While there is no exact age for children to begin orthodontic treatment, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends visiting the orthodontist around age seven. At this age, Dr. Saito and Dr. Brown will be able to determine whether orthodontic treatment is needed and when it should begin. By age seven most children have a mix of baby teeth and adult teeth, making it easier for our orthodontists to diagnose and correct tooth and jaw problems sooner and without surgery. Beginning treatment at the right time ensures the greatest results and the least amount of time and expense.
Early treatment allows our orthodontists to:
- Correct and guide the growth of your child’s jaw to help the permanent teeth come in straight
- Regulate the width of the upper and lower arches
- Create more space for crowded teeth
- Avoid the need for permanent tooth extractions later in life
- Correct thumb sucking and help improve minor speech problems
What Parents Should Look For
For parents, it’s not always easy to know if your child may need orthodontic treatment. No referral is necessary to have your child checked. Here are a few things to look for that may mean your child needs to see Dr. Saito or Dr. Brown:
- Early or late loss of baby teeth
- A hard time chewing or biting food
- Mouth breathing
- Finger or thumb sucking
- Crowded, misplaced or blocked teeth
- Jaws that pop or make sounds when opening and closing
- Teeth that come together abnormally, or do not come together at all
- Jaw and teeth that are not proportionate to the rest of the face
- Crowded front teeth around age seven or eight
Growth and Guidance Program
If no orthodontic treatment is indicated yet, our orthodontists will continue to monitor your child’s skeletal development and dental eruption through periodic reexaminations with our complimentary Growth and Guidance Program. Dr. Saito and Dr. Brown will also help you know when it is the right time to start planning for orthodontic treatment.
Please call or visit Brown-Saito Orthodontics today at 360-256-7220 to learn more about early orthodontics in Vancouver, Washington, and make your child’s appointment with our caring orthodontists.