It's never too early to make your child's smile a priority. In fact, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends children receive their first orthodontic screening by age seven.

In many cases, we'll monitor the growth and development of your little one's teeth and jaws. Think of it as a chance for your child to get comfortable with their orthodontist while they're in this observational stage.

What Is Early Treatment?

Early treatment may prevent or intercept more serious problems from developing and may make treatment at a later age shorter and less complicated.

In some cases, Dr. Smith can achieve results that may not be possible once your child's face and jaws have finished growing.

Since a young child's permanent teeth aren't finished erupting, early treatment is about finding and evaluating issues to prevent them from becoming full-fledged problems and causing any further harm.

Proactively correcting them before they're serious, and while the teeth and jaws are still growing, will mean easier, more affordable treatment down the line.

Choosing the Best Time for Treatment

While the age that kids get braces may vary, orthodontic treatment most often begins between ages 9 and 14. Some orthodontic problems are easier to correct if they're treated early.

If Dr. Smith thinks your child will need treatment, he'll let you know when it will be best to begin treatment. This gives your orthodontist the best chance to:

• Guide jaw growth
• Lower the risk of trauma to protruded front teeth
• Correct harmful oral habits
• Improve appearance and self-esteem in your child
• Guide permanent teeth into a more favorable position
• Create a more pleasing arrangement of teeth, lips and face

SIGNS THE BITE'S NOT RIGHT

It's not always easy to tell when your child may need braces or has an orthodontic issue. Even teeth that look straight may be hiding a problem bite.

Here are some clues that may indicate the need for orthodontic attention:

• Early or late loss of baby teeth
• Difficulty chewing or biting
• Biting the cheek or biting into the roof of the mouth
• Protruding teeth
• Breathing through the mouth
• Thumb-sucking
• Crowded, misplaced or blocked-out teeth
• Jaws that are too far forward or back
• Upper and lower teeth that don't meet, or meet in an abnormal way
• An unbalanced facial appearance
• Grinding or clenching of the teeth
• Tongue Thrusting