Why Age Seven?
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first orthodontic visit around age seven. At this stage children have a mix of baby and adult teeth, which lets the orthodontist diagnose and correct dental and jaw problems early — often without surgery.
What Early Treatment Can Do
- Guide jaw growth so permanent teeth come in straight
- Regulate the width of the upper and lower dental arches
- Create additional space for crowded teeth
- Avoid the need for permanent tooth extractions later
- Correct thumb-sucking habits
- Improve minor speech problems
Signs Your Child May Need an Orthodontist
- Early or late loss of baby teeth
- Difficulty chewing or biting
- Mouth breathing
- Thumb or finger sucking
- Crowded, misplaced, or impacted teeth
- Jaws that pop or click
- An abnormal bite or open bite
- Jaws and teeth out of proportion to the face
- Crowded front teeth around ages 7–8
For Teens: How Long Will I Wear Braces?
Treatment time comes down to three key factors:
- Early treatment — monitoring jaw growth early lets the orthodontist time everything right; sometimes waiting is the recommendation
- What needs correction — every patient responds differently; some finish in 12 months, others take 24
- YOU! — wearing your appliances as prescribed is the single biggest thing a patient controls; take care of them and treatment stays on schedule
Braces Your Way
Our practice offers Invisalign and traditional metal braces. While braces may have had a bad reputation in the past, today’s braces make it easy to look good and feel good.
