Orthodontics For Children
There is no specific age defined to initiate or complete orthodontic treatment, however, the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) suggests that parents take their child to an orthodontist by age seven. This is usually an ideal age because the child has a mix of both baby teeth and adult teeth. As a result, the orthodontist can diagnose problems and begin early treatment without surgery.
Early treatment allows for:
- Permanent teeth to have enough room by developing the jaws
- Adjusting the width of the lower and upper arches
- The elimination of excessive crowding
- Minimizing the need for permanent tooth extractions in the future
- Eliminating thumb sucking and improvement of minor speech problems
- Better self-esteem and confidence. This one is PRICELESS!! Kids are not as nice to each other as they should be. Why thwart their personality due to a smile that’s crooked or crowded?
Since it is often difficult for parents to identify orthodontic problems with their children, here are a few things that will help identify issues requiring an early stage orthodontic consult:
- Early or late loss of baby teeth due to natural reasons or cavities/decay
- Difficulty chewing or biting
- Mouth breathing
- Thumb and finger sucking
- Blocked, crowded and improper teeth
- Jaws making unusual sounds when opening and closing
- Abnormal shape of teeth
- Disproportionate jaws and teeth
- Crowded front teeth at the age seven or eight