January 10, 2021
The older a patient is, the longer their treatment time might be once it’s time to adjust their teeth or jaw.
In that case, doesn’t it make sense to start treatment as early as possible?
In most cases, the answer is yes — the earlier a patient undergoes treatment, the faster and easier it will be to achieve the desired results. The only other question you may find yourself asking then, is how early is too early?
An Overview of Orthodontic Options
If your child has not yet begun to lose any of their baby teeth, it may be too early to bring them in to see the orthodontist. However, once their baby teeth begin to fall out, going in for their first check-up should be fine — even if they haven’t lost all of their teeth yet.
Thus, the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends that children visit the orthodontist for the first time no later than the age of 7 or 8 years old.
“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,” the AAO explains.
What Early Orthodontics Entails
Early orthodontics — sometimes referred to as “phase one” orthodontics — is designed to address and correct early signs of crooked teeth, crossbites, and other jaw or teeth-related complications.
Early orthodontics does not always include the use of braces. However, it can help to decrease the time a child spends in braces should they need phase two orthodontic treatment as they grow older, as well as mitigate the need for tooth extraction or other, more comprehensive treatments.
If early orthodontics is not yet warranted, your pediatric orthodontist may still continue to monitor your child’s oral landscape as they age in order to ensure everything grows in safely and correctly.
Safe Solutions with SouthShore
While it may be easy to brush off the idea of an orthodontic visit when your child is young, it’s better to start early and ensure you don’t unwittingly forego braces altogether. After all, by not undergoing treatment, your child may end up with a different set of orthodontic challenges in adulthood.
That’s why, if you’re ready to explore your pediatric options, we encourage you to contact SouthShore Orthodontics!
Not only do we offer orthodontic treatments for patients of all ages, but we have a proven history of providing exceptional service in a welcoming environment. Find out for yourself just how successful our results can be when you call (813) 815-0080 to schedule an appointment with our team!