If you
haven't done it yet, and your child is at least 7, take them to the
orthodontist. Do it today. You don't need to wait until the dentist says
it's time. Go now and rule out any
unforeseen issues. Chances are good that your
child won't be ready for braces until age 12, but going to the orthodontist
early, just might make a big difference in their dental future.
Recently we
had a patient come in for a complimentary new patient exam. Her family had no
issues with esthetics and her dentist
didn't have any concerns. Her parents
were aware of some crowding and a slight overbite but they made the appointment because they had
read somewhere that the American Association of Orthodontists recommends a
child's first exam at age 7. Thank goodness they came.
Upon taking
a set of photos and xrays, we identified a large growth between the roots
of her upper front teeth. It was an
amorphous extra tooth, which if given enough time could have continued to grow
and damage her front teeth potentially ruining her smile. This would have never been caught had the
family not come in early.
Over 80% of
kids visiting the orthodontist at age 7 do not need any early orthodontic
treatment. Those kids go into a complimentary observation program called our
"Kids Cub Club" where they return annually for quick checks to make
sure the teeth are erupting properly and jaws are growing appropriately.
The other
20% of kids who could benefit from early intervention, usually require limited
treatment (at a fraction of the cost) with long term benefits that lessen the
complexity and cost of treatment later. Often through the use of expanders,
retainers or temporary front braces, problems can be corrected early (usually
in 6-12 months).
Take your
kid to the orthodontist. It might make a big difference in their dental future
and you have nothing to lose.
