Why Should Your 7 Year Old See An Orthodontist?

 When most people think of orthodontics, they think of teenagers.  Fact is, most orthodontic treatments begin between the ages of 9 and 14; however, by age 7, most children have a mix of adult and baby teeth.
 

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that all children have an orthodontic screening no later than age 7.  An orthodontist can spot subtle problems with jaw growth and emerging teeth while some baby teeth are still present.  While your child’s teeth may appear straight, there could be problems that only an orthodontist can detect.  This is important because most orthodontic problems are corrected easier if they are found early.  Of course, the check-up may reveal that your child’s bite is fine and that can be comforting news. 

Not all problems recommend immediate treatment.  Chances are your doctor may take a “wait and see” approach, checking on your child from time to time as the permanent teeth develop and the jaws and face continue to grow.  For each patient there is an ideal time for treatment to begin in order to achieve the best results.  An orthodontist is the specialist who has the right knowledge to determine this time. 

In some cases, your orthodontist might find a problem that can benefit from early treatment.  This treatment may prevent more serious problems from developing and may make treatment later in life shorter and less complicated.  Also, this early treatment will help achieve results in growth and development that may not have been possible once the face and jaws had finished growing.   

Some early signs that your child’s bite may not be correct:

 -Early or late loss of baby teeth

-Breathing through mouth

-Thumb-sucking

-Upper and lower teeth that don’t meet in a “normal” way

-Crowded, misplaced or blocked out teeth