For Children

While there is no exact age for children to begin orthodontic treatment, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends visiting the orthodontist no later than age 7. By this age, most children have a mix of baby teeth and adult teeth, making it easier for the orthodontist to diagnose and correct tooth and jaw problems sooner and without surgery.

Early treatment allows your orthodontist to:

For parents, it's not always easy to know if your child may need orthodontic treatment.

Regulate the width of the
upper and lower arches

Create more space
for crowded teeth

Possibly avoid the need for permanent tooth extractions later in life

Correct thumb-sucking and help improve minor speech problems

Correct and guide the growth of your child's jaw to help the permanent teeth come in straight

Here are a few things to look for that may mean your child needs to see an orthodontist:

Early or late loss of baby teeth
A hard time chewing or biting food
Mouth breathing
Finger or thumb sucking
Crowded, misplaced, or blocked teeth
Jaws that pop or make sounds when opening and closing
Teeth that come together abnormally, or do not come together at all
Jaws and teeth that are not proportionate to the rest of the face
Crowded front teeth around age seven or eight

Intervention Appliances

The following intervention appliances are among those commonly used in our practice:

Face Masks

These are used to redirect the growth of the maxilla, or upper jaw, outward to help correct an underbite.

Space Maintainers

Just as the name implies, these appliances help retain space needed for erupting teeth.

Habit Appliances

These appliances help children break unhealthy oral habits, such as thumb sucking and tongue thrusting.

Patalal Expanders

This is placed in the roof of the mouth and incrementally expanded to widen the palate as desired. Palatal expanders can be fixed or removable.

Children's Orthodontics FAQ

At what age should my child first see an orthodontist?

While there is no exact age, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends visiting the orthodontist no later than age 7. By this age, most children have a mix of baby and adult teeth, making it easier to diagnose and correct tooth and jaw problems sooner and often without surgery.

What are the benefits of early orthodontic treatment?

Early treatment allows the orthodontist to regulate the width of the upper and lower arches, create more space for crowded teeth, possibly avoid the need for permanent tooth extractions later, correct thumb-sucking and minor speech problems, and guide jaw growth so permanent teeth come in straight.

What signs suggest my child may need orthodontic treatment?

Signs to watch for include early or late loss of baby teeth, difficulty chewing or biting, mouth breathing, finger or thumb sucking, crowded or misplaced teeth, jaws that pop or make sounds, teeth that don't come together normally, and crowded front teeth around age seven or eight.

What intervention appliances are used for children?

Commonly used appliances include face masks to redirect upper jaw growth and correct an underbite, space maintainers to hold space for erupting teeth, habit appliances to help break habits like thumb sucking, and palatal expanders to widen the palate, either fixed or removable.

How do I schedule an orthodontic evaluation for my child?

You can contact Noorani Orthodontics to schedule an appointment for an orthodontic evaluation. Early treatment can help give your child a healthy, beautiful smile for the future.