Just because your child’s teeth look straight, doesn’t necessarily mean they don’t need to see an orthodontist.
Orthodontia isn’t just about having a perfectly even looking smile; it’s a matter of proper alignment, and an effective bite. There may be problems in the jaw, or in the growth patterns of the teeth that won’t be detected without the consultation of an expert with the proper experience and tools.
Your Childs 1st Orthodontic Exam
The AAO recommend a child’s first visit to the orthodontist at seven years old. There are many children that don’t need any sort of treatment at such a young age, but it’s still a good idea to try and detect any potential problems sooner rather than later.
Early detection can save a lot of time, money, and hassle in the long run. Catching potential issues at a younger age greatly lessens the chances of needing surgery, or severe and prolonged treatment later on down the line.
If it’s determined your child isn’t in need of treatment at this time, they may be placed under “observation”, where they will be seen at intervals, as determined by the orthodontist. This way your child’s teeth and their growth can be anticipated, and solutions and proactive care can be implemented ahead of time.
In the cases where treatment is necessary, the early detection of problems greatly reduces the risk of more drastic treatment, such as surgery, or prolonged and intensive courses of action. Staying current with your child’s orthodontic care is very important, whether they are in need of imminent care or not.
Early Intervention Orthodontic Treatment
Sometimes it is determined that a child’s mouth is too small to accommodate incoming teeth, or there is an imbalance between the upper and lower jaw. These issues and others may cause pain or problems in the jaw later on in the future.
A common early orthodontic treatment is a removable palatal expander that can be used to make more room in your child’s mouth for teeth to grow, for braces later on, or to redirect the jaw into proper alignment. These appliances are not usually painful, though there will be an adjustment period. Sometimes there is a bit of a speech impediment while your child gets used to it, or excess saliva production.
Remember, the sooner your child starts any kind of orthodontics treatment, the sooner they will be finished. And taking them into see an orthodontist at age seven gives us the opportunity to fix small problems long before they become big (and more expensive!) problems.
Expert Orthodontics for Your Child
My patients are very important to me, like a second family. We pride ourselves on our community focus approach to running our business. My father opened this practice many years ago, and many of the children he treated bring their children in to see us now! It’s delightful and heartwarming to see the kids of parents entrusting their care to us, because they have positive memories of coming here themselves.
I know that the prospect of orthodontics can be daunting and overwhelming for kids and their parents. It is standard procedure here to make sure that everyone feels comfortable, informed, and cared for throughout the entire course of their treatment.
If you think it’s time for your child’s first trip to the orthodontist, call us today! We see patients from all over the East Bay, including Pleasant Hill, Walnut Creek, Orinda, Lafayette, Martinez and Concord.