The Right Time for an Orthodontist Checkup

[caption id="attachment_1166" align="alignright" width="500"] Aine D via Compfight cc[/caption] When most people hear the term "orthodontist," they think of pre-teens and teens, but the truth is that your child should visit an orthodontist much sooner than their teens. According to the American Association of Orthodontists your child should visit an orthodontist specialist before their seventh birthday. More and more people are becoming aware of the importance of orthodontics for kids and the effectiveness of early detection and braces for kids.

The Benefits of Seeing an Orthodontist

When People think of an orthodontist, the first thing that comes to mind is braces. The truth is that an early visit to an orthodontist may place your child in a position in which corrective measures can be taken that will reduce the need for braces later. As the jaw bone grows and teeth re-position themselves, an orthodontist will be able to evaluate the progress of the bone growth and determine if there are any underlying issues that may not be visible. There are multitudinous benefits associated with your child having their first checkup before the age of seven. Some of those benefits are:

•  An orthodontist will be able to detect certain subtle developments in the growth of the jaw as well as any issues with emerging teeth while some baby teeth are still present.
• There are instances in which your child's teeth may appear straight to you but have underlying issues that only an orthodontist will be able to detect.
•  There are also certain conditions in which an orthodontist will be able to achieve positive results that will not be possible once the jawbone is fully developed. These early trips to the orthodontist will help facilitate healthier jaw growth, as the orthodontist can help guide that growth.
•  Early treatment will help reduce the development of more serious conditions later on.

There are numerous other benefits to getting your child in to see the orthodontist before they turn seven. As with any type of health condition, the earlier you are able to detect it, the more effective you will be at treating it. The concern of many orthodontists is that many parents don't categorize tooth health in the same way that they do other health conditions, but tooth health is vital to the overall health of the body.

Orthodontic Evaluation is Vital for Long-term Health

It is important for parents to understand that the physiological development of every person is different. This means that you can't judge the development of one child's jaw growth based on an older child's development. This is why it is imperative that each child see an orthodontist early in their childhood. You can take your child to visit an orthodontist to address any potential issues before they become more serious — costing more money and potentially more pain and discomfort for your child. Although conventional wisdom may have created the belief that you don't have to worry about getting your child to the orthodontist before they approach their teens, science clearly indicates that they need to see an orthodontist much sooner. For further consultation or advice, schedule an appointment with King Orthodontics at the earliest. We have offices in Fairborn and Centerville.

King Orthodontics, 400 East Dayton, Yellow Springs Rd. Fairborn, OH 45324

Phone: (937) 878-1561 Fax: (937) 433-9530

In Life; There is a Specific Time for Everything