Why Kids Should be Evaluated by an Orthodontist at 7 Years Old

When it comes to orthodontic evaluation and treatment for children, earlier is often better. In most children, an abnormal bite is identifiable by an orthodontist between the ages of 6 and 8 years old. Early treatment of certain oral conditions must begin at a young age in order to achieve the desired level of results, which may not be able to be realized if treatment is not begun until the child is older. By beginning orthodontic treatment while a child is still growing, your child can develop an attractive smile and optimal oral health.


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Reasons for Early Evaluation By an Orthodontist

The American Association of Orthodontists and the American Dental Association recommend that all children be evaluated by an orthodontist by the age of 7 years old. At this age, most children have several adult teeth yet still have some primary or baby teeth at the same time. In some cases, children may develop speech impediments, painful or difficult chewing or problems with breathing that could benefit from an early orthodontic evaluation. If an orthodontist determines that early treatment would benefit your child, this means that there are a greater variety of options for your child to achieve a perfect smile and avoid problems that result from malocclusion and other oral and jaw development problems. Because of new developments in orthodontic technology, an early orthodontic evaluation can be the key to successful treatment.

Benefits of Orthodontist Evaluation at 7 Years Old

When a child has an initial orthodontist evaluation at the age of 7, this allows the orthodontist to take measurements and track the child's jaw and mouth growth. By comparing growth rates over a specified time period, the orthodontist can determine whether your child would benefit from early orthodontic treatment or whether it would be better to hold off until your child has grown more. While not all children are candidates for early treatment, an early evaluation is the best way to plan future successful treatments. If your child would benefit from early treatment, the initial evaluation at the age of 7 could prevent problems with the eruption of future adult teeth, problems with the arch of the palate or the size and angle of the jaw. Early orthodontic evaluation at the age of 7 could even reduce the extent and duration of the orthodontic treatments that are needed to give your child a functional, attractive and healthy smile.

About this Article: This article has been provided by East Coast Orthodontics, an orthodontic practice that was established in Dublin, Ireland in 1997. They offer a range of various treatments including traditional braces and teeth straightening services. For more information click here to visit the website.

Comments

  1. Its good to have kids visit the orthodontist since any defects would be easier to cure at a your age.

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  2. I wasn't evaluated by an orthodontist until I was 18 :).  My teeth still got fixed though :).  My daughter is 6, and her teeth are quite crooked.  Maybe I should have an orthodontist look at her teeth now.

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  3. RJ's upper teeth are quite crooked and she's super conscious with it. We want her to be evaluated by an orthodontist but not until she's 12. I didn't know that 7 years old is the ideal age. Thanks for this post.

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  4. Had my very first orthodontist evaluation when I was 8 years old. Now I am grateful for my parents for such a great move. Now I rarely have problems about my mouth, jaw and teeth :)

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  5. Thank you for this post, sis. I never knew about this. My son is turning 7 this December and I will bring him to an Orthodontist to check on him. His baby teeth are falling one by one and I want to make sure that he'll have a normal teeth when he grows up.

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  6. My kids are scheduled to visit their dentist soon, whom they love so much, I will ask her for recommendation regarding this, truly is helpful and will benefit them greatly for sure! I didn't know about the age part :D

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