When is the best time to begin orthodontics?
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that ALL children visit an orthodontist by age 7. Much like your child has regular "well visits" with your pediatrician, an early visit to an orthodontist will ensure that your child is on track to have a healthy and beautiful smile. By age 7, most children still have a mix of baby teeth and adult teeth, which makes it easier for an orthodontist to diagnose and correct tooth and jaw problems. By visiting an orthodontist early, you will give your child the best chance to develop a healthy, beautiful smile. In most cases, braces are not placed until children are older; however, some children benefit from an early stage of orthodontics that helps them avoid more serious problems as they get older.
Early screening and treatment allows your orthodontist to:
- Detect and minimize or eliminate jaw growth problems that may require surgery later in life
- Reduce the need for permanent tooth extractions
- Regulate the width of the upper and lower arches
- Create more space for crowded teeth
- Prevent tooth impaction and damage to adjacent teeth
- Achieve results that may be unattainable once growth is complete
- Give your child a confident smile during growth and development
- Correct harmful oral habits like thumb sucking and tongue thrusts
- Lower the risk of trauma to protruding front teeth
- Reduce the need for more extensive orthodontic treatment later in life
Signs that your child should see an orthodontist:
- Early or late loss of baby teeth
- If your child has a hard time chewing or biting when eating
- Mouth breathing
- Finger or thumb sucking
- Crowded, misplaced or delayed eruption of teeth
- Jaws that "pop" or make sounds when opening or closing
- Teeth that fit together abnormally or not at all
- Jaws or teeth that are disproportionate to the rest of your child's face
- Top teeth that bite "inside" of bottom teeth
And for our Teens...
We understand. We know you're busy - you have school, sports, activities...a social life. Braces are probably not on the top of your list of things to do. Lucky for you, we offer many treatment options, including one designed specifically with you in mind - Invisalign® Teen! Give us a call to discuss your options - we'll work with you to help you design a smile that you'll appreciate for years to come. We promise, you'll be happy you did.
Please contact our office today to schedule a free new patient consultation for your child or teen. By screening your child while they are young, we can detect potential problems early, plan the best time for orthodontic treatment and keep treatment time to a minimum. If early treatment is not necessary for your child, we will be happy to place them in our complimentary recall and observation program to monitor their growth and development and include them as a member in our Observation Deck Recall Club where they can participate in fun office events and earn Smile Miles points while they wait to begin orthodontic treatment!