When should my child see an orthodontist?
One of the most common questions we get asked is how early is too early to get braces? While people of any age can benefit from braces, The Australian Society of Orthodontists recommends children visit a registered specialist orthodontist for an assessment between the ages of 8-10 years old. This allows the orthodontist to evaluate your child’s teeth and determine if they may need early treatment. Your orthodontist’s assessment will cover existing teeth as well as those that are yet to break the surface to help predict their future growth.
How do I know if my child needs early orthodontic treatment?
At Fresh smiles – Geelong orthodontic speacalists can give you advice and can determine whether your kid may need early orthodontic treatment.. If you observe any of these characteristics or behaviours in your child we recommend visiting our clinic for your free consultation.
- If your child’s teeth do not meet properly at all when biting
- Early loss of baby teeth (before age 5yrs)
- Mouth breathing and/or snoring
- If your child’s front teeth are crowded (you generally won’t see this until the child is about seven or eight years old)
- Protruding front teeth
- Biting or chewing difficulties
- A speech impediment
- If your child’s jaw shifts when he or she opens or closes the mouth
- If your child is older than five years and still sucks a thumb or finger
What are the benefits of early orthodontic treatment?
Early orthodontic treatment begins while a kid’s jawbones are still soft. They do not harden until children reach their late teens. As the bones are still pliable, corrective procedures work faster and more effectively than they do for teens and adults. Appropriate early treatment is an effective interceptive measure that lays the foundation for a healthy and well-functioning mouth in adulthood.
While your child’s teeth may appear aligned and straight, there could be underlying issues that need to be addressed to prevent more serious problems from developing. Early intervention usually means that later orthodontic treatment will be more straightforward and completed in a shorter amount of time which can also be financially beneficial in the long run.