If you’re patting yourself on the back as a parent because you’ve remained vigilant on each of the above exams—good for you! Being a great parent is one of the most difficult jobs out there, and it’s easy to overlook things amidst the demands of school, homework, and extracurricular activities, as well as your own personal responsibilities. Because of this, there’s one exam you may be missing—and it’s a big one—your child’s teeth!

Surprised to hear that? Most people are. But learning about your child’s teeth and jaws and whether they’re developing properly can save them from severe issues down the road that can be quite costly to fix if not treated at the appropriate time!

BENEFITS OF EARLY RECOGNITION

When it comes to recognizing problems early, timing is everything—especially if problems will need future treatments. Early orthodontic exams, as the face and jaws are developing, allow orthodontists to advise you on whether treatment is recommended, what form it’ll take, and an estimate of its length.

The American Association of Orthodontists recommend children get their first check-up with an orthodontist at the first sign of a problem—but no later than age 8. An orthodontic check-up at this time is important as children still have a mixture of both baby and permanent teeth. The specific teeth that are present in your child’s mouth and the shape of their jaws and face will give an orthodontist a very good idea of any problems your child’s teeth and jaws may currently be experiencing, or if one is developing. Based on this assessment, the orthodontist may even want to get started with treatment(s) early with appliances like a jaw expander or headgear in order to prevent these problems from getting worse as your child grows. If only minor problems are present, however, the orthodontist may prefer to wait until the child loses all of his or her baby teeth, which typically occurs around your child’s adolescent growth spurt – around age 11-12 for girls and 12-13 for boys, although every child is different!

TYPES OF TREATMENT

Most parents want to know whether their child will need braces, but the most common goal of early treatment is to create proper space for permanent teeth to erupt on time and in the proper position. To do this, the orthodontist may use special appliances like a jaw expander, initiate limited orthodontic treatment (partial braces), or even strategically remove some baby teeth to make space for the permanent teeth. Once adequate space is achieved, the orthodontist will wait for the permanent teeth to come in and then determine if a second round of treatment (aka “Phase II) with full braces is needed based on any other tooth or jaw corrections that are necessary.

BENEFITS OF CORRECTLY ALIGNED TEETH

Most parents hope to raise confident, independent children. So why not get a leg up on this by ensuring your child’s teeth are coming along perfectly? It’s no surprise that perfectly aligned teeth make for a more pleasant smile and overall confidant individual. Aligned teeth also facilitate ease of dental hygiene habits, meaning healthier gums and teeth. Teeth that work together make it possible to bite and chew properly and contribute to clear and better articulated speech. 

TELL-TELL SIGNS OF PROBLEMS

Record any of the signs below to address with your child’s orthodontist:

• Difficulty in chewing or biting
• Breathing through mouth
• Jaws that shift or make sounds
• Speech difficulties
• Biting the cheek or the roof of the mouth
• Facial imbalance
• Grinding or clenching of teeth

THE COST OF DELAYED TREATMENT

Some parents may shy away from having their child see an orthodontist early in age, but we assure you, this could have detrimental effects—most often the problem becoming worse. Some conditions that could come from improperly aligned jaws include tooth decay, gum disease, destruction of the bone that holds teeth in place, tooth loss, chewing/digestive difficulties, or abnormal wearing away of tooth enamel. Furthermore, waiting to undergo treatment will hurt your wallet as orthodontic treatment is less costly than treatment to restore decayed, worn, lost teeth or gum disease.

REFERRALS ARE NOT NEEDED

The good news is you don’t need a referral to have your child seen by an orthodontist. We provide free orthodontic consultations for patient of all ages, so feel free to schedule an appointment with an us for an expert opinion!

CALL FOR AN APPOINTMENT TODAY

Even though the recommended age to begin seeing an orthodontist is by the age of 8, regardless of your child’s age, call the Smile Shoppe for a complimentary consultation today. The sooner we can assess your child’s teeth, the sooner we can get him or her on a path of beautifully aligned teeth.