The Benefits of Early Orthodontic Intervention: A Parent's Guide

When it comes to orthodontic treatment, timing matters. In some cases, if orthodontic treatment is done too early, before teeth have solidified their positions in a fully grown jawbone, treatment could be ineffective and need to be redone years later. 

However, other times orthodontic treatment can be delayed, which can lead to severe oral health issues that are harder to correct later on. 

If you’re on the fence about whether or not your child needs orthodontic treatment or how old they need to be for an orthodontist visit, our team, led by Farid Hanachi, DDS, PA, at Hanachi Orthodontics in Mooresville, North Carolina, is here to help. 

We provide expert-level orthodontic treatment for patients of all ages and oral health needs, and in this month’s blog, we’re discussing when orthodontic treatment should start and what early treatment might mean for your child. 

When does your child need to see an orthodontist?

The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends that children have their first visit to the orthodontist at age 7. By age 7, most children have a good mix of permanent and baby teeth, and any future oral health problems can be spotted by the expert eye of an orthodontist. 

Even if your child’s teeth are falling out and growing in as they should, most of their permanent teeth, including molars, are still lying underneath their gums, and potential issues with those teeth remain hidden from view. 

During your child’s first visit, Dr. Hanachi does a thorough examination of your child’s teeth, gums, and jawbone, including imaging tests to look at the permanent teeth yet to emerge. 

With this information, Dr. Hanachi will give you one of three outcomes: there aren’t any signs of orthodontic issues, there’s an issue that needs a “wait-and-see” approach, or there’s a problem that needs prompt intervention, known as early orthodontic intervention. 

What are the benefits of early orthodontic intervention?

When your child needs to undergo orthodontic treatment while they still have baby teeth, it’s known as early orthodontic intervention. In many cases, orthodontic treatment can be delayed until they’ve lost all their baby teeth and all their permanent teeth have emerged, but sometimes there are severe issues that need to be corrected before they become much worse.

Some signs that your child needs early orthodontic intervention are obvious, such as jaw clicking, difficulty chewing, or severe teeth misalignment; however, there could be problems below the surface that require earlier treatment, such as severely crowded teeth or teeth that don’t fit together properly. 

When these issues are addressed, your child benefits in these ways:

1. They have straight teeth that are easy to keep clean
2. They have aligned teeth that don’t wear-and-tear on protective enamel
3. They have an aligned jaw that allows for proper chewing and speech functions
4. They have a lower risk of gum disease and cavities 
5. They have a lower risk of jaw and facial growth deformities 

Caring for your child’s oral health through orthodontics protects their overall health in the long term. 

To learn more about our early orthodontic intervention methods, schedule your child’s first orthodontic visit by calling our office or using our online booking feature today.