Study Says Timing Not Critical to Success of Treatment
An article in the UK’s Cochrane Library reports that orthodontic treatment for children with overbites can be successful no matter when the child is treated. Obviously treatment can’t be postponed until adulthood; but orthodontists can choose to start early on some patients and later on others – “making the punishment fit the crime,” joked one orthodontist.
An orthodontist will consider many factors in determining when and how to begin treatment. The child’s particular overbite is the most important factor, of course, but it’s not the only thing: Will the patient be cooperative? Are there social concerns? Will the family’s dental insurance cover costs? How will orthodontic braces figure into the overall treatment plan?