Early Treatment

When Is the Right Time to Start Orthodontic Treatment?

Young girl with bracesWhen most people think of kids and orthodontics, they might picture a pre-teen or teenager wearing Invisalign or Damon braces. However, the American Association of Orthodontists advises parents that their child’s first checkup with an orthodontist should take place before the age of 7. At Olson Orthodontics in Verrado and Lichfield Park, Dr. Chris Olson uses the first visit to examine your child’s mouth and determine whether treatment is needed or will be needed, as well as the best time to begin.

Benefits of Early Evaluation

The reason a first checkup is recommended at a young age is the opportunity it provides to catch problems before, or soon after, they begin. Baby teeth serve as the groundwork for a child’s permanent teeth and indicate how they will look. A 7-year-old should have a mix of both baby and adult teeth, with molars helping to establish the backbite. Early evaluation can spot developing issues with teeth alignment, such as an overbite or crowding, as well as jaw growth that can worsen with time.

Advantages of Early Treatment

Orthodontic treatment at an early stage can help in the following ways:

  • Guide jaw growth to improve facial symmetry
  • Guide adult teeth into the correct position
  • Make room for erupting teeth that are crowded
  • Leave room for still-to-erupt teeth
  • Reduce the need for tooth removal In addition, early treatment can lower the risk of trauma to a child’s protruding front teeth and shorten the treatment time that braces are needed.

Orthodontic Treatment Is About More Than a Pretty Smile

Along with ensuring a beautiful smile, orthodontic treatment is essential to correct bad bites that are a result of misalignment. A bad bite can affect your child’s smile alignment, speech, chewing and the teeth-cleaning process, leaving him or her open to tooth decay and gum disease. It can also make them self-conscious about their appearance and speech.

Contact Olson Orthodontics Today

At Olson Orthodontics, we employ cutting-edge technologies and braces, including Damon System braces, with a focus on saving teeth instead of extracting them. In addition to our main office in Litchfield Park, our Verrado office is now open to help serve residents of Buckeye, Avondale, Tolleson, Goodyear and the West Valley. Contact us at 623-536-7004 to schedule a consultation or fill out our appointment request form online today.

Olson Orthodontics

  • Litchfield Park Office - 13575 W. Indian School Rd., Suite 400, Litchfield Park, AZ 85340 Phone: 623-536-7004
  • Verrado/Buckeye Office - 4252 N. Verrado Way, Suite 105, Buckeye, AZ 85396 Phone: (623) 536-7004

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