The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children see an orthodontist for the first time around the age of 7. At this age, a child's teeth and jaws are still developing, and an orthodontist can identify any potential issues early on. You can think of this appointment in the same vein as a well-check at your pediatrician, focused particularly on your child’s dental and facial development.

Some orthodontic problems are obvious, but others can remain undetected if not evaluated by an orthodontic specialist. In addition to an examination of your child’s teeth and jaws, orthodontists often utilize x-rays to check below the surface to look for extra teeth, missing teeth, or teeth coming into the wrong positions.

Not all initial visits to the orthodontists will result in orthodontic treatment. There are generally three outcomes

from this initial visit:

1. There may be no need for treatment recognized at this time
2. Treatment may be necessary in the future, so the child will be followed periodically while the face and jaws continue to develop
3. A problem exists that would benefit from early treatment

Depending on the evaluation of your child, your orthodontist may recommend early treatment. This type of treatment occurs while some baby teeth are still present, and can guide the growth of facial and jaw bones into a better growth pattern and provide more space for incoming permanent teeth.

Here are a few problems that may lend themselves well to early treatment:

• Underbites – when the lower front teeth are head of the upper front teeth
• Crossbites – when the upper teeth are inside of the lower teeth
• Functional shift – when the jaw shifts to one side as the teeth come together
• Very crowded teeth
• Excessively spaced teeth
• Extra or missing teeth
• Teeth that meet abnormally or don’t meet at all
• Thumb, finger, or pacifier sucking that is affecting the teeth or jaw growth

Even if you have not seen any of these problems, it is still recommended to have an orthodontic evaluation by the age of 7. You don’t have to wait for a referral from your dentist to see an orthodontist. Most orthodontists offer free consultations, so there is no reason to wait!