My Child May Need Braces…When To See An Orthodontist
We all remember what it was like to look back on our grade school pictures and cringe at the embarrassing sight of our crooked teeth. Luckily, we have our parents to thank for talking us into getting braces. As adults with children of our own, we only want what’s best for our kids, and that brings up one important question: at what age should my child see an orthodontist?
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A DENTIST AND AN ORTHODONTIST?
While dentists and orthodontists are both doctors that specialize in oral care, An orthodontist has an additional 2-3 years of training that focuses on diagnosing and treating jaw and teeth alignment issues. This makes orthodontists the ideal professional to assess and treat children and their growing smiles!
AGE 7 IS THE BEST TIME TO SEE AN ORTHODONTIST
According to the American Association of Orthodontists, all children should be screened by an orthodontist by the time they turn 7-years-old. Why is this recommended? Most children have permanent teeth by the time they turn 7 or 8-years-old, and it’s best to check in on their development and detect any problems earlier before the jaws and teeth have reached their full development.
SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT JUST IN CASE
We recommend scheduling an appointment even if your child’s teeth appear fine on the surface. During the screening Dr. Gage will perform an intraoral exam and use panoramic X-rays to look for extra teeth, missing teeth, or teeth coming in the wrong positions. The consultation is also the perfect time to ask questions about what comes next and when braces make the most sense or your son or daughter. The best part is at LevelUp, we offer complimentary orthodontic consultations! You have nothing to lose!
ISSUES AN ORTHODONTIST MAY FIND
Besides extra teeth, missing teeth, or teeth erupting into the wrong positions, an orthodontist may find other problems such as:
- Underbites – This occurs when the lower front teeth are pushed ahead of the upper front teeth
- Crossbites – When the upper front teeth fall behind the lower front teeth in the front or when the upper back teeth are inside the lower back teeth.
- Functional Shifts – When the jaw shifts to one side as the teeth come together rather than hitting all at once
- Excessively crowded or spaced teeth
CONTACT LEVELUP ORTHODONTICS TODAY
We care about your child’s oral health. At LevelUp Orthodontics, we take pride in the smiles that we serve in Parker, Colorado. We have found that a better smile leads to higher levels of self-expression, confidence, and happiness. We’d be happy to speak to you about our services including InBrace, Invisalign, Damon braces, and more. Contact us today to schedule an appointment!
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