For Children

Orthodontics for Children

While there is no specific age for children to begin orthodontic treatment, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends a visit to the orthodontist around age seven. By this age, most children have a mix of baby and adult teeth, which allows the orthodontist to assess their oral growth effectively. Early evaluation can lead to easier correction of tooth position and jaw relation issues, often preventing the need for surgery later on.

Early treatment allows your orthodontist to:

Correct and guide the growth of your child's jaw to help ensure that their permanent adult teeth come in straight.
Regulate the width of the upper and lower arches
Create more space for crowded teeth
Avoid the need for permanent tooth extractions or jaw surgery later in life
Correct thumb sucking and help improve minor speech problems

For parents, it's not always easy to know if your child may need orthodontic treatment.

Here are a few things to look for that may mean your child needs to see an orthodontist:

Early or late loss of baby teeth
A hard time chewing or biting food
Mouth breathing
Finger or thumb sucking
Crowded, misplaced, or blocked teeth
Jaws that pop or make sounds when opening and closing
Teeth that come together abnormally, or do not come together at all
Jaws and teeth that are not proportionate to the rest of the face
Crowded front teeth around age seven or eight

Contact our practice to schedule a FREE orthodontic evaluation for your child. Early treatment can pave the way for a healthy, beautiful smile that lasts a lifetime. Don’t wait—let’s get started on your child’s journey to a confident smile!