Stay Proactive With A Children’s Orthodontist in Heath, OH

As your child gets older, they can experience several changes in their body. This includes everything from their height to their voice, but did you ever consider how their teeth may come in crooked as they approach 7 years old? You’ve heard you should take your child to dentists as soon as they grow their first tooth, but taking them to a children’s orthodontist at 7 is news to you.

There are several reasons your orthodontist wants to schedule checkup. Today, we’ll break them down so you and your child understand the important of starting early.

Why Start at 7 Years Old?

According to the American Association of Orthodontists, a child’s first check-up should be performed either the moment a problem arises or no later than 7 years old. This is because by this age, your child has enough permanent teeth for an orthodontist to evaluate.

Orthodontists are trained to spot subtle issues a standard dentist may not look for. This early treatment, also referred to as “interceptive” treatment is usually performed even while baby teeth are still present in your child’s mouth. Doing this helps you and doctor stay proactive towards your child’s overall oral health.

What Can We Expect At Our First Visit?

Typically, there are three outcomes after your child’s first orthodontal visit. This could be:

• No treatment will be needed or expected in the future
• Treatment may be needed in the future and your child will be monitored while their face and jaws continue developing.
• A problem currently exists and can be benefitted with early treatment.

There are several issues orthodontists are willing to treat during the early stages of your child’s oral development. These problems could have been inherited or the result of a previous accident, dental disease, or abnormal swallowing. They include:

• Underbites
• Overbites
• Very crowded teeth
• Excessively spaced teeth
• Extra teeth
• Missing teeth
• Teeth that meet abnormally
• Thumb-, finger-, or pacifier-sucking, which can affect the growth of their jaw and teeth

What Are The Benefits?

The largest benefit of an early check-up is it gives doctors the opportunity to provide early treatment. If your child’s problem is left untreated, it can cause serious problems later into their development. Once permanent teeth have come in, correcting your child’s issues will only become more difficult.

The main goal of early treatment is to catch any issue early, remove the cause, and guide the growth of your child’s facial and jaw bones. It’s common for teeth to not have enough room to grow in the mouth, so reviewing them before and after all their permanent teeth come in will help doctors know the best course of treatment.

Don’t hesitate to stay proactive by scheduling an appointment with a children’s orthodontist in Heath, OH today!

About the Author

Dr. Wigal graduated from West Virginia University Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science in Biology in 2001. Afterwards, he attended the West Virginia University School of Dentistry to earn his Doctor of Dental Surgery degree. He spent an additional three years in a residency program focusing on orthodontics and dentofacial orthopedics. To learn more about orthodontic treatment options a well as his practice, contact him at (740) 281-0445 or visit his website.