Childhood Treatment
While there is no exact age for children to begin orthodontic treatment, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends visiting the orthodontist around age seven. By this age, most children have a mix of baby teeth and adult teeth, making it easier for the orthodontist to diagnose and correct tooth and jaw problems sooner and without surgery.
With children, we often recommend two-phase treatment for the best long-term results.
Early treatment allows us to:
- Correct and guide the growth of your child's jaw to help the permanent teeth come in straight.
- Regulate the width of the upper and lower arches.
- Create more space for crowded teeth.
- Avoid the need for permanent tooth extractions later in life.
- Correct thumb sucking and help improve minor speech problems.
After successful phase one treatment, we usually allow a resting phase while permanent teeth come in. Once all permanent teeth are in place, we use full braces to ensure a beautiful, lifelong smile.
Signs your child needs to see an orthodontist:
- Early or late loss of baby teeth.
- Difficulty chewing or biting food.
- Mouth breathing.
- Finger or thumb sucking.
- Crowded, misplaced, or blocked teeth.
- Jaws that pop or make sounds when opening and closing.
- Teeth that come together abnormally, or do not come together at all.
- Jaws and teeth that are not proportionate to the rest of the face.
- Crowded front teeth around age seven or eight.
Please contact our practice to schedule an appointment for an orthodontic evaluation. Early treatment now will give your child a healthy, beautiful smile for the future.