Many parents are told by their child’s dentist or orthodontist that correcting a misaligned bite or crooked teeth while their child doesn’t have their permanent teeth yet isn’t possible or effective. While putting braces on baby teeth isn’t a valid option, there are alternatives to correct jaw and teeth issues while your child is still young. In fact, Dr. Buck prefers to work with his tiniest patients sooner rather than later, and here’s why.

If your child has crooked teeth or a misaligned bite, leaving the issue untreated can lead to long-term issues such as sleep apnea or TMJ disorder. But the traditional orthodontic approach is to wait to treat the issue until the child’s permanent teeth have come in. According to Dr. Buck, while this approach may be easier, you miss significant growth opportunities that allow you to fully treat the issue in one shot.