When should your child come to the Orthodontist for the first time and why do they need to continue to be monitored?

Treatment Coordinator- Amy

One big myth I constantly hear is that kids do not need to see the orthodontist until all their baby teeth are gone, around age 12. 

Well, we are here to tell you that Dr. Barnett wants to see kids around age 7, no matter what! There is no cost to have an orthodontic consultation at our office and if no treatment is needed at age 7 (most likely the situation), your child will return annually for a complimentary check-up until they are ready for braces. 

When people don’t come in, or even come in at age 7 but do not return until all baby teeth are gone, sometimes the opportunity to correct certain problems is far too late.

Check out this example we saw last month, we had a child come in at age 11 and he was told that he didn’t need treatment immediately, but Dr. Barnett wanted to continue to monitor him every 6 months, he would likely start braces in at some point but it was too early at the time and observation checkups were recommended.

Fast-forward 8 years (we haven’t seen him since he was 11), and he shows up at 19 wanting to fix his smile. Dr. Barnett told him he could be treated but now needs surgery to bring in his impacted canine and remove a baby tooth. If they had continued to see us regularly, that situation could’ve been avoided.

2016- crowded but Dr. Barnett will continue to monitor every 6 months and consider intervention in the future

2024- Now the canine is stuck/impacted. Surgery is needed to remove the baby tooth and bring the tooth into the smile

At age 7, kids have a mixture of baby and adult teeth. Having an exam then, allows Dr. Barnett to identify potential problems with alignment, spacing, and the bite.

One of the advantages of visiting an orthodontist around age 7 is their ability to monitor and guide the development of the jaw and teeth. Orthodontic appliances, like expanders, can widen the jaw to create more space for teeth, which can help prevent overcrowding and other issues. 

Addressing these problems early can save money in the long run. Early intervention typically requires less extensive treatment compared to waiting until all the permanent teeth have come in. This can lead to shorter treatment times, fewer visits, and lower overall costs. Since certain orthodontic issues are easier to correct when detected early, problems like crossbites and open bites can often be fixed more efficiently before the jaw is fully developed. Waiting too long may require more complex treatments, including surgery.

So, scheduling a consultation with Dr. Barnett around age 7 will pave the way for early intervention if needed. The earlier you act, the better the outcome will be. Remember, our consultations are always complimentary, and you are never charged until your child begins treatment with us. Consider making the drive to Barberton, OH soon.  Whether you are in Akron, Copley, Wadsworth, Medina, Canal Fulton, Manchester, or Green, we look forward to meeting you and your family soon!

Give us a call: 330-745-4497

What's an impacted tooth? Akron's own, Dr. Barnett Answers the Question.

In my interaction with new patients, I often (almost weekly) have to explain to a family why one of their teeth will NEVER come in without orthodontic help. This "stuck" tooth, called an impacted tooth, cannot erupt into the mouth because there is not enough room or something blocks the natural tooth eruption.

Wisdom teeth are the most commonly impacted teeth and the usual approach is to remove (extract) them! When it comes to dealing with other impactions though, pulling the tooth is always a LAST resort. Upper canine teeth (eye teeth) are the second most commonly impacted teeth and the most common impacted-tooth-problem an orthodontist has to face. To correct the impaction, it requires a gum tissue surgery and a coordinated approach between an orthodontist and other specialists.  The x-ray above and photos below show the hidded nature of an impacted tooth and the progession from the initial surgery to the tooth almost aligned in the arch.  As you can see on the x-ray, the upper right side reveals a tooth on an angle crossing behind one of the front teeth.  When looking at the photo below, you cannot see the tooth as it is covered with bone and gum tissue--unitl, it's uncovered as shown in the photos at the bottom. 

The surgical procedure, called an uncovering, is done during the orthodontic treatment to remove the gum tissue and bone blocking the impacted tooth. Then, the orthodontist can place a bracket on the impacted tooth and slowly move it to the correct position. The total time in braces is usually no longer than an average orthodontic case.