How to know if you need to see an orthodontist

How to know if you need to see an orthodontist

12/04/2023

Parents frequently ask us, “When should my kids get braces?” because they want their kids to have happy, healthy smiles that they can be confident in.

While each dentist’s response to that question is likely to differ slightly, an initial orthodontic examination should take place no later than age 7. Early orthodontic examinations help your orthodontist to identify issues with jaw and tooth growth and development. Certain orthodontic issues are simpler to fix if discovered earlier in life, even though treatment is most frequently administered between the ages of 9 and 14, when permanent teeth are in.

Early Symptoms of Orthodontic Issues

Your child should have their first orthodontic examination at age 7, when they are most likely still growing and likely to have a mixture of primary and permanent teeth. Your orthodontist can identify any possible orthodontic issues during an early evaluation, such as:

• Early or late baby tooth loss
• worries about biting or chewing
• Mouth respiration
• oral behaviours like thumb sucking
• blocked-out, crowded, or misaligned teeth
• Jaws that protrude excessively far in the front, back, or move awkwardly

When appropriate, early orthodontic treatment for children can prevent the need for emergency treatments. Parents should schedule an orthodontic examination if they notice any of these problems.

Difference between the two phases of treatment

Your Kettering orthodontist will provide you with information on all treatment options that will match your needs and goals if orthodontic treatment is required for your child. When orthodontic treatment is started after the eruption of the permanent teeth at age nine, it can typically be successfully completed in one phase. A two-phase treatment plan could be suggested by your orthodontist if early modifications are required.

If children are found to have serious orthodontic problems while their baby teeth are still in place, a multi-phase treatment method may be suggested. Two-phase therapies often start with a phase-one therapy that lasts one to two years and is intended to repair dental and jaw issues, such as significantly projecting teeth, as soon as possible.

Following this early initial phase of treatment, a retainer must be worn for one to three years while the permanent teeth erupt. In order to build your child’s perfect smile, a second phase of orthodontic treatment often lasts for up to two more years once all permanent teeth have erupted.

At Kettering Dentist & Implant Clinic, our patients come first every time. You can rely on our specialists to provide you frank advice on the best orthodontic procedures for your child at the best possible age. Our expert orthodontic staff is committed to offering the best treatment experiences and remarkable results – designed to match your child’s unique needs – regardless of the type of treatment required.