Did you know that 9 out of 10 people have teeth that are at least slightly crooked? Crooked teeth, however, don’t have to be in your child’s future as long as you consult with an orthodontist. An orthodontist can examine your child’s teeth to make sure they are developing correctly.
An orthodontist in Sandy, UT will also be able to make corrections early so your child will not need to deal with crooked teeth in their adult life.
However, if your child is still quite young, you might be wondering when you should first take your child to a kid orthodontist. Luckily, you’ve clicked on the right article to have all your questions answered.
Here, you’ll learn about the three major signs that it’s time for your child to take a visit to the family orthodontist. After you learn about these three signs, you’ll be more confident in making sure you’re making the right decisions when it comes to your child’s dental health.
To start off, let’s take a closer look at what an orthodontist is, what to expect when seeing an orthodontist, and how an orthodontist can help improve your child’s smile.
What Is a Child Orthodontist?
Crooked teeth can be linked to a variety of dental problems as well as health problems. This is because of the way crooked or crowded teeth can interfere with chewing, talking, and the position of your jaw. These misaligned teeth can also make it difficult for you to clean your teeth, increasing the risk of developing gum disease and tooth decay.
A Sandy orthodontist aims to correct misaligned teeth in order to prevent these more serious problems. Orthodontists specialize in the straightening of teeth, the correction of crowded teeth, and the correction of jaw misalignments as well as overbites and underbites. A child orthodontist is an orthodontist that specializes in fixing these problems in children.
Child orthodontists are important because they can fix dental problems in children before they become too serious. This is because the jaw and teeth of children are still developing, so they can be molded and corrected more easily compared to adults with the same problems. Children are also able to heal quicker from more significant corrections than adults.
When seeing a child orthodontist, the orthodontist will be able to ascertain what kind of dental treatments might be right for your child. These treatments can range from braces to dental or jaw surgery, depending on the severity of your child’s dental issues. The orthodontist will be able to choose the right treatment options after conducting oral exams, dental x-rays, and even dental impressions.
Now that you know what a child orthodontist does, let’s take a look at the three signs you should take your child to see an orthodontist.
1. Your Child Is 7 Years Old
Children start to lose their baby teeth around the age of 6. During this time, their adult teeth start to break through. Making sure that these adult teeth come in correctly is important to your child’s future smile and dental health.
To make sure that this happens, consider taking your child to the orthodontist at age 7. Any expert will tell you that this is a perfect age. But what if your child’s teeth look fine at age 7?
Don’t be fooled by your child’s early dental growth. While your child’s teeth may look fine now, they may soon become crooked as they age. Since you have no way of knowing how your child’s teeth will turn out in a couple of years, it’s best to see an orthodontist early.
An orthodontist will then be able to conduct x-rays and otherwise observe the state of your child’s teeth. The orthodontist can then tell you if your child might need any correction now or in the future. Knowing this information early can help you prepare for maintaining your child’s dental health.
If you’re really not interested in taking your child to the orthodontist so early, you can wait a few years. Age 10 is also a fine age to take your child to the orthodontist. However, by this time, your child may already be showing signs of crooked teeth.
2. Your Child Has an Irregular Bite
An irregular bite usually involves an overbite or an underbite. An irregular bite is most commonly a problem with the lower jaw’s alignment compared with the upper jaw. It can sometimes be caused by misaligned or crowded teeth.
An irregular bite can make it difficult for your child to speak and chew properly. In severe cases, a misaligned jaw can also cause head, jaw, and neck pain. It can also increase the risk of tooth decay and gum disease.
If your child has an irregular bite, even if it is slight, it is important to see an orthodontist. Before your child’s jaw develops further, the orthodontist can help to make sure that the jaw develops correctly.
3. Your Child Has Crowded or Gapping Teeth
This is the most obvious signs to see an orthodontist, although you might not notice teeth crowding or gapping until your child is older. While crowded teeth are a major problem, gapping teeth can also be disadvantageous. This is because gapping teeth can make it hard to eat or speak properly.
More often than not, an orthodontist will use braces to correct teeth misalignments. With time, your child’s teeth will be where they’re supposed to be.
Signs To See a Child Orthodontist
You now know all about the signs that it’s time to bring your child to see an orthodontist. By making sure your child’s dental problems are corrected early, he or she can have a healthy and happy smile for the future.
To learn more, contact us here.