Although orthodontic treatment is possible at any age, the American Association of orthodontics recommends children receive an orthodontic evaluation before the age of seven.

By this age, most children have a good mix of baby teeth and adult teeth, making it easier for the orthodontist to correct tooth and jaw problems sooner and without surgery.

Early child orthodontic treatment allows your orthodontist to:

• Correct and guide the growth of your child’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
• Correct thumb-sucking and help improve minor speech impediments

For parents, we know it’s not always easy to determine if your child needs to see an orthodontist.

Here are a few things parents can look for that may indicate a need for orthodontic treatment:

• Early/late loss of baby teeth
• If your child has a hard time chewing or biting food
• Mouth breathing
• Finger- or thumb-sucking
• Crowded, misplaced, or blocked teeth
• Jaws that pop or make sounds
• Teeth that come together abnormally, or do not come together at all
• Jaws and teeth that are not proportionate

If your child is showing any number of these signs, please contact our practice to schedule an orthodontic evaluation and consultation. Remember, early treatment now will give your child a healthy, beautiful smile for the future.

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