When we picture someone with braces, it’s usually a friend or someone we know as an adult with big, bulky metal gear in their mouth resistant to show their teeth or smile. Though this is what we’re used to seeing, it’s not the norm when it comes to braces. Most of the time braces are applied at a much earlier age during childhood when there is still oral development taking place. Recommendations state that it’s the best practice to bring children into (practice name) for an orthodontic exam before they turn 7 years old.
The reason for the age recommendation is that by that age, all of the primary, or adult, teeth are beginning to come in and replace their original set of teeth grown as babies. Because the teeth are fresh and just coming in, it makes this the perfect time to correct them if needed.
There are a number of developmental issues in oral health that can be apparent by the age of 7 when kids start getting their mature teeth. Orthodontic correction can ensure the teeth and jaws grow in a healthy way and correct any problems that might have arisen. If you wait until the teenage years, the jaw bones have grown strong and can be harder to correct because they are nearer to the adult stage and are often not easy to fix.
If you make the important decision to begin making changes that will ensure the growth of the jaw and eruption of permanent teeth happen in a healthy development pattern, you can avoid difficulties. It will also likely be less costly in the long run to attack these problems from a young age and give your child a healthy and functional smile, not to mention not worrying about embarrassing braces in their teenage years.
To schedule your child’s consultation with our orthodontist in Wayne, New Jersey, Dr. Muhammad Abey, call 973-341-3180 today. We look forward to helping your child on have a great smile for years to come.