Bronx, NY – Parents are the first ones that usually notice something is not quite right when it comes to their child’s development, including their emerging smile: a tooth coming in behind another one, a bite that looks a little off in photos. Or maybe your child’s dentist mentioned crowding at an exam and cleaning visit, and it’s been sitting in the back of your mind ever since.
So how do you know when it’s time to do something about it?
“At Riverdale Family Orthodontics, we recommend that children have their first consultation with us around the age of seven,” says Dr. Woo, a board-certified orthodontist in Riverdale, Bronx, NY. “While the majority of children don’t need any sort of treatment this young, seeing us at this age lets us see how your child’s smile is taking shape. We can spot things that may be easier to address while the child is still growing. Then, we can keep monitoring the progress of the child’s jaw and mouth and only begin the treatment precisely at the very right time to provide your child with the most positive impact.”
Why age seven?
By seven, most children still have a mix of baby teeth and permanent ones, which is called the mixed dentition phase, and it’s the first window when we can see how the child’s permanent teeth are coming in and how their jaw is growing.
That doesn’t necessarily mean getting braces at age seven. For most kids, the visit ends with us saying everything looks good, see you next year. But for the smaller group who do have something that might need attention, catching it sooner is what allows us to prevent a manageable issue from becoming a complicated one down the road.
Signs to watch for at home
Fortunately, you don’t need clinical training in orthodontics to spot most of these. Things worth mentioning to an orthodontist:
Crowding
Teeth that overlap, twist, or erupt behind one another due to lack of room. Crowded teeth also make it harder for a child to keep them clean, which can lead to cavities and gum problems.
Gaps
Spacing between the teeth that seems to be widening rather than closing as the permanent teeth come in.
Early or late loss of baby teeth
Loss of baby teeth very early or very late can affect how the permanent teeth arrive which can be a sign for underlying upcoming orthodontic problems.
A bite that doesn’t line up
The upper teeth sitting well in front of the lower ones more than what’s normal, lower teeth sitting in front of the uppers, or front teeth that never meet the lower ones when the back teeth are together.
A jaw that shifts to the side
A Jaw that shifts to the side when your child bites down.
Trouble biting or chewing
Trouble biting or chewing or biting the cheek or the roof of the mouth.
Mouth breathing
Mouth Breathing or thumb sucking that continues past four or five years old.
Speech problems
Speech problems that make it hard to understand as your child gets older.
Any one of the above signs on its own may turn out to be nothing at all. Kids’ mouths change quickly. But they’re all worth a look.
What early treatment actually means
When treatment is recommended at a young age, it’s most often interceptive: a short first phase designed to guide growth rather than straighten everything.
An expander can create width in a narrow upper jaw. A space maintainer can hold room for a permanent tooth that hasn’t come in yet. A crossbite can be corrected before it starts pulling the jaw off center. These phases typically run 8-18 months, and most children will still need comprehensive treatment later on, once all the permanent teeth are in.
“Early treatment isn’t about finishing sooner,” says Dr. Woo. “It’s more about making the second phase more manageable and simpler, and in some cases, it might mean avoiding extractions or surgery down the road. Every case is different, and every child gets a plan tailored exactly based on their unique needs.”
What if your child is already past seven?
That’s still fine. Most orthodontic patients start at 11 to 13 years old, once the permanent teeth have come in, and in most cases, there’s nothing lost by beginning at that age. Older kids and teens might also be better about wearing their elastics and keeping their teeth clean, and that matters more than parents expect. It can just mean missing the most ideal window for a handful of specific issues, which can be prevented with a simple visit at age 7 and are the whole reason we like to see children early on and keep an eye on things.
Start with a consultation
No referral is needed to be seen by us, and your first visit is complimentary. Dr. Woo will look at your child’s teeth and jaws and will sit with you to explain what she sees in plain language, and tell you if anything needs to start now, later, or not at all.
Call Riverdale Family Orthodontics today at 718-884-7700 to schedule your child’s complimentary consultation.
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