When to Start Orthodontic Treatment for Children?
Although there is no perfect age to begin orthodontic treatment, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that kids first visit an orthodontist by the age of 7 years old. By this age, most of the adult teeth (but not all!) have erupted alongside baby teeth so any potential tooth and jaw discrepancies can be corrected at an early stage thus saving on going under the knife.
Benefits of Early Orthodontic Treatment
Early orthodontic treatment enables us to accomplish three goals:
- Plan for proper permanent tooth eruption through guiding jaw growth
- Modify the dimensions of the upper and lower arches
- Create space for crowded teeth
- Decrease the chances permanent tooth extractions will be necessary in the future.
- Solving thumb sucking and other minor speech problems
- As a parent, it can sometimes be difficult to decide when or not your child needs braces.
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Signs Your Child May Need Orthodontic Care
Watch for these signs that your child might benefit from an orthodontic evaluation:
- Early or late loss of baby teeth
- Difficulty chewing or biting
- Mouth breathing
- Thumb or finger sucking
- Crowded, misaligned, or blocked teeth
- Jaws that pop or make sounds when opening or closing
- Teeth that do not fit together properly
- Jaws or teeth not proportionate to the face
- Crowded front teeth around ages seven or eight
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