Why Age 7 Is Ideal for Your Child’s First Orthodontist Visit

You may be wondering when the best time is to take your child to the orthodontist for the first time. Age 7 may surprise you, as your child is not done losing baby teeth. However, the dental community as a whole, including the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), recommends the first visit at age 7 to begin early orthodontic treatment.

Insights Into Tooth and Jaw Development

A 7-year-old’s teeth are still a work in progress. When an orthodontic expert evaluates your child’s mix of baby and emerging adult teeth, they can identify insights in their mouth and jaw, including early detection of issues like crowding and crossbites. This can allow for more proactive, less invasive treatment that takes less time to correct issues and prevents possible speech impairments, chewing difficulties, and self-consciousness.

Most Common Proactive Treatments for Children

You may wonder what kind of proactive treatment plans you might expect or encounter on your child’s first orthodontic visit. Ideally, your child won’t need any. However, the most common plans that can mitigate more complex and costly treatments later include:

• Space Maintainers: If your child has lost a baby tooth prematurely (such as to injury), a space maintainer can be inserted to keep the space available for the permanent teeth. Without it, your child could face alignment issues later when their adult tooth is ready to erupt.

• Growth Modification Devices: Helps your orthodontist use naturally occurring growth spurts to correct or improve jaw alignment issues like overbites, underbites, and crossbites. These functional appliances can reduce or eliminate the need for orthognathic surgery later.

• Early Extraction: If your child has an overcrowding issue identified early, an orthodontist can remove certain primary teeth to manage the space better. This space management strategy gives permanent teeth the room they need for proper alignment after eruption and mitigates more complicated procedures later.

Is it Time For Your 7-Year-Old to Visit the Orthodontist?

If your child is ready for their first orthodontist visit, reach out to us at the Advanced Orthodontic Care in Denver, CO, to meet with Dr. Robert Rudman or Dr. Jeff Birg. Their expertise in treating every type of orthodontic issue makes them the perfect team for managing your child’s oral health.

Please call 303-331-0222 or contact us here to schedule your child’s first visit.