Many parents associate orthodontists with the preteen years, but proactive care starts much earlier. In fact, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that all children have their first orthodontist appointment at the age of 7.
At this appointment, an orthodontist will assess your child’s teeth and jaw to see if they may need early orthodontic intervention. Below, we’ll explain what conditions would need early treatment, and which ones can be addressed at a later age.
What Is Early Orthodontic Treatment?
Early orthodontic interventions are designed to treat orthodontic issues early, while the jaw is still developing and adult teeth are still coming in. By addressing these dental issues while your child is still young (between 7 and 11), they may avoid more serious surgeries or extractions when they’re older.
Common Reasons a Child May Need Early Orthodontic Care
During your child’s first orthodontist appointment, the doctor will evaluate the adult teeth that have come in. They’ll look at your child’s bite pattern, the angle the teeth are coming in, and how the jaw is developing.
In many cases, your child may not need any early treatment. However, in the case of more severe issues like those below, early intervention is often recommended.
Bite Problems
By age 7, an orthodontist will be able to identify if your child’s upper and lower jaws are developing at the same rate. If the lower jaw is larger, an underbite may be forming. If the upper jaw is larger, the child could be heading toward an overbite.
Before age 10, your child’s jaw bones are still growing and therefore easier to redirect. Your orthodontist may recommend treatment like an orthodontic expander to gradually shift your child’s jaw into the right placement.
Teeth Crowding
Even though your 7-year-old still has adult teeth coming in, the doctor will be able to see how much room your child’s mouth has for their incoming teeth. If their mouth is too small, their adult teeth will be crowded and possibly overlapping.
Identifying this issue early can lead to proactive measures, like a palate expander, to widen the mouth to allow more room for the teeth to come in.
Early Tooth Loss
If your child loses one or more baby teeth prematurely, it may be some time before that adult tooth is ready to come in. In the meantime, the surrounding teeth may shift toward each other, leaving no room for that adult tooth.
In these cases, a space maintainer (or multiple) can be installed to preserve room for those adult teeth.
Address Damaging Habits
Certain patterns your child develops, consciously or subconsciously, can have a lasting impact on their teeth. Thumb sucking, especially after the age of 5, can put extra pressure on the roof of the mouth behind their front teeth. This can lead to a crossbite, when one or more top teeth sit inside the bottom teeth.
Crossbites can also be caused by excessive mouth breathing. Kids may mouth breathe because of consistent nasal congestion, enlarged tonsils, or allergies. While it may seem harmless, mouth breathing can actually affect how their face and teeth form.
If an orthodontist finds these issues while your child is young, they can work with you to find solutions to these behaviors before their teeth experience long-term damage.
Orthodontic Conditions That Can Be Treated Later
Not all orthodontic conditions require interceptive orthodontics. Many children don’t need orthodontic treatment until their adult teeth have all come in, around 12 to 14 years old. These preteens and teens are likely dealing with:
- Mild to moderate teeth crowding
- Small gaps between teeth
- Mild overbite or underbite
Depending on your child’s situation, braces may be the best option to address these less extreme conditions. Some kids may qualify for Invisalign or clear aligners instead.
Choose Greeley Family Orthodontics for Your Child
At Greeley Family Orthodontics, we want to give your child the easiest orthodontic experience possible. When we’re able to catch any dental issues early on, we can save them from the stress of going through intensive treatments in their teen years—and give them the confidence of straight, healthy teeth sooner.
To schedule an early orthodontic appointment for your little one, contact us today.