Braces for Children
What is the best age to start orthodontics?
There is a sweet spot for your child’s first evaluation.
Big smiles abound and this age is a perfect time for an orthodontic peek under the hood.
While dentists and orthodontists have different perspectives on children’s teeth, it is usually your pediatric dentist who will have insight into when it’s time for an orthodontic evaluation. But a dentist’s first mission is to assess the overall oral health and hygiene of your child’s teeth, and because of that, they may not have the ability or time to give an orthodontic evaluation as well.
Typically a dentist will refer a child by age seven to visit an orthodontist for an evaluation (using a panoramic x-ray to visualize the teeth, jaws and gum tissue in one image). And that’s the magic number, even if your dentist misses it. The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends that a child’s first visit to an orthodontist should happen no later than age seven so slightly earlier is always an option.
An Once of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure
There are early intervention procedures that your orthodontist can utilize if they detect a problem this early in your child’s development. The good news is that and most patients do not need treatment at this stage. This moment is all about a setting up a game plan between the patient, parents, dentist and orthodontist. Issues that are overlooked by skipping this evaluation may be difficult, if not impossible to correct by a child’s teenage years. Typically, all is well and your orthodontist will schedule a recall visit by age nine for a second evaluation.
One of the more common appliances that are utilized for narrow bites is an expander. This is called “phase one” treatment. At a younger age, you may think of a child’s mouth that’s made of soft clay. You want to shape it before it cures in the kiln.
Baby Teeth Included
And what about baby teeth? Yes, baby teeth are expected and are not a hinderance to an evaluation. Remember, age seven is the magic number for a first visit! And if you’re a little late, that’s OK, the sooner a problem is caught, the better.
Greenpoint Orthodontics offers free consultations. That’s one more reason to schedule an evaluation for your child’s orthodontic well-being today.
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