Even if your child is past the age of 7, it is important to have an orthodontic check-up as soon as possible. The fact is that most orthodontic patients begin active treatment between ages 9 and 14. Of course, every child is different and generally speaking, because children are still growing, this age range is optimal for achieving the best possible result from orthodontic treatment.Orthodontic treatment can be successful at almost any age. In fact, about one in five orthodontic patients today is over age 18. Thanks to today's smaller, less visible, more comfortable brackets, adults are finding braces more appealing. Healthy teeth, bones and gums respond well to orthodontic treatment at almost any age. It's never too late to get a healthy, beautiful smile.
It's not always easy to tell when your child has an orthodontic problem. Even teeth that look straight might be hiding a dysfunctional bite, which is why it's important to take your child for that initial orthodontic check-up no later than age 7. Here are some examples that may indicate orthodontic attention is necessary:
- Early or late loss of baby teeth.
- Difficulty with chewing or biting
- Breathing through the mouth
- Thumb-sucking
- Crowded, misplaced or blocked-out teeth
- Jaws that appear too far forward or back
- Biting the cheek or biting into the roof of the mouth
- Protruding teeth
- Upper and lower teeth that do not meet together, or meet in an abnormal way
- An unbalanced facial appearance
- Grinding or clenching of the teeth
