A Head Start to a Great Smile
As a parent, we know that you want the best for your child - which includes healthy teeth and a pleasing smile!
Orthodontic Check-Ups for Children
Did you know that your child's teeth need to be properly aligned to have a long-lasting and healthy smile? The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children get orthodontic check-ups by age seven. By then, their teeth would have developed enough for problems with jaw growth and emerging teeth to be spotted while some baby teeth are still present.
During their first appointment, Dr. Barnes may identify a developing problem and recommend monitoring your child's growth and development and then, if indicated, begin treatment at the appropriate time. In other cases, she may identify a problem that could benefit from early treatment (or, if you're lucky, no problem at all!)
What is Early Orthodontic Treatment?
Treating orthodontic needs early can prevent serious problems from developing and may make treatment at a later age shorter and less complicated. In some cases, Dr. Barnes might be able to achieve results that wouldn't be possible once your child's teeth, face, and jaws have stopped growing.
Choosing the Best Time for Treatment
While the age that kids get braces differs, orthodontic treatment usually starts between the ages of 9 and 14. If Dr. Barnes thinks your child needs treatment, she'll guide you on the best time to start treatment.
This gives us 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 That The Bite's Not Right
It's not always easy to tell when your child may need braces or has an orthodontic problem. Even teeth that look straight may be hiding a problem bite. 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
Find Out More During Your Free Consultation
If your child has a dental issue or needs and orthodontic appointment, please contact us to set up a free consultation. We'd love to discuss your child's orthodontic options and develop a treatment plan that is customized to their needs!