Getting off to a good start to a greater smile
An orthodontic exam by age seven is recommended by the American Association of Orthodontists. We agree that when the permanent teeth begin coming into the mouth, the time for the first consultation is near. The majority of kids are not ready for treatment yet, but the consultation can set them on the right track for orthodontic health.
Most often, early orthodontic treatment does not prevent the need for braces later. Therefore, we are quite conservative when recommending early treatment. When early treatment is not indicated, we may place the patient on an annual recall schedule until the optimum time for treatment occurs.
There are, however, instances when early treatment is needed to avoid compromising the result, and we try to keep this treatment focused to limited goals so as not to unnecessarily extend treatment time.