What Is The Best Age To Start Orthodontics?

Orthodontic treatment can be started at any age. Whether you are 60 or 16 years old it is never too late to start your journey towards a beautiful and healthy smile. Jacaranda Smiles provides orthodontic care for adults, teenagers, and children throughout the Broward County area. Quality orthodontics begin at a young age, which is why our orthodontists offer early treatment evaluations for your children.

Early Orthodontic Treatment

According to the American Association of Orthodontists (AAO), all children should have an initial orthodontic evaluation by the age of seven. Although every child’s mouth is unique, this is typically the age at which children have enough permanent teeth for an accurate evaluation. At this point, your orthodontist can determine if your child will have sufficient room for permanent teeth and detect any orthodontic problems.

Benefits of Early Treatment

An early orthodontic evaluation can help your orthodontist catch misalignment and other orthodontic issues at a young age. If necessary, we can begin planning for treatment immediately. Early evaluation does not necessarily mean your child will receive treatment at a young age. On average, most people begin orthodontic treatment between ages 9-14. An early orthodontic evaluation, however, can help reduce the severity (and cost) of treatment that is put off until a later age.

Additional benefits to receiving early orthodontic treatment include the following:

• Guide permanent teeth into an ideal position while in early stages of development
• Support and assess healthy jawbone development
• Decreases the likelihood of removing permanent teeth to correct overcrowding
• Lower the risk of damage to protruding teeth or buck teeth
• Begin to correct improper bite or misplaced teeth
• Improve facial symmetry

Signs Your Child May Need Orthodontic Treatment

While it is recommended that your child visits an orthodontist by age 7, certain symptoms and habits could indicate that your child needs to see an orthodontist sooner rather than later. Some symptoms of concern include:

• Grinding or clenching teeth
• Thumb sucking for a prolonged period
• Exclusively or mostly breathing through mouth
• Difficulty chewing
• Biting cheeks or roof of mouth
• Early or late loss of teeth

While some of these may be simple habits, they can be indicative of or lead to orthodontic issues if not corrected. If you detect any of the above habits in your child, schedule an appointment with Jacaranda Smiles.

Visit Your Children’s Orthodontist

A straighter, healthier smile for your child is only a phone call away. For more information about early treatment or orthodontic treatments such as braces and Invisalign, please contact our friendly staff. You can also schedule an orthodontic appointment online or stop by our Plantation and Pembroke Pines offices. We look forward to working with you!