Is there a way to plan for braces in advance?

For many people, braces are a coming-of-age event. When a child becomes a teenager, they know that it’s almost time for them to get some shiny new hardware on their pearly whites. Granted, a lot of teenagers aren’t as excited about it as we might be—but we’re dentists. From a parent’s perspective, it’s not uncommon to wonder if your child will be one of those who needs braces. What are the signs to look for? Is there any way to know in advance?

We’ve got the answers for you. Early orthodontic evaluations happen around the age of 7. These are the ultimate way to find out if your child is going to need orthodontic treatment in the future. These assessments help the dental team identify potential problems before they have a chance to take hold. This makes treatment easier, faster, and less expensive.

When should my child have their first orthodontic evaluation?

The American Association of Orthodontists suggests that children have their first orthodontic evaluation around the age of 7. This age is ideal because it lets us know if anything needs to be done before the job is done growing. If there are severe bite issues, sometimes more extensive work is needed. This is a lot easier to do before the jaw is finished. For these specific issues, it can be a lot more difficult to repair once they’re into adulthood. If your child doesn’t need further work, such as palette expanders, this early orthodontic evaluation serves to help prepare you and your child for what’s to come.

Signs Your Child May Need Braces

You might be wondering if there are signs that you can see at home that point toward your child needing orthodontic treatment, whether simply braces, or more. The first thing to look for is crowded teeth. This is often evident when you’re trying to floss those little teeth, only to find that it is difficult to even get the floss where it needs to go. The same thing goes for any large gaps between the teeth or overlapping teeth. If these are left untreated, this can open your child up to cavities. After all, if it’s hard to get that dental floss between them to clean the teeth, think about how easy it would be for cavities to form.

Bite issues are another really common reason children need braces. If you know that your child has an underbite, overbite, or even crossbite, braces might be helpful in the future. In some cases, further work might need to be done before their job is finished growing. If this is the case, don’t panic! Trust us and our orthodontic team to help your child’s smile be the best it can be. Repairing a bite issue can drastically change a child’s smile for the better. Without repairing this problem, it can create issues with their speech, or even their ability to chew food.

How Early Orthodontic Treatment Can Help

We touched on this slightly earlier, but there are several reasons why a child might need early orthodontic treatment. While a child is still young and their jaw is still growing, it is a lot easier to make necessary changes. On the other hand, if these changes are made once they are an adult, sometimes the only way to achieve their smile goals is through extensive surgery. As a child, problems such as gap issues, severe misalignments, and bite issues, such as overbites, underbites, or crossbites, are easier to fix.

It might feel overwhelming to hear that your child needs early orthodontic treatment, but keep in mind that it is a very important step for your child’s future. Having a straighter smile will drastically improve their confidence. It can help them out in school, making it easier for them to go further in their future careers. It can also help a child keep up with their oral hygiene. Severe misalignments make it very difficult to get all the bacteria out from between the teeth. Solving this issue makes it a lot easier for day-to-day care.

It’s Time to Plan

The best time for an early orthodontic evaluation is around the age of 7. This applies even if it appears your child needs braces or not. Sometimes it’s best just to get the reassurance that your child’s smile is developing the way it needs to. Or, if your child needs orthodontic treatment, getting this evaluation lets you prepare in advance to help their smile be the best it can be.

Are you ready to schedule your child’s orthodontic evaluation? If so, you can schedule it online in just a few easy clicks. We’re ready and waiting to help your child’s smile shine brightly!