A Head Start to a Great Smile
As a parent in Rehoboth Beach or the surrounding area, you want the best for your child. That includes healthy teeth and a pleasing smile.
All Kids Should Get an Orthodontic Check-Up By Age 7
Your child needs teeth and jaws that are properly aligned to stay healthy – in other words, a healthy bite. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that your child in Rehoboth Beach get an orthodontic check-up by no later than age seven years old.
By then, your child’s teeth have developed enough for subtle problems with jaw growth and emerging teeth to still be spotted while some baby teeth are still present. This check-up may reveal that your child's bite is fine, and braces for kids aren't necessary.
Other times, Dr. Johnson may identify a developing problem but recommend monitoring your child’s growth and development. If needed, your child can begin treatment at the appropriate time for your child.
In other cases, Dr. Johnson might find a problem that can benefit from early treatment.
What Is Early Treatment?
Early treatment can prevent or intercept more serious problems from developing and may make later treatment shorter and less complicated. Dr. Johnson can sometimes achieve results that may not be possible once the face and jaws have finished growing.
Choosing the Best Time for Treatment
While the age that kids get braces may vary, orthodontic treatment most often begins between age 9 and 14. Some orthodontic problems are easier to correct if they are treated early.
If Dr. Johnson thinks your child will need orthodontic treatment, he will let you know the best time for your child to begin treatment. This gives him 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 needs braces or has an orthodontic problem. Even teeth that appear straight may hide a bite problem.
Here are some clues that may indicate the need for orthodontic attention:
- Early or late loss of baby teeth
- Difficulty chewing or biting
- Breathing through the mouth
- Thumb-sucking
- Crowded, misplaced or blocked-out teeth
- Jaws that are too far forward or back
- Biting the cheek or biting into the roof of the mouth
- Protruding teeth
- Upper and lower teeth that don't meet or meet in an abnormal way
- An unbalanced facial appearance
- Grinding or clenching of the teeth
Learn More at Your Free Exam
If your child has a dental issue, please contact us by setting up a free consultation at Johnson Orthodontics. We’d love to discuss your child’s orthodontic options and develop a treatment plan customized to your child’s needs and goals.
