The American Association of orthodontists recommends that children visit an orthodontist around age seven. This visit will allow us to determine if orthodontic care will be necessary to ensure proper development. By this visit, most children will have a mix of primary and permanent teeth, and Dr. Nima Rohani should be able to diagnose and begin to correct most tooth and jaw problems. In many cases, it is important that we start this treatment early in order to give us the best chance of avoiding complicated surgery and your child’s development can benefit for years to come.
Early orthodontic treatment may consist of palatal expanders, early braces, space maintainers and growth monitoring. It can be beneficial to:
-
Correct habits such as thumb sucking.
-
Improve some minor speech problems.
-
Create more space for crowded teeth
-
Regulate the width of the upper and lower arches.
-
Guide the growth and development of the jaw to help permanent teeth to come in straight
-
Help avoid the need for tooth extractions.
Signs that your child need to see an orthodontist:
-
Crowded, broken, or misplaced teeth
-
Thumb sucking
-
Mouth breathing
-
Popping or other sounds when opening or closing their jaw.
-
Early or late loss of primary (baby) teeth
-
Teeth that do not come together, or do not come together normally.
-
Difficulties chewing or biting food.
SCHEDULE YOUR FREE CONSULTATION
If you’re wondering if orthodontic treatment is the best option for your child, your first step is to start with a free in-person consultation exam.
