Every child should be evaluated by age 7

Interested in getting treatment for your little loved one, but not sure when is the right time? The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child sees an orthodontist by age 7.

Why not wait until their adult teeth are all in? In certain cases, Dr. Darvish can help guide the growth of the jaws and teeth so that we can avoid complex treatments like jaw surgery down the road.

Early orthodontic screening presents an opportunity to:

• identify problems that are often associated with airway/ breathing problems and sleep disorders (mouth breathing, grinding teeth etc)

• eliminate harmful oral habits such as thumb or finger-sucking, lip biting etc

• guide jaw growth

• improve jaw width

• guide incoming permanent teeth into desirable positions

• lower risk of trauma (accidents) to protruded front teeth

• reduce or eliminate abnormal swallowing or speech problems

• improve personal appearance and self esteem

• reduce likelihood of impacted permanent teeth

• preserve or gain space for permanent teeth that are coming in

Some common questions about orthodontia for kids:

Why should children have a checkup with an orthodontic specialist?

By age 7, enough permanent teeth have come in and enough jaw growth has occurred that the orthodontist can identify current problems, anticipate future problems and alleviate parents’ concerns if all seems normal. The first permanent molars and incisors have usually come in by age 7, and crossbites, crowding and developing injury-prone dental protrusions can be evaluated. Any ongoing finger sucking or other oral habits can be assessed at this time also.

Some signs or habits that may indicate the need for an early orthodontic examination are:

• early or late loss of baby teeth

• difficulty in chewing or biting

• mouth breathing

• thumb sucking

• finger sucking

• crowding, misplaced or blocked out teeth

• jaws that shift or make sounds

• biting the cheek or roof of the mouth

• teeth that meet abnormally or not at all

• jaws and teeth that are out of proportion to the rest of the face

A check-up with an orthodontic specialist by age 7 enables you to have your questions answered and determine the best time for treatment.

What is a space maintainer?

Baby molar teeth, also known as primary molar teeth, hold needed space for permanent teeth that will come in later. When a baby molar tooth is lost, an orthodontic device with a fixed wire is usually put between teeth to hold the space for the permanent tooth, which will come in later.

Why do baby teeth sometimes need to be pulled?

Pulling baby teeth may be necessary to allow severely crowded permanent teeth to come in at a normal time in a reasonably normal location. If the teeth are severely crowded, it may be clear that some unerupted permanent teeth (usually the canine teeth) will either remain impacted (teeth that should have come in, but have not), or come in to a highly undesirable position.