Inquiring moms want to know…When should I take my kids to the orthodontist?
Early intervention can help make things easier later.
At Gardner Orthodontics we would love to see kids by their 7th birthday. In fact, the American Association of Orthodontics recommends that all children receive an orthodontic screening by age 7.
“Why so young?”, you may ask. Well, the fact is that permanent teeth generally begin to come in at age 6 or 7, and it is at this point that orthodontic problems become apparent. Although we rarely take begin treatment at age 7, we still recommend a visit to the orthodontist at this time.
When needed, early intervention allows us to take advantage of the fact that a child’s jaw is still growing. In some cases we take no action, and rather just wait and keep a close eye on the patient. In other instances, we use a “palatal expander”. This device is used to widen the upper jaw, so that the upper teeth line up properly with the lower teeth.
A big advantage of early treatment is that it makes the second round of treatment quicker and easier!
If your child is over the age of 7, and has never visited an orthodontist, we recommend that you schedule an appointment today! In addition, if your child has a crossbite, overbite, underbite, protruding teeth, or thumb sucking habits, it is also a good idea to pay a visit to the orthodontist!
At Gardner we take the time to understand each patient’s needs and create extremely patient specific treatment plans. We look forward to helping you!
