The Perks of Going to An Orthodontist Early

Did you know that early orthodontic care may help you avoid costly treatments in the future? Like most things in life, orthodontic health can be much more manageable if you get ahead of it. It is suggested that a child has made a visit to an orthodontist by age 7 in order to keep their oral health in check. Much like you wouldn’t skip a well visit with a pediatrician or a dentist appointment, you shouldn’t wait until your child absolutely needs braces to get an orthodontist’s opinion. Keep reading to learn more about how an early visit to the orthodontist may help you avoid more costly or invasive treatments in the future from Dr. McReath at McReath Orthodontics.

There are several things an orthodontist may suggest when seeing a child. They may suggest a palatal expander, early interceptive treatment, tooth removal, or other things. A palatal expander is often used when the patient is still growing. This device in younger patients may reduce the need for extractions or prevent impacted teeth. Cases that are not corrected in growing patients may require surgery down the road or lead to abnormal wear and tear.

Early interceptive treatment (aka a short time in braces) can correct problems early on to prevent lager problems later. Additionally, tooth removal may be suggested as sometimes removing baby or impacted teeth can help permanent teeth emerge better and encourage them to come into a more ideal position without an orthodontic appliance.

It is important to note that an early visit to the orthodontist doesn’t necessarily result in orthodontic treatment. It simply is a precautionary measure for a child’s oral health and could help to identify and/or prevent some oral issues in the future. If you have any questions about when your child should see an orthodontist or to schedule an appointment, please contact our office.