Yes, you heard it right.
The American academy of orthodontics recommends that children should have their first braces consultation by the age of seven.
So if you are a mom of a 1st grader; get your child visit an orthodontist this Christmas to save one from complicated orthodontic problems.
Why an orthodontist?
An orthodontist is a dentist who specializes in the field of orthodontics that deals with the diagnosis, prevention and correction of malpositioned teeth and jaws. They can also focus on modifying facial growth, known as dentofacial orthopedics.
What do you mean by ortho consultation?
An orthodontic consultation is an appointment with an orthodontist.
This involves
- Dental and medical review
- Oral exam
- X-ray if necessary
- Formulating a treatment plan tailored to needs of the patient
- Breaking down of costs
- Timeline of treatment
Benefits of consultation at age of 7?
Apart from providing a wide range of treatment options and to straighten crooked teeth, fix bad bites and align jaws correctly, orthodontist can also help correcting problems related to dento-facial growth by early interception even if some baby teeth are still present.
Now why age 7?
By then, your child has enough permanent teeth for an orthodontist to evaluate the developing teeth and jaws.
In growing patients, there are more options for treating skeletal discrepancies.
Early interception can be in a patient’s best interests if their problem is one that can become serious in future.
Interceptive or early treatment can help in guiding the growth of facial and jaw bones and provide adequate space for incoming permanent teeth. Many problems related to habits such as thumb sucking, tongue thrusting can be easily controlled and corrected if early intervention is done.
So this Christmas gift your child a path towards a beautiful smile by visiting an orthodontist.
