Exams
Children should have their first orthodontic examination by age 7. Around this age the first adult teeth are coming in, then there is a tremendous amount of change to the jaws & bite through ages 12-13 when the last adult teeth come in.
This doesn't necessarily mean that your child will have braces at age 7 . . . at any age this exam allows Dr. Tom to:
- Advise you about any orthodontic issues which might be developing now.
- Predict what will be happening as your child's bite changes & develops through the early teen years.
- Inform you if any orthodontic treatment will be necessary, and at what age.
If Dr. Tom believes it would be best to delay treatment until age 12/13 or older, he will regularly monitor your child's bite development every 6 months, which would also be at no charge to you.
Treatment
Since it typically takes about 5-6 years for the bite to develop and all the adult teeth to erupt into place (ages 7-13), Dr. Tom will determine at your child's initial exam whether the problem is best treated early (age 7-8), versus waiting until age 12-13.
Whether you're interested in fun braces with bright colors or the fastest treatment time check out our great options.
Whatever the age, we give kids the choice between:
From Dr. Tom:
"When I see younger children that still have several baby teeth, I'm very selective about which problems I treat. Many can wait until all of their adult teeth have fully erupted."