The Value of Early Treatment: Pediatric Dentists Share Personal Experience of Treating Young Children and Reducing Orofacial Deformities

Most patients come to our office for the first time between the ages of three and four. This provides us with a window of opportunity to take advantage of their ideal growth potential since 60 percent of the head is formed by age nine. Thus, we have five years to evaluate and alter patterns of growth and development. Early treatment of these patients who present with developing oral dysfunction can be given the chance to reach their potential for normal growth.

The studies of Witzig and Spahl suggest that between the ages of 9 to 12 years of age, malocclusion becomes 25 percent worse or more severe. To help bring to light the importance of early treatment and the value of the Pedo Ortho Connection, I have assembled three pediatric dentists who have spent their careers using early treatment to take advantage of the ongoing growth of a child so that this growth could be used for their child’s maximum advantage. These dental professionals have provided orthodontics to their young patients for decades. By employing early treatment, they have been able to create both better smiles and lives for their patients.

In this interview, I spoke with Dr. Heber Simmons, Jr., Dr. Leonard Carapezza, and Dr. Chris Baker. We discussed Early Treatment in their practices, its benefits, and how it has helped their patients and practice as they moved from being tooth fixers to recognizing and stopping orofacial deformities before they become worse.