OBSERVATION &
GUIDANCE

According to the American Association of Orthodontists, kids should have an initial orthodontic evaluation with an orthodontist by age seven. At this age, an orthodontist can evaluate the basic alignment of your child’s teeth and determine whether there is sufficient room for all of the permanent teeth to emerge. In most cases, if orthodontic work isn’t needed immediately, our team will simply monitor your child’s dental growth patterns until we see that it’s time for treatment to begin. Adolescent orthodontics is most efficient when timed properly and our observation program allows us to do this.

Some orthodontic conditions are much easier to treat if they are diagnosed at an early age. Some examples of such problems are:

Crossbite

This is a condition where the upper teeth close inside the lower teeth. A crossbite can involve the front teeth or back teeth.

Severe Crowding

Severe crowding occurs when the jaws are too small to accommodate all of the permanent teeth. Severe crowding increases the chances of chipping and teeth fractures.

Overcoming Bad Habits

There are some situations where a child's bad habits can influence the development and function of his or her teeth, jaws, and mouth. Bad habits, such as thumb sucking, can influence the development and function of the teeth and jaws.