In general, you should take your child to an orthodontist sooner rather than later. Visiting the orthodontist earlier helps identify potential developing problems the child could face in the future and can be addressed immediately.
Appropriate age for a first-time visit to an orthodontist
Visiting an orthodontist by the age of seven is important for every child. However, if your child missed this early check-up, organize a visit to identify any problems that may require orthodontic treatment.
Any signs parents should watch for in their children
If your child is showing the following signs, then it is time to take them to an orthodontist:
Excessive gaps in between permanent teeth
Overcrowded teeth
Popping jaw when a child is chewing, biting or talking
Regular snores while sleeping
When lower teeth do not come together and lips cannot close easily
When a child breathes through the mouth more than the nose
Use of pacifiers or thumb-sucking by the age of four
Why take your child to the orthodontist at this age?
There could be problems you cannot see on the surface-even if your child's teeth appears to be straight. For example, a baby's tooth may not fall out but the permanent tooth will still grow and could develop behind or in front of the baby tooth at an angle. This can make the growing tooth crooked.
Early visits can also help detect the development and growth of jaws-if there's a problem. For example, a slow-growing jaw with faster-growing teeth could lead to overcrowding of teeth.
Early discovery of these potential problems help your child's orthodontist give early enough recommendations basing on the issues identified. If there are no problems detected, a follow-up visit is important to ensure that the child's jaws and teeth are developing correctly over the years.
Early orthodontist visits help in identifying potential problems and developing actual treatments early enough, as recommended by Dr. Angelina Y. C. Loo. This also helps a child to develop a bond with their orthodontist and can be able to express themselves and their concerns-even before they become teenagers.
Benefits of early developmental orthodontic treatments
Early treatment prevents developing issues as they grow old or prevent them from getting worse.
Other early treatment benefits include:
Addressing the issues of gaps in between the teeth
Prevent teeth from becoming crooked
Monitoring of jaw growth and development
Realigning overcrowded and crooked teeth.
Reducing the possibility of extracting permanent teeth later
Concern over the smile appearance of a child will be addressed.
Addressing these problems helps in eating different types of food, speaking clearly, and improvement of speech.
At what age can a child wear braces?
Most children get braces after all their baby teeth have fallen out. However, depending on the case, some orthodontists can recommend earlier treatments that will help the child once they get braces.
A retainer with small wires can be made for crooked teeth or those with gaps. This retainer helps guide developing teeth to a more suitable position. Then, once the child is ready for braces, it will not need a long time compared to children who did not start treatment earlier enough. This can help eliminate costs, as well.
Clear aligner (Invisalign) is another appliance that younger children can wear. It fits over the teeth, slowly straightening them and guiding them into their desired positions. It is beneficial if a child has concerns with appearance such as being teased about their teeth.
Why wait until a child's teenage years before starting orthodontic treatment?
When you wait until teenage years, your children could already have developed problems such as overcrowding, crooked teeth or gaps in between teeth. Additionally, they could need extensive treatments like teeth extraction before getting braces. Teenagers will wear braces a little longer-around two to three years more-when compared to children who visit the orthodontist when they are below the age of seven.
