Taking Your Child to the Orthodontist

When you take care of your children, you likely have a set schedule for them regarding the things they need for their healthcare. You take them to the dentist, you take them to their pediatrician, but most people do not think to begin taking them to an orthodontist as early on. However, most orthodontists recommend taking your child to their office by age 7 to begin routine exams to catch abnormalities or problems. Orthodontists recommend bringing your children in so they can begin taking care of them before small issues become big. For more information on the kind of procedures that can be done or the work recommended for your child, please call our office today to schedule your appointment.

I already take my child to a dentist. Isn’t that enough?

While an orthodontist is a type of dentist, they are a more specialized form. Orthodontists recommend you continue to go to your regular dentist twice a year for your cleanings, fillings, and usual exams. However, an orthodontist will perform a different type of maintenance on your child that can work in tandem with your typical dental visits. If, for example, your child’s jaw seems to be misaligned or their teeth are crooked, it is better to nip the problem in the bud before it gets worse. Treatment can be easier and shorter the earlier a problem is caught.

What kind of treatment options do you provide?

Unlike a dentist, orthodontists have additional years of education to provide specialized treatment options for your child’s teeth.

  • Braces. If you or your dentist begin noticing that your child has an overbite, an underbite, or crooked teeth, it is likely time to come to our office to have your child’s mouth examined for braces. The sooner your child can get braces, the sooner your child’s problem can be corrected. This means they will experience less pain and even avoid future problems with teeth grinding and chewing.
  • Retainers. The corrective process does not stop when the braces come off! To keep your child’s teeth in the correct place, orthodontists recommend wearing a retainer to ensure their progress does not regress.
  • Surgery. If your child was in an accident and their mouth was injured, call us right away so the orthodontist can begin devising a treatment plan to get them on their way to the recovery process as soon as possible.

What can you expect from the first visit?

When you visit an orthodontist, expect to be greeted by our wonderful reception team and begin the journey to a healthier smile! The orthodontist will begin your child’s initial consultation with pictures and potentially X-rays so the doctor can see what’s going on inside your child’s mouth. This can give us a good idea of what the best treatment option is. If you are unsure of whether or not your child needs orthodontic treatment, contact orthodontics, like John Redmond Orthodontics, for more information about kids and orthodontics today.