The American Association of Orthodontists recommends visiting the orthodontist starting at the age of 7. Because Dr. Koch is conservative with early treatment, orthodontic treatment will generally begin after your child is 12-13 years old, but we’d love to see your child earlier to monitor his/her growth and development. At this age, we can often prevent big orthodontic problems by doing something as simple as removing a baby tooth at the right time.
Kids, of 7 years and up can join our Super Smiler Club where we’ll monitor their growth and help inspire them to take good care of their mouths and overall health. There is no charge for Super Smiler appointments, so make sure you bring your kids in regularly so Dr. Koch can monitor your kids for years before they’re ready for treatment.
Symptoms of Orthodontic Problems in Kids
As a parent, you might not realize when your child has a problem and requires orthodontic treatment. Keep an eye out for these warning signs and make sure to schedule a checkup while your child’s jaw is still growing.
- Crooked or overlapping teeth
- Large gaps between teeth
- Missing or crowded teeth
- Noticeable overbite or underbite
- Mouth breathing, thumb sucking or tongue thrusting
- Delayed or early loss of baby teeth
- Gap between top and bottom teeth while biting
- Jaws and teeth that seem out of proportion
- Difficulty chewing, biting and speaking
How Does Orthodontic Treatment for Children Help?
Early treatment, if necessary, can help make any future orthodontic treatment a walk in the park compared to waiting too long. Dr. Koch has years of training and experience to help diagnose minor issues before they become a major pain, so set up an appointment with him today!
Early orthodontic treatment can help your child by:
Boosting self-esteem and confidence during childhood
Correcting and guiding jaw development
Helping permanent teeth come in and not get stuck
Regulating upper and lower arch width
Creating more space for crowded and new teeth
Reducing the risk of tooth decay and extractions later
Correcting tongue thrusting and thumb sucking habits
Preventing trauma or damage to protruding front teeth
Improving speech problems caused by alignment or bite issues
FAQs
While a child’s first orthodontist visit should be at 7 years, there is no age limit.
The benefits of early orthodontic treatment are to correct the growth of the jaw and certain bite problems, such as an underbite. It also helps to make room for permanent teeth to come in properly that reduce the chances of extractions in future.
An initial orthodontic check would ensure the permanent teeth erupt as they should and crooked teeth can be realigned.
