Growth Guidance Program described above. In families with more than one child possibly needing orthodontics, I recommend that an orthodontic exam be done on each child (preferably 7 or 8 years of age) to determine future needs. Orthodontic braces are rarely placed at this early age, but many procedures can be performed to lessen the severity of identified problems. The orthodontic screening is a service to you and your family and is performed at no charge.

Parents of youngsters in Growth Guidance treatment are sometimes disheartened to recognize an orthodontic problem in an older sibling. Often these older children have already outgrown the best time for deriving maximum benefit from Growth Guidance. They can, however, be treated with braces; the effort to achieve the desired result requires more time than would have been necessary with earlier identification. What is important to remember is that several solutions are possible for every orthodontic problem.

Cost

As mentioned earlier, the initial exam is performed at no charge. Fees for corrective appliances and services will be established at the time of consultation, prior to the initiation of treatment. The cost established for these procedures is generally much less than conventional orthodontic treatment. It is based on the type of appliance needed, the length of time of treatment and the intensity of treatment. Growth Guidance may not eliminate the need for standard orthodontics, such as braces, but it can save $200 - $1200 of those costs by ensuring a better growth pattern for the teeth and more stable results.

The end results of Growth Guidance include less orthodontic treatment, less expense, more comfort for your child and greater self-esteem - a sturdy, straight, reaching-for-the-sky tree.