When to See an Orthodontist
If your child's baby teeth are coming in or if you want your child to grow up with straight, healthy teeth, you may be wondering: when should a child see an orthodontist? Ask your friends and you will likely get a series of different answers ranging from "whenever they have teeth" to "before they turn 10", and while neither of these answers are necessarily wrong, they aren't exactly clear about when you should see an orthodontist. Here at Niagara Orthodontics we believe that all children deserve to look forward to a lifetime of beautiful straight teeth, so we have put together everything you need to know to answer the question "When should you see an orthodontist?"
Know The Signs
The easy answer to the question is age 7—but wait, that isn't the whole story. There are a number of reasons why your child may need to visit an orthodontist before then. By age seven most of your child's permanent adult teeth will have come in, which will give us a clear idea of your child's developing oral health, but there are some exceptions to this rule. Given that the baby teeth set the stage for adult teeth to come in, we can often catch developing problems before they become serious or permanent. Here are some signs you can look for to know if you might need to bring your child to the orthodontist earlier than 7:
- Difficulty chewing or biting
- Visibly misaligned baby teeth
- Persistent thumb sucking habit
- Mouth breathing
- Early or late loss of baby teeth
- Inability to speak clearly
Visit Your Local Orthodontist!
Whether you live in Niagara Falls, St. Catherines, Fonthill, or Beamsville, Ontario, the best way to find out whether your child may be developing oral conditions is to bring him or her into our orthodontic office. When neglected, some conditions can develop into speech impediments, misaligned teeth, and chronic pain in the teeth and jaw—so don't delay, bring your child in to Niagara Orthodontics today! Contact Niagara Orthodontics to learn more or to schedule an appointment.
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