Why Your Child’s First Orthodontic Appointment Should Be at Age 7
Dr. Todd Welsh | Bucks County Orthodontics
Ensuring your child’s oral health is a priority, and scheduling their first orthodontic evaluation around Age 7 is a crucial step. This initial assessment can identify potential issues early, guiding timely interventions that can simplify future treatments and promote lasting oral health.
Optimal Timing for Early Evaluation
The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends that all children be screened by an Orthodontist by Age 7. At this age, children typically have a mix of primary and permanent teeth, allowing orthodontists to detect and address developing problems before they become more complex.
Benefits of Early Orthodontic Intervention
- Guiding Jaw Growth: Early treatment can direct the growth of facial and jaw bones into a more favorable pattern, potentially reducing the need for more extensive procedures later.
- Preventing Dental Issues: Addressing problems like crossbites, crowding, and protruding teeth early can prevent more serious issues from developing, leading to simpler and more cost-effective treatments.
- Improving Aesthetics and Function: Early intervention can enhance facial appearance, improve the way lips meet, and optimize profile and facial aesthetics, boosting your child’s confidence.
- Reducing the Risk of Trauma: Treating protruded front teeth early can lower the risk of injury to these teeth, which are more susceptible to damage.
- Enhancing Oral Hygiene: Proper alignment makes brushing and flossing more effective, reducing the risk of cavities and gum disease.
Palatal Expansion: Addressing the Root Cause
One type of early treatment is palatal expansion, which when done properly widens the upper jaw to make it compatible with the lower jawbone. This allows proper location of teeth in the bone and often creates space for more favorable tooth eruption. This procedure is most effective when the child is still growing, typically between ages 7 and 10, before the onset of puberty. Early expansion can prevent the need for tooth extractions or surgery later in life. Not all expanders are created equal. Later forms of expansion in adolescents and adults are more invasive than early expansion, thus treatment timing is crucial. See here for more information: https://buckscountyorthodontics.com/expansion-101-palatal-expansion-vs-dental-expansion-fixing-not-masking-the-issue/
Monitoring Growth with BCO Kids’ Club
If your child isn’t ready for or does not need Early Treatment, we hook them up with free membership to our BCO Kids’ Club. It’s a fun club with prizes, contests, games, and more – all geared toward helping your child not only learn how to care for their smile and also preparing them for the day when they get an expander (if indicated), braces or clear aligners! The program offers free growth and development monitoring, ensuring timely interventions when necessary. Regular check-ups help track your child’s progress and maintain optimal oral health.
We’re also here to help your children learn good oral health techniques. We will guide them on proper brushing and flossing techniques and your child will be entered to win gift cards from local favorites like Busy Bee Toys, The Doylestown Bookstore, & Monkey’s Uncle every time they have good dental hygiene at their appointments! At BCO, it is our mission to make Orthodontics as easy, fun, & convenient as possible while creating stunning smiles & optimal dental health for life!
The BCO PENN ATHLETICS PARTNERSHIP
A reminder that all PENN ATHLETICS members (and their family members!) get $500 off at Bucks County Orthodontics!
See here for details: https://www.pennathleticsclub.org/buckscountyorthodontics