Orthodontics can often cover both cosmetic and functional dental concerns. Misalignment, gaps, crowding teeth, and other orthodontic issues can both affect a person’s overall confidence in their smile, but also impact their ability to eat, talk, and take care of their teeth. For many parents, they might wonder when they should consider talking to an orthodontist. Do you need to wait until all the baby teeth are out, or when all the adult teeth are in, or is there another sign that you should talk to an orthodontist? Honestly, the best course of action is to talk to your dentist about orthodontics. Even if they don’t provide orthodontic treatments, they will likely be aware of the signs that your child might need braces or aligners and can either refer you to an orthodontist or at least give you some initial advice. In this article, we will cover a few of the most common reasons you should talk to an orthodontist for your child. For dental care for kids and teens in Chicago, please contact one of our offices!
Generally speaking, most dentists recommend a first orthodontic visit somewhere between seven to twelve years old. The preteen years are a transitional period for kids’ oral health. As their baby teeth fall out and their adult teeth come in, your dentist and orthodontist can track oral development and help provide support if there are any concerns.
If your child has gaps between their adult teeth or, conversely, their teeth are coming in crooked or twisted with little space between them, that is a good reason to schedule a first appointment. Likewise, if you notice that your child’s teeth are not falling out on schedule, you might want to ask your dentist about it. While children and teens have different experiences with loose teeth and getting their adult teeth, when things are very off schedule, it could be a sign that there is an orthodontic issue. For example, some kids will have their adult teeth grow in behind their baby teeth because those baby teeth did not fall out on time, which can cause alignment problems when the baby teeth fall out, since the adult teeth are incorrectly positioned.
The decision to get braces is completely yours to make for your kids. In some cases, braces or orthodontic treatments are purely cosmetic and will not impact oral health. In other cases, your orthodontist will strongly advise braces to help alignment issues from causing problems. It is important to discuss your child’s options in terms of traditional metal braces vs aligners that can be removed.
If you live in the Chicago area and need to make appointments for yourself or your family members, we would be happy to help. Give us a call to discuss dental appointments in Chicago.
