Orthodontic Evaluation by Age 7

An Ounce of Prevention Is Worth a Pound of Cure

Even if your child has protruding or misaligned teeth, or other jaw problems, you might not be thinking about braces just yet. That’s still several years away… isn’t it? Not necessarily.

While the most common age for braces is during the teen years, our office agrees with the American Association of Orthodontists’ recommendation that you have your child see an orthodontist for evaluation no later than age seven.

After the first checkup, we will be able to determine when your child should start orthodontics and what types of devices might be needed. The American Association of Orthodontists reccomends the first orthodontic evaluation at 7 years of age. In layman’s terms, if we catch a problem now, we can potentially avoid more extensive or complex work later.

By correcting some dental issues at a young age, we can:

• Give permanent teeth adequate room to erupt in proper or better alignment
• Shorten or eliminate the need for braces later
• Orevent later extractions or even jaw surgery
• Correct finger sucking or tongue thrust habits to prevent deformation in the shape of the upper jaw
• Possibly reduce the overall cost of your child’s braces

Another reason to see your orthodontist early is that some problems are easier to correct while your child’s bones are still growing and flexible. Crossbites and underbites are two examples. But early intervention has a number of other advantages: Correcting a malocclusion that involves crowded teeth will make it easier for your child to brush, floss and chew properly, giving them a head start on good dental health. Properly aligned teeth improve the look of the face and, of course, your child’s smile!