What Age Should a Child See an Orthodontist? check up by age 7
Most parents wonder at what age should a child see an orthodontist. The answer may surprise you. The recommended age to see an orthodontist for the first time is between six and seven, or by a child’s seventh birthday. There is sound reasoning behind this recommendation.
What Age Should a Child See an Orthodontist?
The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) states that the best time for a child to see an orthodontist is before their seventh birthday. This is the age when most of a child’s primary (baby) teeth have fallen out. Their adult teeth have either erupted or are ready to erupt.
It is also an age when children are experiencing a majority of their growth. Using X-rays, an orthodontist can spot potential orthodontic problems. Using the natural growth patterns, they can pursue corrective action in a non-invasive and less traumatic way.
What an Initial Orthodontist Check-up Involves
If recent X-rays are available from your child’s regular dentist, you should bring those to the orthodontist check-up. The doctor will use these images to help predict your child’s jaw growth and to spot potential issues such as crowding.
In some cases, the doctor may also take digital images of the inside of your child’s mouth using an intraoral scanner. These images allow the doctor to create a 3-dimensional map within a computer program. The program includes the ability to show progressive growth to see how a smile will develop over time.
The doctor will also perform an oral examination to check the overall condition of the teeth. Even when teeth appear straight, there may be subtle problems that the doctor will see. At Smile Style NY, Dr. Sharon Eder uses the initial appointment to answer five basic questions:
- Does an orthodontic problem exist? If a problem does exist, she will explain it thoroughly.
- What needs to be done to correct the problem? Sometimes this means waiting and watching. Other times it may mean early intervention or Phase 1 Treatment.
- Will any extractions or other surgical procedures be necessary?
- If treatment is necessary, how long will it take?
- How much will treatment cost?
What is Orthodontic Monitoring?
When Phase 1 Treatment is not necessary, the doctor may still wish to see your child for regular check-ups. Monitoring usually involves seeing the doctor once or twice a year for a check-up. This allows your child to get accustomed to the office and staff and helps them relax if and when treatment is necessary.
Another benefit is that the doctor may notice something that can be corrected early to make later treatment easier. The orthodontist may notice a subtle problem with jaw growth while baby teeth are still present. The early warning allows for prompt treatment if necessary.
Phase 1 Treatment
When necessary, Phase 1 Treatment allows for early correction of problems using the child’s natural growth. This decreases trauma and often makes Phase 2 Treatment both easier and quicker. Although early treatment may involve braces, this isn’t always the case.
Some of the benefits that can be achieved with early treatment are:
- Guide jaw growth
- Correct poor oral habits
- Correct protruding front teeth to lessen the risk of trauma
- Guide permanent teeth into correct positions
- Correct tooth grinding (Bruxism)
- Improve your child’s appearance
- Increase your child’s confidence and self-esteem
- Correct misalignments along the jaws
- Correct open bite issues
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Early treatment can prevent the development of more serious problems. By using your child’s natural growth period, better results can be achieved with non-invasive methods. Once a child stops growing, some problems may require surgical intervention.
What is a Palatal Expander?
One of the orthodontic appliances your doctor may use is a palatal expander. This tool is very useful when a child has a small maxillary arch (palate). The device attaches to bands on molars and can be adjusted to encourage the palate to grow wider using the child’s natural growth period.
By guiding the expansion of the palate, the doctor can ensure that there is adequate room for adult teeth to descend normally. Although most often used with younger children during Phase 1 Treatment, this device can also be useful with teens and adults.
The most common usage is to widen the jaw, but palatal expanders, or orthodontic expanders, can also be useful in correcting crossbite. With a crossbite, the upper teeth fall inside the lower teeth. This condition can result in uneven tooth wear, pain, tooth decay, and even sleep apnea.
Types of Palatal Expanders
Palatal expanders have been in use for many decades. Although there are several different types, the basic construction of these custom devices is similar. Each device has two sides, attached to molars on each side of the jaw. The halves are connected by a screw located very high in the arch of the mouth.
Adjustments are accomplished by turning the screw with a special key on a prescribed schedule. The device applies gentle pressure to the jaw. This pressure prompts the jaw to widen using natural growth patterns. Each device is custom-made from either an impression of your child’s jaw or using digital 3D imagery.
There are four types of expanders currently in use:
- Removable palate expander
- Hyrax rapid palatal expander
- Quad helix appliance
- Haas expander
Most children don’t require early intervention, but when they do, it can be less traumatic. In many instances, it can also reduce the amount of time your child wears braces in their teen years.
Schedule Your Child’s Initial Consultation
You can give your child a head start by scheduling a Virtual Consultation. If you are ready to schedule an in-person appointment, you may call Smile Style NY and speak directly to one of our Appointment Coordinators.
We have offices in Yorktown Heights (914-690-7536) and Mount Kisco (914-344-6541).
As a family orthodontic practice, Dr. Eder offers treatment plans for every age from young to seniors. It is never too late to discover your dream smile! Whether you need traditional braces, Invisalign®, or a different orthodontic solution, Smile Style NY is ready to help.
