Oh No! I didn’t know to have my child evaluated by age 7! Is it too late?
Most kids get braces right before they become a teenager, so why should they go see the orthodontist even earlier than then for an evaluation? The American Association of Orthodontists recommends to start seeing the Orthodontist at 7 years old. Some orthodontic problems can be addressed at this age in a non-invasive manner while the jaws and teeth are still developing.The key is growth. For certain issues, early orthodontic treatment can prevent future stress and damage to the teeth by harnessing this growth. This early treatment is called Phase I, which is often followed by a second stage of treatment called Phase II where the position of the adult teeth are finalized with braces.
A lot of parents, referred by their general dentist or pediatrician for a complimentary consultation, are concerned that “seven is too young to be thinking about braces?”. By the age of seven, most children have begun to lose their primary teeth, and their adult teeth are making their way in. At this point, most orthodontic problems can be identified; sometimes it is what you CAN’T see that can be the problem…
By doing a complimentary consultation, Dr. Noorani can really see everything, allowing him to evaluate how the bones and teeth are forming and developing. More often than not, these issues can be monitored until the child is older, while some require interceptive treatment.
Here are some examples of early orthodontic problems:
If your child is 7 years or older and you are concerned about any these orthodontic problems, Noorani Orthodontics can help!
