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5 Reasons to Take Your Child to the Orthodontist at Age 7

Una niña en el ortodoncista da un pulgar hacia arriba

“When should I take my child to the orthodontist?” is a question we get all the time from parents. The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends that all children see an orthodontist at around age 7 for an evaluation, with or without a referral from their pediatric dentist. This may come as a surprise, as many people believe that orthodontic treatment is just for straightening teeth. 

However, the importance of orthodontics goes beyond a beautiful smile, and in honor of National Children’s Dental Health Month we’re going to share with you why early orthodontic intervention is so important for your child.

Your child has enough adult teeth to make a proper evaluation

A child’s mouth with a mix of baby teeth and adult teeth.
Your child should see the orthodontist when they have a mix of adult and baby teeth

At age 7, most children have what we call “mixed dentition,” which means they have some adult teeth and some baby teeth. If you take a child to the orthodontist before their adult teeth come in, we won’t be able to accurately assess their development. 

To assess jaw and airway development

Orthodontists have extensive training and knowledge in correcting bite issues (overbite, underbite, crossbite, etc) and are an integral part of the multidisciplinary teams that treat some common airway and breathing issues such as sleep apnea. When it comes to teeth and jaws, they are the experts qualified to evaluate your child’s growth and development.

A child with disordered sleep breathing with mouth open
Mouth-breathing in children could be a sign of disordered sleep patterns

Misaligned bites and crooked teeth can cause cavities and tooth decay, speech problems, chewing and digestive issues, poor self-esteem, and disordered sleeping patterns. Orthodontic treatment is about so much more than straight teeth, and early intervention can prevent a whole host of other health problems. 

To prevent future complications

We get a lot of questions from our adult patients, wondering how to fix an overbite, how to fix their crooked teeth, how to fix sleep apnea, etc. The good news is that it’s never too late to get the healthy, brilliant smile of your dreams, but it’s much less costly and complicated to address these issues at a young age.

Palatal expansion is faster and easier

Gloved hand holding a plaster mold of teeth with a palate expander.
Palate expanders are an important tool of early orthodontic intervention

If your child has crowding or an abnormally narrow arch, they may be a good candidate for palatal expansion, which can widen the upper jaw. Expansion occurs when the growth plate in the middle of the palate is stretched, and the two halves are pushed apart. As the two halves are spread, new bone is added. 

Palatal expanders are ideally used when a patient is young, because we can take advantage of their natural growth process and act when the palate is still malleable. If you wait until a child is older, the expansion will take longer and isn’t always as effective.

Palatal expansion may reduce the need for extractions or prevent impacted teeth when problems are identified early. If you wait too long, your child may require surgery for correction in adulthood. If the problems aren’t corrected at all, they could cause abnormal wear on the teeth or bite problems.

To start building trust between your child and the orthodontist

Many pediatric patients don’t need any intervention at age 7, but would benefit from orthodontics in a few years. Another advantage of taking your child to the orthodontist at a young age is that they have time to get used to the process, the orthodontic office, the tools that the orthodontist uses, etc. 

Follow-up appointments over the next few years are a great opportunity for your child to get to know the orthodontist and feel comfortable with them. That way, by the time they need metal braces, invisible braces,  or other treatment, going to the orthodontist is a routine and even fun experience. 

A TAO member orthodontist hugs his young patient.
TAO member orthodontists form strong bonds with patients and their families

In fact, because orthodontists see patients over an extended period of time, they often develop close relationships and become like a part of the family. 

Not all evaluations lead to early orthodontic treatment

Just because you take your child to the orthodontist at age 7 doesn’t mean they’ll automatically end up in braces. After your child’s orthodontic assessment, a few different things could happen:

  1. There may be no need for treatment recognized at that time.  
  2. Your child might need treatment in the future, so you’ll have periodic follow-up appointments to monitor their facial and jaw development.  
  3. A problem that would benefit from early intervention already exists, and your orthodontist will work with you to create a treatment plan for your child.

Unlike many specialists, orthodontists do not require a referral to make an initial appointment. Not only that, but many offer a free initial consultation so you can get your child evaluated at no cost to you. 

This month, search our online directory for a TAO member orthodontist near you and schedule a visit for your child today! 

“Misaligned bites and crooked teeth can cause cavities and tooth decay, speech problems, chewing and digestive issues, poor self-esteem, and disordered sleeping patterns. Orthodontic treatment is about so much more than straight teeth, and early intervention can prevent a whole host of other health problems. ”

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