How Young is Appropriate to Begin Orthodontic Treatment?

Many parents notice crooked teeth or strange alignments like overbites in their children at a young age. They may wonder when is an appropriate time to first visit Brooklyn Orthodontics for a consultation. While every patient is different, take into consideration these recommendations when making an appointment with Dr. AlJanabi.

Listen to the Professionals The  American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children visit the orthodontist for the first time at age 7. While seven-year-old still have many of their baby teeth, this is the perfect age to start evaluating the mouth for bite misalignments and other orthodontic problems. While the seven-year-old may be too young for braces, spacers and retainers may be used to help create room in the mouth for emerging adult teeth.

Keep Tabs on the Tooth Fairy’s Inventory While each child loses their baby teeth at an individual pace, these teeth fall out in a specific order. It is normal for children to lose the first eight primary teeth between age six and age eight. The permanent teeth quickly erupt following the tooth loss. Permanent molars also erupt in this age range. If a child is ahead or behind schedule, intervention might be necessary. Removal of primary teeth can help create space for permanent teeth to grow into position correctly.

Smile! By age seven, when your child smiles it will be clear if there are issues related to overcrowding or spacing. Does your child’s smile look relatively straight, or are the teeth out of alignment. If the teeth are out of alignment, the wear created by the bad bite can cause early damage to your child’s permanent teeth.

By age seven it is possible to see front teeth that stick out too far as the result of an overbite. While the bite cannot be fully corrected until the growth has completely finished, it is possible to make small alterations to a displeasing or dangerous overbite.

While a pronounced underbite cannot be fully remediated until the teenage years, normalizing the condition in youth helps to reduce physical problems caused by the bad bite. A significant underbite can damage the front teeth if left unmonitored. Treatment for this can begin as early as age seven.

Crossbites are a common cause of early crowding early expansion of the jaw can help create space for teeth to emerge properly and help avoid problems with misalignment that cause the jaw to drop out of alignment.

The ideal age for Dr. AlJanabi to see patients for the first time is around age seven. Seven is the ideal age to identify problems and set a productive course of treatment. However, not all mouths are created equally. Younger children with severe misalignments and bite problems mite require attention earlier to help reduce dangerous side effects. Other children with limited orthodontic needs might be able to hold of visits to our Brooklyn office until their permanent teeth are fully in.

If your child is ready for their first orthodontic appointment, feel free to call our office at (718) 333-5898 to set up you complimentary consultation today!