Getting braces and having an early orthodontic checkup are two different things, which most parents often mistake for the same thing. At the age of seven, an orthodontist will usually look at the growth of your child’s jaw, noting the width of their palate and tracking the growth of their adult teeth under the gums. If it’s starting to look like it’s crowded in there, early intervention orthodontic treatment, like expanders or habit correctors, can guide jaw development and make them more aligned while the bones are still flexible. This is not done to bypass teenage braces but rather to make the subsequent phase much shorter, less complex, and with a significantly lower likelihood of requiring tooth extractions.
So, as a parent, if you’re still not sure if your child is ready to get braces, here are 7 signs that your child needs to schedule an orthodontic assessment sooner rather than later.
Watch out for physical alignment and spacing.
One of the major indicators that your child requires an orthodontic assessment is when you notice issues while they speak or smile. Look closely at how their adult teeth are erupting and whether they have enough space in their mouths for their adult teeth to grow. Early intervention can help expand the arch and give more room for their teeth to grow while also guiding them into place. Don’t worry, such a procedure is considered a non-invasive treatment and will be performed by the orthodontist.
There’s severe crowding among their teeth.
If your child’s adult teeth are erupting in a twisted or crowded way, it’s a sure sign that there isn’t enough room in their jaw.
They have misaligned bites.
Another obvious sign is if your child’s upper or lower jaw sticks out aggressively. Take a look at their side profile and how they bite down normally; if you spot either the top teeth sticking out (overbite) or the bottom teeth sitting in front of the top teeth (underbite), then you should get them checked since leaving uneven teeth as they are can strain their jaw.
Their teeth have large gaps and spacing issues.
For growing children, having some spacing is normal. The trouble starts if there are massive gaps or if they have teeth that fail to meet, since it shows there’s a discrepancy between the sizes of their teeth and jawbone.
Their structural and functional breathing is compromised.
Many may think getting orthodontic procedures is for the sake of cosmetics, but some do so since their children’s everyday mouth functions, like eating, sleeping, and speaking, are compromised.
They’ve become chronic mouth-breathers.
Generally speaking, people breathe through their nose, but sometimes mouth-breathing can’t be helped, especially if you’re suffering from a stuffy nose. But it’s an entirely different case if your child has started to breathe through their mouth constantly, especially while sleeping. If left unchecked, this could change the physical development of their face and jaw, since mouth breathing tends to lead to a narrow upper jaw and recessed upper jaw.
They’re having speech difficulties.
Developmental delays can happen to some children, and it’s pretty common for their parents to want their kids to undergo speech therapy. Some speech issues, like difficulty pronouncing some consonants or speaking with a lisp, are mechanical and can be addressed, especially if they start therapy early. However, if your child’s teeth or jaws aren’t aligned properly, then it would be difficult for your child to pronounce the words properly.
Chewing and biting are hard for them.
Biting the inside of your cheek can happen to anyone, but if you notice your child doing this frequently, there’s a chance that their teeth and jaw are misaligned. Another telling sign is if they have trouble chewing their food normally.
They have either early or late dental milestones.
Depending on what age your child is in life, this factor could also give you a clue on whether or not you should see a specialist soon.
They’re experiencing premature or very late loss of baby teeth.
We all know that everyone is bound to lose their baby teeth in time. After all, they’re just placeholders until one’s adult teeth grow. The trouble with losing one’s baby teeth early, whether it is due to decay or injury, is that the neighboring teeth can drift into the space. Once they do, they will block the permanent teeth from coming in, and that spells trouble. On the other hand, if your child’s baby tooth is still intact and doesn’t show any signs of falling out well past the expected age, then this can cause the adult teeth to erupt out of alignment.
Booking an orthodontic assessment now doesn’t usually mean your child will have to get braces, but by having them checked during their growth spurts, it will make future treatments not only faster but also less invasive.
