A Healthy Smile Starts with Healthy Growth
If you've been told your child may benefit from dentofacial orthopedics in Bowie MD, you're likely looking for clear answers about what this treatment involves and how it differs from standard braces. At Bowie Braces, Dr. Alexis Kirkland-Miller provides specialized orthopedic care that guides jaw and facial growth, helping children develop properly aligned bites and well-proportioned facial structures. We welcome new patients and offer appointments six days a week (Monday through Saturday), including evenings, to fit your family's schedule.
What Is Dentofacial Orthopedics?
Dentofacial orthopedics is a specialized field within orthodontics that focuses on guiding the growth and development of the jaws and facial bones. While traditional orthodontics primarily addresses tooth alignment, dentofacial orthopedics works with the underlying skeletal structure, the foundation your child's teeth sit in.
This treatment uses orthopedic appliances (such as expanders, headgear, or functional appliances) to gently influence how the upper and lower jaws grow. The goal is to create enough space for permanent teeth, correct bite discrepancies, and improve facial harmony, all before the bones finish growing.
How It Differs from Standard Orthodontic Treatment
Standard orthodontics moves teeth using braces or aligners. Dentofacial orthopedics, by contrast, modifies bone growth. Think of it this way: orthodontics arranges the furniture in a room, while orthopedics reshapes the room itself. Many children benefit from a combination of both approaches: orthopedic treatment first to guide jaw development, followed by braces or aligners to align the teeth within the corrected framework.
Who Benefits from Dentofacial Orthopedic Treatment?
Children and adolescents whose jaws are still growing are the primary candidates for dentofacial orthopedics. Dr. Kirkland-Miller evaluates each child's growth patterns to determine whether orthopedic intervention could prevent more complex problems later.
Signs Your Child May Need a Growth Evaluation
- ✓Early or late loss of baby teeth
- ✓Difficulty chewing or biting
- ✓Mouth breathing or snoring
- ✓Protruding teeth or a receding chin
- ✓A jaw that shifts or makes sounds
- ✓Crowded or spaced teeth
- ✓An underbite, overbite, or crossbite
If you notice any of these signs, an evaluation with Dr. Kirkland-Miller can help determine whether dentofacial orthopedic treatment is recommended.
Benefits of Early Dentofacial Intervention
Addressing jaw development issues early offers several advantages:
Guides proper jaw growth while the bones are still malleable
Creates space for permanent teeth, often reducing the need for extractions
Improves facial symmetry and profile balance
Corrects bite problems that could lead to uneven tooth wear or jaw pain
Reduces the risk of impacted teeth by guiding eruption patterns
May simplify or eliminate the need for jaw surgery later in life
What to Expect at Bowie Braces
Your first visit begins with a comprehensive evaluation. Dr. Kirkland-Miller uses digital imaging to assess your child's jaw structure, growth patterns, and tooth development. If orthopedic treatment is recommended, she will explain which appliance is best suited to your child's needs and outline a treatment timeline.
Treatment typically lasts 6-18 months, depending on the severity of the discrepancy and your child's growth rate. Follow-up appointments are scheduled every 6-10 weeks to monitor progress and adjust the appliance as needed.
Dentofacial Orthopedics vs. Surgical Orthodontics
It's common to wonder whether dentofacial orthopedics and surgical orthodontics are the same. They are not. Dentofacial orthopedics is a non-surgical approach for growing children that uses appliances to guide jaw development. Surgical orthodontics, on the other hand, is a treatment option for adults whose jaws have stopped growing and who have significant skeletal discrepancies that cannot be corrected with appliances alone.
At Bowie Braces, Dr. Kirkland-Miller's goal is to address jaw development issues early, often preventing the need for surgery. If surgical orthodontics is later required, she coordinates care with oral surgeons to ensure a seamless treatment experience. Learn more about surgical orthodontics.
Frequently Asked Questions About Dentofacial Orthopedics
Untreated jaw discrepancies can lead to difficulty chewing, speech problems, uneven tooth wear, jaw pain, and may require more complex treatment, including surgery, later in life. Early intervention often reduces or eliminates the need for surgical correction.
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends children have their first orthodontic evaluation by age 7. At this stage, Dr. Kirkland-Miller can assess jaw growth patterns and determine if early orthopedic intervention would be beneficial.
No. Dentofacial orthopedics is a non-surgical approach that uses appliances to guide jaw growth. It is designed to address skeletal issues early, often preventing the need for surgical orthodontics later. Surgery is only considered after growth is complete and only when non-surgical options are insufficient.
Yes. Bowie Braces accepts most major dental insurance plans, and our team assists with verifying benefits and filing claims. We also offer flexible payment plans to make orthopedic treatment accessible. Visit our Insurance & Financing page for details.
Ready to learn more about how dentofacial orthopedics could benefit your child? Dr. Kirkland-Miller and the Bowie Braces team are here to help. Contact Us to schedule an evaluation, or call us directly.