Early Orthodontic Care
Many parents wonder when should my child start Orthodontic treatment. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends all children get a check-up with an orthodontist at age 7. At this age, your child will start to lose his/her baby teeth and the permanent teeth will start to erupt. This allows us to assess jaw growth patterns, spacing needs, and any abnormalities that may exist.
An Early Evaluation
We will perform an initial exam to evaluate your child’s needs. Many children at age 7 do not require treatment, and we will monitor them until the permanent teeth erupt. However, for some children, it is advisable to start treatment “early” (with baby teeth still present) to intercept issues that may present bigger problems as a child ages.
There are many reasons why age 7 is the best time for your child’s first evaluation:
- Orthodontists are trained to recognize and address problems early in a child’s development, even while baby teeth are present.
- We can evaluate jaw growth patterns and stage treatment at the appropriate time.
What We Evaluate
- Overbite or underbite
- Open bite or deep bite
- Crossbite Spacing or crowding
- Dental or skeletal protrusion
- Finger/thumb habits
Don’t be fooled by the appearance of straight teeth! There may be underlying issues that can only be seen in x-rays or during a clinical exam. A very important component to the success of orthodontic treatment is timing. We would much rather see your child at 7 years old and suggest monitoring rather than seeing them too late!
