When it comes to the best age for starting orthodontic treatment, there’s no magic number and every child is different. However, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends children visit the orthodontist for the first time at around age seven. This doesn’t mean your child will walk out of our office with a full set of braces. In fact, it’s usually just an observational period. At this age, most kids have a mix of baby teeth and permanent teeth, so our Doctors are able to get a good idea of how they’re developing. If problems are spotted, they can diagnose and correct them while your child is still growing without having to resort to surgery or extensive treatment. Our offices are kid-friendly, welcoming and designed with patient comfort in mind. We’ll make your child (and you) feel at ease and keep you informed every step of the way. Schedule your complimentary consultation online or by calling us at (864) 801-3500.
Orthodontics for the Kiddos
Early Treatment Helps:
- Correct and guide your child’s jaw growth to encourage the permanent teeth to come in straight
- Balance the width of the upper and lower arches
- Create more space for crowded teeth
- Avoid the extraction of permanent teeth or the need for surgery later in life
- Stop habits like thumb sucking and help improve minor speech issues
- Give your child a beautiful, confident smile
A Few Things to Look For
While the only way to determine if your child needs orthodontic treatment is to pay an orthodontist like our Doctors a visit, there are a few things that could indicate early intervention may be necessary, including:
- Early or late loss of baby teeth
- Difficulty chewing or biting food
- Mouth breathing
- Prolonged finger or thumb sucking
- Teeth that are crowded, misplaced or blocked
- Popping noises or other sounds when opening or closing the jaw
- Teeth that come together abnormally or don’t touch at all
- Jaws and teeth that are not proportionate to the rest of the face
- Crowded front teeth after age seven or eight
Give Your Child the Gift of a Healthy Smile
We’ll work with you to keep your child’s developing smile on track and we’ll make it fun to boot!
10 to 15% of kids could benefit from early interceptive treatment.
Most children lose their first baby tooth around six- or seven-years-old.
Schedule your child’s first orthodontic evaluation by age seven!
Dream Smiles Start Here
Schedule your free consultation with us online or by calling us at (864) 801-3500 to get started!