If there’s one question that orthodontists always get it’s this: “When should my child have braces?”. The answer to this question depends on the child’s dental conditon and its severity. But it is recommended that you have your child go through dental evaluation when they start having permanent teeth.
Early dental examination is important. This gives your orthodontist enough time to detect the problem and make a treatment plan that’s effective and cost-efficient. Good timing is important. If the face and jaws have already completed their development, treatment may not progress as it should. Early detection can also save you a lot of dental trouble in the future.
If on the initial visit, there is no need for treatment, your orthodontist might simply recommend that you come back for regular check ups so he or she could monitor the growth of other permanent teeth as well as your face and jaws’ development. During the initial examination expect your orthodontist to check these:
- spacing between teeth
- crowding
- extra tooth/teeth
- missing tooth/teeth
- crooked teeth
- growth of your child’s face
Your orthodontist might also ask about habits in your child’s early years that could have affected the growth of his/her teeth. These habits affect not only the alignment of the teeth but facial appearance as well.
Regardless of age, a person’s smile is very important. Having an appearance you’re happy with, affects your self confidence. The coordination of your teeth, lips and face contributes a lot to your physical appearance and well-being. The effect goes beyond physical. It also affects your outlook in life.
