When Should Orthodontic Treatment Begin?

Parents know how important oral hygiene is for their children’s smiles.  For the most part, most parents understand that by starting a good routine early in life, they are setting their family’s smiles up for success.  But when is the best time to start orthodontic treatment?  As the orthodontist Tampa, FL parents trust for their family’s smiles and braces, you’ve come to the right place.  Let’s learn a bit more about when you should start discussing braces for your child.

Early Orthodontic Treatment

While traditionally the majority of children with braces fall into their teen years, seven years of age is the magic number when it comes to starting the talk about braces.  Talk with your dentist if you have concerns about your child’s smile.  By the age of seven, our Tampa, FL orthodontist recommends scheduling an orthodontic evaluation.  This age is the recommended age because, at this point, the first year molars have come in, and because many of the adult teeth will have come in.  Even when your child has a mix of baby and adult teeth, we can still identify problem areas such as crowding and bite issues.

How Early Orthodontic Treatments Help

Early treatment, in some cases, helps our Tampa, FL orthodontist to help with lower and upper dental arches, and can also reduce the potential of impacted teeth; eliminating a need for tooth extraction.  Speech problems can also be addressed by orthodontic treatment.  Catching an orthodontic problem at an early age saves time and money down the road.

When Does Treatment Begin?

Keep in mind that an evaluation is only that.  By starting at age seven, we can keep an eye out for areas that may be problematic.  At your evaluation, we take a quick peek at your bite, and look for changes as the months progress.  We may ask to only see you twice a year or less depending on what we see in your child’s X-Rays.

The Benefits of Early Orthodontic Treatment

Early treatment is a proactive approach that benefits your oral health in the long run.  It helps prevent teeth from overcrowding as new, permanent teeth come in.  It can also benefit your child’s well-being.  Studies have shown that early treatment can reduce the length of time your child needs to wear braces in their teen years.  By helping teeth grow into their right position early, there are fewer risks associated with their oral health.

Every mouth is different and their need unique.  Talk with our Tampa, FL orthodontist about your child’s oral health.  We work with every patient on an individual basis to develop a treatment plan customized to them.  Learn more about us on Facebook or give our office a call to schedule your appointment today.  We look forward to helping your child have a healthy smile.