As a parent, you have undoubtedly wondered, “What’s the Best Age to Visit an Orthodontist?” While the answer may differ depending on your child’s physical growth, the most common age is around seven years old. This age is recommended by the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) for a variety of reasons.
What’s the Best Age to Visit an Orthodontist?
The AAO recommends that young patients be seen by an orthodontist no later than age seven. This is a prime time because your child is at a stage of growth where they have already lost most of their primary (baby) teeth. Although permanent, or adult, teeth are erupting regularly, the jaw is still growing and incoming teeth are visible in x-rays. An examination at this age allows an orthodontist to “see” into your child’s future to accurately predict any potential orthodontic problems.
Even though your child’s initial adult teeth may appear to be straight, an orthodontist can view pending growth that may reposition existing teeth. During this early examination, an orthodontist can check your child’s jawline to make sure that it has proper alignment and sizing. A small or slowly growing jaw can result in crowded and crooked teeth. Many issues can be corrected with early treatment using a palatal expander or other orthodontic appliances.
Advantages of Early Treatment and Monitoring
There are many advantages to early examinations and treatment. Among the common advantages are:
- May prevent serious problems from developing later
- Might make Phase II (adolescent) treatment less complicated
- Younger children are still growing, so it is easier to guide that growth at the younger age
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Many orthodontists will perform an early examination and determine that no immediate need for early treatment exists. If no immediate treatment is necessary, the doctor will monitor your child’s growth with periodic appointments. Monitoring a child’s growth and development during the formative years between age 7 and around 11 or 12 can be crucial.
There are many additional advantages to early orthodontic treatment:
- Gives an orthodontist the ability to guide the growth of teeth and jawbone
- Lowers the potential for trauma in cases of protruding front teeth
- Can improve appearance, raising self-esteem
- Develops good oral hygiene habits and a healthy oral care routine
As you can see, the advantages are many. By waiting to seek an orthodontic consultation, it may be more difficult to correct alignment problems in a teenager. That may result in a longer period of wearing braces or undergoing other orthodontic procedures.
Amboy Orthodontics is Accepting Appointments
Amboy Orthodontics is currently accepting new patients of all ages. Whether you have a six-year-old, a teen, or would like to discuss your own care, Amboy Orthodontics staff and Dr. Seth Margulies are eager to help you find the perfect smile you deserve.
Scheduling your first appointment is as easy as filling out our online appointment request form. Alternately, you can phone our office at (732) 442-7300 and one of our helpful staff members will assist you. We do request that you visit our patient forms page to download and fill out the new patient forms prior to your first visit. This helps us to streamline your check-in process and means less waiting time for you.