Some Kids Can Benefit from Orthodontics
The American Association of Orthodontics recommends that your child receive an orthodontic check-up by no later than age seven.
Most children don't need orthodontic intervention, but those that do can greatly benefit from a short period of focused orthodontics.
Schedule an appointment with an orthodontist if your child has:
- Lost their baby teeth early or late
- Difficulty chewing or biting
- Sucking the thumb, fingers, or other oral habits
- Crowded, misplaced, or blocked-out teeth
- Jaws that shift, make a sound, protrude or are recessed
- Speech difficulty
- Biting the cheek or into the roof of the mouth
- Protruding teeth
Because every child has unique physiological and treatment needs, our goal is to provide them with the most appropriate treatment at the most appropriate time.
Phase 1 Treatment
While your child’s teeth may look straight, there could be a problem only an orthodontist can detect. Orthodontists can spot subtle problems with jaw growth and emerging teeth while some baby teeth are still present.
Early treatment could prevent more serious problems from developing that may not be possible to correct with braces alone after your child's jaws finish growing.
Early treatment can give your orthodontist the chance to:
- Align jaw growth
- Lower the risk of trauma to protruded front teeth
- Correct harmful oral habits
- Improve appearance and self-esteem
- Avoid extractions of permanent teeth
- Correct teeth that meet in an abnormal way or don’t meet at all
Through an early orthodontic evaluation, you’ll give your child the best opportunity for a healthy, beautiful smile.