Do you know the right age to take your child for the first orthodontic evaluation? There is no doubt this is a subject that baffles many parents. According to the American Association of Orthodontics, children should have their first appointment with an orthodontist at the age of seven.
Why the Age of Seven?
Many children develop permanent front teeth and some set of adult molars at around the age of six or seven years. As the teeth grow, an orthodontist can identify potential problems and correct them before they become worse. By using a panoramic x-ray, an orthodontist can determine if there are missing adult teeth as well as deviations from normal tooth eruption.
What to Expect During the First Orthodontic Treatment?
The goals of early orthodontic treatment are to diagnose and correct dental abnormalities before they become worse. Once an orthodontist notices a problem with the development of the teeth, they will continue monitoring the child to evaluate the need for braces in the early teenage years. Depending on your child, an orthodontist may recommend braces Palm Coast to align the child’s front teeth, retainer, a palatal expander, or even a combination of these treatments.
Benefits of Early Orthodontic Treatment
It’s essential to take your kid to an orthodontist so that they can monitor their development and treat any dental problems at a young age. As the child grows older, the jawbone hardens and stops to grow, making orthodontic treatment somehow difficult.
On the other hand, if you get braces Palm Coast at a young age, an orthodontist can manipulate the growth of the jawbone to change its width and position. Unfortunately, once the jawbone hardens, it becomes difficult to manage its growth. Therefore, the only solution is to undergo surgery or to remove the teeth. Some of the problems that an orthodontist will look out for include crowded teeth, speech impediments, thumb sucking, and baby teeth that are lost too early.
