For Children
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that a child should be seen by an orthodontist by the age of seven to advise if orthodontic treatment is required and to determine the best time for the patient to be treated. The first permanent molars and incisors have usually come in by that time and crossbites, crowding, and other problems can be evaluated. A child may not necessarily need orthodontic treatment at age seven, but if problems are detected early, the orthodontist can carefully monitor the growth of the jaws and guide incoming permanent teeth. Certain problems may not be able to corrected with orthodontics alone if left untreated until late adolescence. Early treatment can regulate the width of the upper and lower dental arches, gain space for permanent teeth, possibly avoid the need for permanent tooth extractions, reduce the likelihood of impacted permanent teeth, correct thumb-sucking, and eliminate abnormal swallowing or speech problems. In other words, early treatment can simplify later treatment.
If a child is evaluated by an orthodontist at an early age but does not need orthodontic treatment at that point, the orthodontist will typically recommend periodic follow-up visits so that the child's tooth eruption and jaw growth can be monitored. For a lot of patients, the best time to start treatment is when they have only a few primary teeth remaining in their mouth. Again, however, every patient is different and may ideally be treated earlier or later. Your orthodontist will be able to let you know the ideal time to start treatment.
