Crooked teeth are a concern for parents early on and of course parents want their children to have a beautiful smile and a healthy bite. But you may be wondering – what age should a child see an orthodontist?
The Answer Is…
Really, as soon as a number of adult teeth start to emerge, it is not too early to take your child in for an orthodontic assessment with their regular dentist. In fact, the Australian Society of Orthodontics suggests a number of situations where children can see a specialist orthodontist around age 6 or 7 for early intervention, although most children can wait till there adult teeth are all through. A General Dentist is the best person to guide you when orthodontic treatment is required.
What Happens Next?
With an assessment early on, Orthodontic treatment can begin to help with crowding as adult teeth grow in, crossbites and jaw growth problems if they are present. Treatments are more focused on dental health than aesthetics during these first phases. Signs that your child might need early orthodontic treatment are speech impediments, mouth breathing, early or late loss of baby teeth, and thumb sucking after age 5.
If you have more questions about whether or not your child should see an orthodontist, talk to your dentist at Morrin Dental the next time you are in. They will be able to give their professional opinion about what interventions your child might need. Morrin Dental offers dentistry and orthodontic assessment under one roof. We can work with a number of Specialist Orthodontists, to provide the best outcome for our patients whether to be with traditional braces or Invisalign. Contact us today for more information.