For Children

Orthodontics for Children

Although there is no exact age for children to begin orthodontic treatment, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends a visit to an orthodontist around age seven.

By this time, most children have a mix of baby teeth and adult teeth, which makes it easier for us to diagnose and correct tooth and jaw problems sooner and without surgery.

Early treatment enables our team to:

• Correct and guide the growth of your little one’s jaw to help the permanent teeth come in straight
• Regulate the width of the upper and lower arches
• Create more space for crowded teeth
• Avoid the need for permanent tooth extractions later in life
• Correct thumb sucking and help improve minor speech problems

For parents, it’s not necessarily easy to know whether your youngster may need orthodontic treatment.

Here are a few things to look for that may mean your child needs to see an orthodontist

• Early or late loss of baby teeth
• Difficulty chewing or biting food
• Mouth breathing
• Finger or thumb sucking
• Crowded, misplaced, or blocked teeth
• Jaws that pop or make sounds when opening and closing
• Teeth that come together abnormally, or do not come together at all
• Jaws and teeth that are not proportionate to the rest of the face
• Crowded front teeth around age seven or eight

Please contact our practice to schedule an appointment for an orthodontic evaluation. Early treatment now will give your son or daughter a healthy, beautiful smile for the future.