Queen City Orthodontics is a magician, but there’s no sleight of hand in the answer to this question.
We agree with the recommendations of the American Association of Orthodontics, the American Dental Association, and the American Association of Pediatric Dentistry that children see an orthodontist by age 7, before they have lost most of their baby teeth.
Few youngsters will actually need braces at this age, but if your child shows certain bite or alignment problems, early intervention may be able to prevent or reduce the need for braces or more invasive procedures in the future.
You may have noticed some of the problems your orthodontist will be looking for:
Crowded, crooked teeth, protruding or buck teeth, teeth that don’t meet.
You can see severely misaligned teeth, but sometimes a malocclusion is so subtle, only an orthodontist can tell. Baby teeth are placeholders for permanent teeth, and correctly aligned baby teeth help guide the adult teeth into their proper positions. According to Dr. Sam Elkenawy, a local orthodontist in Richmond, TX, keeping baby teeth properly aligned is key for ensuring smooth eruption of permanent teeth.
If your child’s bite is out of alignment, or teeth are missing, your orthodontist can sometimes take steps, such as inserting expanders or spacers, to ensure the permanent teeth erupt correctly. Other times, it might be better to postpone treatment until the child is older.
Difficulty in chewing or biting.
These problems are often a result of malocclusion or bad bite from a number of causes, including overbite, under bite and open bite. Starting treatment early may be beneficial.
Sucking thumb, fingers or pacifiers.
These habits, when prolonged, can cause teeth to shift or change the roof of the mouth. The American Dental Association recommends parents begin discouraging these behaviors after age four.
Speech difficulty.
If your child lisps or whistles when he talks, or has difficulty pronouncing some words, the reason could be misaligned or crooked teeth. You should have an orthodontist take a look.
Mouth breathing.
When we breathe through our noses, our tongues rest at the roof of our mouths. Until about age 12, this tongue position helps to correctly shape the palate.
Mouth breathing places the tongue in the wrong position, which may change the growth pattern of the face, mouth, tongue and neck. One result is misaligned teeth. If your child is a mouth breather, she should see an orthodontist as early as possible for corrective and preventive treatment.
Jaw or teeth that are out of proportion.
If you notice your child’s face appears to be unbalanced or asymmetrical, or his jaw appears too far forward or back, it may indicate an issue with the teeth or jaw that an orthodontist can correct. Aligning your child’s jaws can resolve many dental problems.
Most young children will not need braces, but there are some situations that will benefit from early orthodontic care. With early treatment, you may be able to spare your child years with an unattractive mouth or extensive orthodontic work when he’s older.
If your child is older than 7, it’s certainly not too late for a check-up.
Whatever orthodontic intervention your child needs, we guarantee they’ll smile from Dr. Nicole Crasto and Dr. Manilla’s spontaneous magic tricks in the office – and you’ll be giving your child the best opportunity to enjoy a perfect, magical smile.
If you would like us to check your child’s orthodontic health, call our offices. Our consultations, like our magic tricks, are free.
