For Children

Orthodontics for Children

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

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

Early treatment enables us to:

• Correct and guide the growth of your son or daughter’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 always easy to know if your little one 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
• A hard time 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 child a healthy, beautiful smile for the future.