Parenthood comes with a lot of questions, most of which revolve around your child’s well-being. This extends to their oral health. While bringing kids to a pediatric dentist is common, an appointment with the orthodontist is a different matter altogether, with parents asking, “Does my child need to see an orthodontist?
At Sohn Orthodontics, we understand the need to give your child the best. That includes knowing when to bring them to the right dental professional. Below are the situations to consider: whether it’s time for your little one to meet an orthodontist and why starting them early is the way to go.
They’re About Seven Years Old
The American Association of Orthodontists generally recommends that children get evaluated by an orthodontist at the age of seven to eight. This is more of a general rule of thumb and is still subject to other factors, though. Most kids start experiencing rapid teeth development by five or six years old. Add ample time to get those teeth settled, and your kid is more or less ready to get a professional assessment from our Bridgeville office.
This initial stage of development is crucial and may affect the development of their jaw. With an early evaluation, problems like teeth crowding, jaw alignment, and impacted teeth can be resolved sooner, preventing complications from arising later.
Your Kid’s Teeth Are Not Well-Spaced
Aside from hitting the right age, you can also take your child to an orthodontist if their teeth are not spaced evenly. Dental crowding refers to teeth that are misaligned or even overlapping, while gapping refers to having too much space in between them. Either way, these two concerns are common and normal but can cause more serious problems later on if left untreated.
For example, crowding makes your child’s teeth harder to clean and puts them at risk of tooth decay. Both crowding and gapping can also lead to discomfort during biting and speaking and could even affect the development of wisdom teeth. At Sohn Orthodontics, our team can assess and rectify these issues before they cause your child any more problems.
Your Child Has an Irregular Bite
Contrary to common misconception, getting your child’s bite fixed is not only done purely for aesthetics. It helps them get more comfortable biting and helps their jaw develop well. Having an over or an underbite is also a form of misalignment and can cause problems such as jaw pain and headaches. In some cases, an irregular bite could even affect your child’s sleeping and speaking patterns.
While underbites are less common, they are often caused by childhood habits during the crucial stage of dental growth. Using a pacifier, thumb sucking or consistent tongue pressure on teeth can cause an underbite to form. Setting an appointment with our team will allow us to identify the condition of your child’s bite and, together, find the best course of action to guide their development.
Advantages of Bringing Your Child to the Orthodontist
Even without visible dental issues, bringing your child to the orthodontist still offers a lot of benefits. Dr. Jacqueline Sohn is a mom herself and understands the importance of building meaningful bonds with her patients.
Below are some of the advantages of your child seeing an orthodontist:
- Avoid Costly Dental Treatments
You’ve heard about prevention being better than cure, and your child’s oral health is a perfect example. Whether they have impacted teeth or an irregular bite, identifying these issues early and setting up a treatment plan is considerably safer and would save you dollars from corrective treatment or operation.
- Correct Harmful Habits
After Dr. Sohn examines your child’s teeth, we can help you identify and fix habits that are detrimental to your child’s development. We can also recommend safe and comfortable oral appliances to address different problems. The right treatment can help expand the space for your kids’ tongue, preventing it from pushing on the teeth. Similarly, there are treatments to stop a budding teeth-grinding habit.
- Get Used to Dental Procedures
Lack of exposure and awareness is one of the main causes of people fearing a visit to the dentist or the orthodontist. Getting them started early familiarizes your child with the environment and normalizes receiving professional help for their teeth.
Start Your Child’s Brighter Future
If you’re wondering whether your child might benefit from orthodontic care, we invite you to schedule a consultation with Dr. Sohn. Early evaluation is important to identify potential issues and ensure the best possible outcome for your child’s smile.
Even if treatment isn’t needed right away, establishing an early relationship with an orthodontist can bring peace of mind and promote your child’s oral health as they grow. Schedule your child’s free consultation at our Bridgeville, PA, office today, and we’ll take care of the rest!