The American Dental Association recommends that children begin seeing their dentist around the age of one. If your child’s teeth are healthy, and they’re under the care of a dentist, you might be wondering why they would need to see an orthodontist. An orthodontist in a dentist who specializes in the straightening of teeth. This person has had additional education and training beyond dental school in what is considered dentofacial orthopedics. If the teeth are straight, or their adult teeth haven’t come in, what could an orthodontist do that your dentist can’t? Actually, there are many reasons your child should see an orthodontist.
Why Your Child Should Have a Consultation with an Orthodontist
The American Association of Orthodontics (AAO) recommends a visit to the orthodontist when your child turns seven. This is because the first of the child’s molars have come in, but the child has not completed their full dental or facial growth. The posterior occlusion, where the molars and bicuspid teeth meet, is established after the molars erupt. It’s at this point that the relationship of this occlusion (bite) can be evaluated. In addition, the incisors have erupted, and problems such as crowding and deep bites can be detected at this point.
Your orthodontist can also detect bad habits that relate to poor oral health and speech. Mouth breathing, and finger/thumb sucking can interfere with normal facial growth and the eruption of teeth which can lead to a protrusion and open bite in children if it isn’t treated. Tongue-thrusting is another problem that affects the position of teeth and jaws and parents may not notice this issue until it is too late.
If your child is experiencing any problems with their mouth, a specialist can offer solutions for your child’s situation. When you look at your child’s jaw, if it looks too far forward or back, that is an indication that you should make an appointment with an orthodontist. Protruding teeth or teeth that don’t meet or meet in an abnormal way are other reasons to see the orthodontist. Grinding and clenching the teeth may have causes that an orthodontist can detect and treat before this problem gets worse and weakens the teeth. If your son or daughter is biting their cheeks or the roof of their mouth, this has got to be uncomfortable for them.
Most children don’t begin treatment at seven. Many problems are simply monitored by your orthodontist to avoid problems down the road. It can be better to solve some problems before the individual has all of their adult teeth. This evaluation gives you, the parent, peace of mind, while offering significant benefits if treatment is required.
Choosing Your Orthodontist
Orthodontics is more than just straightening teeth. Trust your child’s oral health to a doctor who you trust. Drs. Savage, Sabol and Visser have over 60 years of combined experience. Orthodontic (braces) technology has come a long way in the last few years, so there is no reason to put it off out of parental fear. A consultation at age 7 can help to minimize or prevent orthodontic problems for you child and help to insure better emotional health and physical well-being.
