Early Orthodontic Treatment

Early orthodontic treatment, also known as interceptive orthodontic treatment, is used to prevent future orthodontic issues. Between the ages of seven and 14, the teeth and jaw are still developing, making them more malleable for effective interceptive orthodontic treatment. Sometimes patients as young as seven years old are able to begin orthodontic treatment, though their candidacy depends on specific conditions of their mouths.

Is your child a candidate for early orthodontic treatment?

To determine if your child is eligible for early orthodontic treatment, we recommend visiting the orthodontist at age seven. The earlier problems are caught, the better your child’s oral health will be in the future.

Your child must have at least one of the following conditions in order to be considered for early orthodontic treatment:

  • Crowded teeth: When a child’s jaw is too small, the result is severe dental crowding, where some or all of their teeth overlap.
  • Gapped teeth: Excessively spaced teeth. A gap in the upper front teeth is the most common type an orthodontist sees.
  • Underbite: The lower front teeth overlap the upper teeth as a result of the lower jaw being pushed forward.
  • Jaw irregularities: An unusual jaw size or narrow dental arch.
  • Crossbites: When the jaw shifts to one side.
  • Thumb or pacifier sucking: Long-term thumb or pacifier sucking has affected the teeth or jaw growth.
  • Mouth breathing: If your child only breathes through their mouth, it can cause crooked teeth, facial deformities, or poor growth.
  • Extra or missing teeth: Orthodontic treatment will need to be adjusted accordingly. For extra teeth, extractions may be necessary.

Types of Early Orthodontic Treatment

Palatal Expanders

When the jaw has formed abnormally and is not wide enough for permanent teeth to erupt, this device expands the jaw over time to create more space. A wider jaw allows your child to receive more effective and quicker orthodontic treatment, by means of clear aligners or traditional metal braces. This device is also useful for children with a narrow palate; it helps align the upper teeth and jaw. Other common conditions where a palatal expander may be needed include impacted teeth, crossbites, dental crowding, and breathing problems. Palatal expanders can only be used on younger children since their jaws are still developing.

Traditional Braces

An orthodontist’s go-to for orthodontic treatment, traditional braces are commonly used in instances of misaligned teeth, crooked teeth, or other bite problems. While this equipment is reserved for patients between ten and 14, some children younger than ten might need traditional braces if they have severely overcrowded teeth, an underbite, gapped teeth, or missing teeth.

Headgear

This device may be necessary if your child’s jaw is severely misaligned. It is used together with braces and is secured around the head and face with a neck strap. It’s important to note that braces are only capable of correcting teeth positioning. Headgear encourages proper jaw growth. There are three common types of headgear:

  • Cervical pull for overbites and underbites
  • Reverse-pull for underbites and crossbites
  • High pull for open bites

Clear Aligners

Also known as invisible braces, clear aligners have steadily grown in popularity over the years because they are removable, hard to see, and comfortable to wear. While usually meant for adults, some younger children can use them if they still have baby teeth.

Our Location

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Hours of Operation

Monday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Tuesday:

7:15 am-6:00 pm

Wednesday:

8:00 am-5:00 pm

Thursday:

10:00 am-7:00 pm

Friday:

7:30 am-3:30 pm

Saturday:

Closed

Sunday:

Closed

Testimonials

What Our Clients Say About Us

  • "This office at Washington Street in Wellesley is incredibly well run. Everybody is friendly and very professional.

    Lyn Galante cleans my teeth very thoroughly and gently and gives me good dental health advice.

    Suzanne Gendell is a fabulous dentist, a thoughtful and very pleasant person, and I trust her implicitly.

