An orthodontist can help to tackle any orthodontic issues your child develops as their teeth erupt. The American Association of Orthodontists advises parents to take their children for their first bite evaluation by the time they reach seven. At this stage, their teeth and jaw should be developed enough to spot orthodontic issues.
Detecting and treating orthodontic issues early on often leads to shorter treatment times and lower risks of complications. A child’s facial structures and jaw are still developing at that point, making it easier to influence their development with orthodontic appliances like expanders.
An orthodontist has specialized training that allows them to detect orthodontic issues in their early stages of development. Catching such issues early on helps to prevent them from evolving into more severe problems.
Detecting an orthodontic problem in its early stages does not mean the child needs to start getting treatment right away. Issues like the child’s jaw not being wide enough for all their teeth might be addressed immediately, while other problems like poor teeth alignment might be put on hold until they reach their teenage years.
Early detection of orthodontic issues can spare a child from the vicious bullying children with severe orthodontic issues often face and the emotional problems caused by it. Early orthodontic treatment ensures a child has a smile they can be proud of when they are old enough for that to matter.
Other benefits of taking your child for early orthodontic evaluation include:
An orthodontist will examine the child’s teeth during a bite evaluation, looking for issues like open bites, crossbites, crowding, deep bites, and overbites. Diagnostic tools like x-rays might be used to paint a clearer picture of the child’s teeth.
Some of the treatment options a dentist might recommend to tackle a child’s orthodontic issues include:
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Call or visit our Gilroy clinic to set up an orthodontic evaluation for your child. Our orthodontist will guide you through the process.
Request an appointment or call Richard R. Gallagher DDS MSD MSE PhD Inc. at 408-500-0810 for an appointment in our Gilroy office.
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