FIRST VISIT TO THE ORTHODONTIST
Its recommended that
children have their first check-up with an orthodontist no later than age 7. By
that age, a child will have a mix of baby and permanent teeth, and the
orthodontist will be able to recognize orthodontic problems (“malocclusions”)
even in their earliest stages.
If your child is younger than 7 and you notice something that
appears “off,” it’s not necessary to wait until your child turns 7 to get a
first check-up. If your child is 8 or older, it is not too late for a check-up
with an orthodontist either.
What will I learn from the first visit?
Five essential questions are generally covered during the first exam:
- Is there an orthodontic problem, and if so, what is it?
- What are the options to correct the problem?
- Is there a possibility teeth will need to be removed?
- About how long is the recommended treatment expected to take?
- How much will the recommended treatment cost?
What happens if an orthodontic problem is found during this visit?
The
orthodontist will talk to you about when it will be most advantageous for your
child to begin treatment, and the type of treatment that is recommended. For
some children, early intervention (while some baby teeth are present) may be in
their best interests. Different people have different kinds of problems, so
other children may get the greatest benefit from treatment by waiting until
most or all of the permanent teeth are in. Everything depends upon the
individual and what is best for them.
If the orthodontist recommends a “wait and see” approach, your child’s growth
and development will be assessed periodically, and treatment can be timed to
take advantage of predictable stages of growth. For some patients, the
orthodontist will be able to achieve treatment results that may not be possible
once the face and jaws have finished growing.
