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While many kids don’t get braces until early adolescence, severe tooth and jaw misalignment may call for treatment as early as age 9 to prevent oral health complications. Learn some telltale signs your child might need braces soon.
You’ve noticed that your child’s teeth are crooked and maybe even overcrowded, so you wonder if they need braces to even out their smile.
While braces can certainly provide your child with a cosmetically beautiful smile, orthodontic treatments have even better things to offer, such as a reduced risk of tooth decay and improved chewing function.
The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends that children see an orthodontist for the first time shortly after turning 7, even if there aren’t any glaring issues. However, if you do notice their teeth are severely crowded or crooked, early intervention might be needed.
Farid Hanachi, DDS, PA, and our team at Hanachi Orthodontics in Mooresville, North Carolina, understand that it can be tough to know if your child needs braces or requires a trip to our office before age 7. So, in this month’s blog, we provide some telltale signs that your child needs an orthodontic evaluation from our team.
Does your child need braces?
The average age of children when they first get braces is about 10-14, when they have lost most of their baby teeth and have a mostly developed jawbone. However, if you recognize any of these signs, they might need early intervention:
1. They’ve lost their baby teeth too early or too late
Most kids don’t lose their baby teeth at the same rate. While there are some general age guidelines, some variation in that timeline is perfectly normal. However, if they lose their baby teeth significantly early or late, their subsequent tooth development suffers.
If you’re worried about the timing of your child’s loss of baby teeth, don’t hesitate to bring your child in to be seen by our team.
2. They have difficulty chewing or biting
We all bite down on our cheeks or lips from time to time while eating or talking. But if your child is consistently in pain when they chew or bite, either because they keep biting down on their cheeks or because of how their teeth fit together, your child may need braces in the near future.
3. They breathe through their mouth
If your child breathes through their mouth, it can affect how their teeth grow and develop. To prevent the need for extensive orthodontic work later on, Dr. Hanachi can provide some methods to correct your child’s breathing.
4. Their jaw shifts and clicks
If your child’s jaw is misaligned and their teeth don’t fit together properly, their lower jaw may jut out, or they may have jaw pain due to constant shifting and clicking.
5. Their facial features appear imbalanced
Improper tooth and jaw development can affect the appearance and balance of your child’s lips, chin, and other facial features.
Seek expert-level orthodontic care from our team
If you recognize any of these signs that your child might need braces, don’t hesitate to schedule a consultation with our team. Even if your child doesn’t need braces in the near future, Dr. Hanachi can create a customized plan to include a timeline for future orthodontic treatments.
To book your child’s appointment, simply call our office or use our online scheduler today.