The American Association of Orthodontists suggests that kids see an orthodontist at around seven years. While this may seem early, especially to those who remember wearing braces as adolescents, it is consistent with dental development. Timely orthodontic examinations play a vital part in maintaining oral health and may assist you, and your kid prevent the need for more comprehensive dental work later on. Besides, a check-up does not necessarily indicate that your kid will require substantial care. To discover more reasons to schedule a visit with orthodontic specialist Ryan Pendleton DDS, check out this post.

1) Identify Possible Issues Early To Save Expensive Care Down The Road

Although kids still have baby teeth at seven years, they also have sufficient permanent teeth for an orthodontist to determine if an issue exists. At this age, most kids have their permanent molars, and orthodontists may notice possible concerns, including:

• Extra or missing teeth
• Crossbite
• Overbite
• Open bite
• Underbite

Suppose you wait till your kids are preteens or teenagers before visiting an orthodontist. In that case, they might need substantial care for crooked teeth, alignment problems, impacted molars, or overcrowding-all of which are easier to fix at an earlier age.

2) Avoid Injury To The Gums And Teeth

If your kid has an overbite, Dr. Pendleton may reduce the projection and fix the misalignment as soon as possible. Besides the social ramifications of overbites, the greatest concern with an overbite is that the kid risks cracking or shattering their teeth during falls. This sort of trauma could necessitate more extensive dental care.

Moreover, correcting a knocked-out or fractured tooth is challenging until the patient’s development has ceased and an implant can be installed. Uncorrected overbites may also cause significant tooth wear and jaw disorders. Other problems associated with overbites, such as spacing and crowding, render teeth more difficult to clean and contribute to gum disease.

3) Facilitate Tooth Eruption

Another advantage of early dental repair is the possibility of guiding teeth that have not yet erupted. Once children feel acute discomfort throughout the teething phase, it may indicate that the teeth underneath the gumline lack sufficient room to emerge. By undergoing x-rays, your orthodontist may estimate the path of teeth yet to emerge. Suppose pre existing teeth are in the path; your orthodontist can devise a suitable care plan. Failing to fix misaligned teeth could lead to crooked teeth and even a misaligned jaw.

4) Address Unhealthy Oral Practices

Before seven years old, most kids suffer poor dental hygiene. Common practices such as finger or thumb sucking, mouth breathing, and teeth grinding could harm your kid’s dental health.

However, various orthodontic procedures are available to assist rectify these habits, including a thumb-sucking device or palatal expander, and the sooner they are corrected, the better! Moreover, consulting an orthodontist at an early age supports the development of healthy dental habits and the maintenance of proper oral hygiene.

Whether you are worried about your kid’s oral health or simply wish to take preventative measures, Dr. Ryan Pendleton and his expert staff at Pendleton Orthodontics can help. At the Leander, TX office, these specialists strive to make you and your kid feel comfortable as possible throughout your consultation and procedure. Get started today by requesting an appointment through mobile or booking online.