Wondering when your child should visit the orthodontist?

Learn how your orthodontist can transform your child’s smile!

To continue with our discussion of dental concerns specific to young children, I’d like to talk about that first visit to the orthodontist. No one loves to visit the dentist, and to a child, “orthodontist” might sound like a much scarier, more sci-fi version of “dentist.” Eventually, however, your child will realize that orthodontist is a much better word than “overbite” or “headgear.”

The American Dental Association recommends that children have their first orthodontic evaluation no later than age 7. Children begin to develop their adult teeth between the ages of 6 and 12; in these developmental years their smiles are made of up a combination of baby teeth and permanent teeth. During this time many disorders may become apparent.

• overbites
• underbites
• crooked teeth
• crowded teeth
• improperly aligned jaws

By scheduling that first appointment by age 7, you can be sure that the orthodontist will begin evaluation and treatment as soon as any problems emerge.

Early treatment acts as both treatment and prevention: left unnoticed or untreated, crowded teeth and overbites can develop into more serious problems. By scheduling your child’s first orthodontic appointment when he or she reaches age 7, you are preventing more expensive and complicated procedures down the road, and ensuring that your child grows up with a beautiful and healthy smile.

If you’d like to talk more about what your child’s first visit will be like, or schedule an appointment, click here.

Next week we’ll turn to a slightly different topic: we’ll discuss what you can do to prevent bad breath!