    When people say "I hate to go to the dentist" I always respond "I don't!""
    Ilse S
  • "Dr. Harrison is the BEST dentist I have ever had. He is an expert in the art of dentistry, He explains procedures in detail and answers all questions and concerns completely. He is very professional and easy to talk to. I always feel confident that the work he performed is of the highest quality. I would highly recommend him."
    Jane D
  • "A lot of thought and preparation has obviously gone into the new set up. I felt very safe, the space was very clean and the new procedures all made sense. I’ll be back in 6 months"
    Jerry D
  • "Very thorough, efficient hygiene appointment and exam with Dr. Gendel. I could not be more satisfied!"
    Catherine H
  • "I was treated very professionally and courteously by Dr. Burnett and Bruno. They were very positive and gave me great hope for solutions to my dental dilemma. I look forward to future dental visits. Thank you."
    Manuel D
  • "Very professional and courteous service. Suzy is an exceptional Dental technician."
    Ashok P
  • "This group is the most professional and caring group you could ever ask for. Dr.Harrison and his team are nothing but the best!"
    Catharine F
  • "I really appreciated the warmth and kindness of the people who worked at MetroWest Dental. The doctor and assistant were very professional yet friendly, too. I loved it!"
    GABRIELLE E
  • "Excellence experience from start to finish!"
    Robert A
  • "Absolutely amazing! The responsiveness, professionalism and genuine caring was unparalleled."
    Casey R
  • "Great service. I feel very safe. Such expertise and into cutting edge safety COVID efforts"
    Carla B
  • "Metro west Dental spends more time with their patients than any other dentist office I’ve been to. Great staff."
    Brett S
  • "Great dentist and extremely friendly staff. Very professional and have only positive experiences visiting."
    Zachary Zieper
  • "Super friendly and highly recommended by my ace dentist who is retiring."
    Beryl Bergen
  • "Great as always. Such pros, such warmth and care.
    My mouth could not be happier."
    Arno Rafael Minkkinen
  • "Dr. Inna gave me Botox and it is terrific. The procedure was painless. She was very gentle and kind.
    During the next few weeks, so many people in my life noticed how much younger I look. My forehead wrinkles and crow’s feet are gone.
    I highly recommend Dr. Inna for all dental and cosmetic procedures."
    Carole Sage
  • "I was nervous to go to my dental appointment during a pandemic, but they made a lot of changes in their office and procedures to address the COVID situation. This made me feel safer and more comfortable, and of course, the continued excellence & quality of the care provided by the staff at this office remains the same as always."
    D T
  • "Lynn is great. Fast and comfortable. And fun to talk to. Very personable."
    John Fritts
  • "Fantastic cleaning. Good attention to Covid safety."
    Jim Ogletree
  • "Susie the hygenist did a fabulous job cleaning my teeth! Everyone at the office is warm and friendly. I highly recommend this dental office!"
    Donna Santamaria
  • "I have been a patient of Dr. Burnett for the past two years at Metro West Dental. The office is very clean and welcoming and the staff are always polite and knowledgeable.
    *Parking is also a plus*
    I started seeing Dr.Burnett for Botox that started out cosmetically. Dr.Burnett made the experience very pleasant from my first time and has stayed that way till now! Dr.Burnett had suggested that I try the Botox for my clenching and it has HELPED tremendously. I’m very thankful for her ability to make me feel beautiful and confident in her care."
    Ester Kuritnik
  • "Dr. Burnett is an incredible dentist. I worked with her for both my Invisalign and Zoom whitening treatment, and I couldn't be happier with my result. She is extremely thorough and pays attention to every detail. My teeth are perfect because of her work. I highly recommend her."
    Caraline Zeizel
  • "My visit with Dr. Harrison was exceptional. The office was so organized and extremely clean and organized. I felt safe and well taken care of during my visit. Tina was attentive, competent and so friendly. Dr. Harrison has always maintained a A+++ office. Highest quality of dental care ! Thank you!"
    Carole Anne Parisi
  • "Beyond grateful and impressed. After a different dentist made some mistakes on a chipped filling and tore up the side of my mouth doing so, I was beside myself. Metro West got me in so quickly despite being booked. Dr. Burnett was beyond wonderful. She’s so kind and tried so hard to make everything painless. Tina was also wonderful to chat with and so on top of everything. The office was totally secure and COVID-19 safe with many precautions. I’m getting ready to move out of the area, but would recommend this office and Dr. Burnett to anyone. Top notch."
    Leah Salloway