Why Children Should See an Orthodontist by 7
Orthodontic treatment plays a very important role in a young child’s oral health and can benefit patients of all ages, especially children. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends children should see an orthodontist by 7 years old!
You may be wondering why an orthodontic visit around this age is necessary, especially if their smile seems to be straight, and it’s a great question! Children are often still developing in their mouths and many still have baby teeth. It might be hard to believe but that’s the perfect time for their first visit! It gives your orthodontist the best opportunity to see any underlying issues that they can treat to prevent them from developing into something more serious.
Whether you are interested in braces, Invisalign, or an expander for your child, seeing an orthodontist by 7 years old will ensure your orthodontist will be able to understand where the adult teeth will erupt and how they will sit, allowing for treatment to be easier down the road!
During a child’s first visit your orthodontist will be looking for any issues like a misaligned bite, crowded teeth, or irregularities in the way permanent teeth will erupt. From there, we will begin a discussion of any early treatment that is recommended, now or at some point in the future.
Common Orthodontic Issues
During the first consultation, one of our experienced orthodontists will assess general oral health and development. There are several common orthodontic issues our orthodontists will be looking for, including the following.
- Misalignment
- Tooth loss
- Spacing issues
- Tooth eruption
- Overbite
- Underbite
- Posterior crossbite
- Anterior open bite
- Deep bite
Benefits of Early Orthodontic Treatment
Early orthodontic evaluations can help your child achieve a healthy smile with long-lasting results! When getting orthodontic treatment as a child, it can help reduce the need for extensive orthodontic treatment as an adult! Early treatment can also help later orthodontic treatment be faster and more efficient.
What to Expect at the First Visit
During the consultation, you will meet with one of our experienced Treatment Coordinators who will help guide you through the process. They will begin by taking orthodontic records, including free x-rays, along with your medical history to help your orthodontist track progress and help create your custom treatment plan.
This first appointment is a great time to ask any questions you have about their treatment or even treatment for yourself! Your Treatment Coordinator will also discuss treatment costs and go over our flexible in-house financing.
Schedule your free consultation at any of our 15 offices across Southeastern Wisconsin to see why children should see an orthodontist by 7 years old!