Wondering when your child should see an orthodontist? The American Association of Orthodontists recommends an orthodontic evaluation around age 7. At this stage, permanent teeth are beginning to come in, making it the perfect time to check how your child’s smile is growing and developing. Early evaluations allow us to spot potential concerns, monitor growth, and guide development if needed. In many cases, treatment isn’t necessary right away – but keeping an eye on your child’s smile helps ensure everything stays on the right track for a healthy, confident future.
Signs Your Child May Need Orthodontic Treatment
Every child develops differently, but some common signs that an orthodontic evaluation may be helpful include:
- Crowded or overlapping teeth
- Gaps or spacing between teeth
- Difficulty biting or chewing
- Teeth that stick out or don’t meet properly
- Early or late loss of baby teeth
- Mouth breathing or jaw shifting
If you notice any of these signs, an orthodontic evaluation can help determine the best next steps.
Benefits of Early Orthodontic Evaluation
Early orthodontic evaluations allow us to monitor growth and identify developing concerns before they become more complex.
Benefits may include:
- Guiding proper jaw development
- Creating space for incoming permanent teeth
- Reducing the risk of impacted teeth
Preventing more complex treatment laterIn many cases, early visits simply allow us to monitor your child’s development and determine the ideal time for treatment.
Two-Phase Orthodontic Treatment: The Benefits
At Hardy Pediatric Dentistry and Orthodontics, we pride ourselves on being experts in child orthodontics. That is why we follow the Two-Phase Treatment method. This method begins when your child is young. There are multiple benefits to following the Two-Phase Treatment when it comes to child orthodontics. The primary benefit is that it instills early preventative care for your child’s tooth and jaw development. By targeting potential problem areas early, we can lessen the amount of complex care that may be needed in the future. If we do not take action early, issues can become significantly worse as time goes on. We want to make the entire orthodontic process comfortable, easy, and smooth! Preventative care is so helpful in ensuring that your child has the best orthodontic experience possible! We start this portion of the process early because your child’s smile is still moldable. We complete the Two-Phase process once all their permanent teeth have been placed in their final positions.
The Two-Phase treatment plan gives us a more structured plan for your child’s smile straightening journey. By starting early, we can prevent more complex procedures that may be needed in the future.
Why Should We Start Treatment Now?
By choosing to start treatment now, we can limit the need for more invasive and complex procedures like surgery and tooth extractions. If jaw and tooth misalignments are left for too long, they can become much worse as time progresses. Some of these problems can include overcrowding, jaw misalignment, or bite problems.
As recommended by the American Association of Orthodontics, children are encouraged to visit the orthodontist by the time they reach 7 years old. We want to help you achieve the best results possible!
