We all know that healthy, beautiful smiles don’t necessarily come without proper dental care. If you’re trying to ensure those pearly white teeth for your child—you know, that amazing smile that looks like it came straight out of the pages of a magazine—you may be surprised to learn that orthodontic care well before their teen years can be a huge help. Your child may benefit from having braces as early as the first or second grade! The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that your child’s very first orthodontist appointment be no later than at age 7. Orthodontists can evaluate a child at around age 7 to identify orthodontic issues. At this age, your son or daughter will likely still have baby teeth, but he or she will also enough permanent teeth for the orthodontist to examine for any developing problems that can be addressed early. Crossbites, overbites, underbites, crowding, excessively spaced teeth, and other conditions start to appear around this time. With early intervention, you’ll be able to catch developing conditions well before they become more serious, and you’ll be glad you caught it early. It may also be easier to treat certain conditions as your child’s jaw is still developing and not every permanent tooth has come in. You may also be able to prevent having more involved and more expensive treatments for your child later on. Let’s talk about some of the conditions that benefit most from early intervention: Crossbites – Upper teeth typically fit outside the lower teeth. With crossbites, some or all of the upper teeth close inside the lower teeth. Underbites – The bottom front teeth end up covering up the top front teeth because the lower jaw extends beyond the upper jaw. This can lead to excessive wear on the front teeth and create problems chewing. Crowding – Teeth becomes crooked because there isn’t enough room in the mouth for all the teeth to grow in normally. This condition makes teeth harder to clean and vulnerable to uneven wear. Protruding teeth – Teeth protrude out at an angle rather than straight downwards. Not only is this unsightly, it makes the teeth more vulnerable to being fractured or chipped. Excessively spaced teeth – There are gaps in teeth because there is an abundance of room in the mouth. Missing teeth – Missing teeth can cause shifts and misalignments in the surrounding teeth. Thumbsucking – Children can actually shift the bones in their palate by putting pressure on the roof of their mouth when they are sucking their thumb, finger, or pacifier. There are several treatment options available when it comes to early orthodontic intervention. Some conditions may call for the removal of baby teeth, moving teeth, or changing the position of the jaw. Your child may have to get braces at an earlier age—which may not be a bad thing since younger kids actually might be more open to wearing braces than teenagers. Your child may even get excited about the colorful choices they’ll have for braces. No matter the course of action required for your child, seeking an evaluation for early orthodontic intervention is a great idea to ensure healthy and beautiful teeth for the future! Oxmoor Valley Orthodontics is ready to see you soon! Click here to contact us for a free consultation today!