Problems to Watch for in Growing Children

Malocclusions (“bad bites”) like those illustrated below, may benefit from
early diagnosis and referral to an orthodontic specialist for a full evaluation.

In addition, if you notice any of the following in your child, check with your orthodontist:

• early or late loss of baby teeth
• difficulty in chewing or biting
• mouth breathing
• jaws that shift or make sounds
• speech difficulties
• biting the cheek or the roof of the mouth
• facial imbalance
• grinding or clenching of the teeth

The Right Time for an Orthodontic Check-up is No Later than Age 7

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that all children get
a check-up with an orthodontist no later than age 7. Here's why:

• While your child’s teeth may appear to be straight, there could be a problem that
  only an orthodontist can detect. Orthodontists can spot subtle problems with jaw growth and emerging teeth even while some baby teeth are still present.
• A check-up may reveal that your child’s bite is fine. But if the orthodontist identifies a potential problem, it may be a good idea to continue to monitor the child’s growth and development. This way, treatment can begin treatment at the appropriate time for the child if necessary. Or in some cases, the problem can be corrected with early treatment.
• Early treatment may prevent or intercept more serious problems from developing
  and may make treatment at an older age shorter and less complicated. In some cases,
  the orthodontist can even achieve results that would otherwise not be possible once the face and jaws have finished growing.
• Early treatment may give your orthodontist the chance to:
  • Guide jaw growth
  • Lower the risk of trauma to protruded front teeth
  • Correct harmful oral habits
  • Improve appearance
  • Guide permanent teeth into a more optimal position
  • Create a more pleasing arrangement of teeth, lips and face
• Through an early orthodontic evaluation, you’ll be giving your child the best
  opportunity for a healthy, beautiful smile.

If your child is older than 7, it’s certainly not too late for a check-up.Because patients differ in both physiological development and treatment needs, the orthodontist’s goal is to provide each patient with the most appropriate treatment at the most appropriate time.