For Children
It's best for a child to see an orthodontist by age 7. The orthodontist will advise if treatment is required and when it is the most appropriate time to initiate treatment. In some cases, your orthodontist might find a problem that can benefit from early treatment. When treatment is begun early, the orthodontist can guide the growth of the jaws and guide incoming permanent teeth. Early treatment can also regulate the width of the upper and lower dental arches, gain space for permanent teeth, avoid the need for permanent tooth extractions, reduce the likelihood of impacted permanent teeth, correct thumb-sucking, and eliminate abnormal swallowing or speech problems. In other words, early treatment can simplify later treatment.
