First Orthodontic Check

At seven years old, children still have many baby teeth and developing mouths. Early orthodontic evaluations help catch issues before they worsen. This is an ideal age for braces since jaw growth isn't complete, allowing for dramatic results. Children can start wearing braces at 6 or 7, but early braces differ from comprehensive treatment.

Phase one orthodontics, for ages 7 to 10, focuses on specific problems like crowding, using devices such as palatal expanders. Treatment lasts about 12 months.

Most early treatments address growth problems where the upper and lower jaws grow at different rates or directions. These issues prompt early orthodontic interventions starting at age 7.

Here are just a few of the key benefits of early orthodontic visits:

• Guiding Jaw and Tooth Development: Early intervention can help guide the growth of your child’s jaw and teeth, potentially preventing more serious problems later.

• A Confident Smile: Addressing concerns about appearance early can boost your child’s confidence, especially if they are self-conscious about their smile.

• Prevention of Serious Conditions: Early treatment can prevent the development of more complex dental issues that could require extensive treatment in the future.

• Shorter, Less Complex Future Treatment: Addressing issues early can lead to shorter, more straightforward treatments later on.

• Correcting Harmful Habits: Treatment can help break damaging habits, like thumb sucking, that may affect oral development.

• Building Trusting Relationships: Early visits allow your child to get comfortable with the orthodontic team, making future visits more enjoyable and less stressful.

  
  

While some children may not exhibit obvious signs of needing orthodontic care, certain behaviors can indicate it’s time for an evaluation. If your child has a pediatric dentist, they may provide a referral or recommend seeing an orthodontist based on specific concerns.

Watch for these signs that might indicate the need for an orthodontic exam:

• Difficulty chewing or biting

• Losing baby teeth earlier or later than expected

• Thumb sucking

• Trouble speaking clearly

• Crooked, crowded, or gapped teeth

• Facial asymmetry

• Grinding or clenching teeth

• Biting the inside of the cheeks

• Misaligned jaw

At Gnathion Dental Clinic, our goal is to make your child’s first visit as comfortable as possible. During the exam, we’ll use digital scans and x-rays to get a complete picture of your child’s smile and jaw development. Dr. Loukia Stylianou will assess several factors, such as tooth eruption, spacing, and bite alignment, including overbites, underbites, or crossbites. It’s a non-invasive process designed to put your child at ease while providing us with valuable information about their oral health. Not every child will need orthodontic treatment right away. In some cases, the issues we see may resolve on their own as your child continues to grow. If we find that treatment is unnecessary at the time of the exam, we’ll simply recommend a follow-up visit in one to two years to continue monitoring your child’s development.