See You By Seven!
Along with the American Association of Orthodontists, we recommend that a child receive their first orthodontic screening for early orthodontic treatment by age 7. By starting treatment early, we are able to recognize potential problems early and correct them before they become more serious. This not only saves you and your child time, but also money.
Early interceptive orthodontic treatment has proven to be beneficial for the overall desired result. Because a young child's permanent teeth have not finished erupting, we are able to thoroughly evaluate the front-to-back and side-to-side tooth relationships and address any impending problems at the earliest stage. Critical oral skills children develop during these years—including speaking, chewing, and swallowing—can be affected by emerging orthodontic issues as well.
Your Child's First Visit
During your child's initial evaluation, we will first determine if there are any problems that need to be addressed, such as potential crowding, open bite, overbite, or gummy smiles. It is possible that immediate treatment is not necessary at the time, or even at all. However, if treatment is indicated, we will create a personalized treatment plan for your child that will prove to be the most beneficial for his or her specific case.
Early orthodontic treatment varies between patients, but may include removable or fixed appliances that can provide more room for crowded, erupting teeth; preserve space for unerupted teeth; create facial symmetry through jaw growth modification; reduce the possibility of tooth extraction; and reduce overall treatment time in braces.