At Kids Dental Center, our friendly board-certified pediatric dentist Bosede Adeniji, DDS, and kid-centric team often hear questions about orthodontic evaluations and their timing.
We understand the confusion around this subject: After all, most people think of orthodontics mainly in terms of braces for teenagers.
But, orthodontic treatment can include far more than braces, and it may start much earlier than you think. Today on our blog, we look at whether baby teeth put the brakes on seeing an orthodontist.
To understand how baby teeth might affect orthodontic evaluations, first know the basics about this type of appointment.
An early orthodontic evaluation is a visit to an orthodontist to check on dental development, and potentially detect problems in their earliest stages. Some of the issues that your child’s orthodontist can check for include:
Some of these problems may require immediate treatment. For example, if your child’s jaw isn’t large enough or growing fast enough to hold their teeth, they may need treatment now. But if your child has less-than-ideal teeth alignment, their orthodontist might recommend waiting till they’re a bit older to consider treatment.
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends scheduling your child’s first orthodontic evaluation no later than their 7th birthday. At that age, children still have a mix of adult and baby teeth, and that’s not a problem at all.
An experienced orthodontist can essentially visualize and predict what your child’s teeth will look like years into the future, so they can make customized recommendations to help your child avoid serious orthodontics issues later.
Early orthodontic evaluation offers some big benefits, including:
Many children don’t require any orthodontic treatments after their evaluation. However, the evaluation still offers benefits for children and parents. Your child’s orthodontist provides guidelines and valuable information about how to monitor your child’s smile, watch for potential issues, and prevent problems before they start.
Many orthodontic problems are easiest to treat while your child’s jaw is still growing and developing. Shifting teeth and bones is easier when they’re not set permanently in place. If your child needs treatment, starting now could mean a shorter treatment duration and less complex corrections.
Less complicated treatments also mean that you could save a lot of money on your child’s orthodontic care. Medical professionals frequently say that the best treatment is prevention, and this is a prime example. Preventing, or at least correcting a problem early, is far less expensive than trying to undo years of damage later.
Having a nice smile can help your child feel more positive, confident, and self-assured. In addition, taking control of any potential orthodontic issues now can spare your child the vicious bullying that children with severe teeth problems may encounter.
Ready to set up your child’s orthodontic evaluation with Dr. Adeniji? Call our office at 301-345-2881 or book an appointment online now.
