When to Visit the Orthodontist

Will my child need braces? This is a common question that many dental experts and professionals get on a daily basis from caring parents who want their children to have a great smile. But when is the right time to go and see an orthodontist? There are good reasons for both waiting to get braces and good reasons for getting them right away. It really just depends on the person and the parents who are making the decisions and footing the bills.

There are many people that believe that getting braces when you are young, like at the age of six seven will make for a better straighter smile as time goes on. But there is also good reason to wait a while before making that first visit to the orthodontist. Many dental experts believe that for most kids out there, seeing an orthodontist before the age of nine is just a waste of money.

Many dentists and parents alike are of the mindset or school of thought that a child has a lot of growing to do before braces are necessary. They think this for a good reason. Experts in the field point out that since children still have their baby teeth, putting braces on the few adult or permanent teeth that are not quite straight is just unnecessary. These say that as a child grows, so too does their mouth. And since their teeth are not fully formed and their bone structure still changing, putting a young child through braces or unnecessary orthodontia is just plain silliness.

However, there are some people who believe that the sooner the child gets orthodontia then the better off they will be in the long run. These professionals believe that getting the problems under control at the first sign of overcrowding or crookedness will keep other problems from getting out of control.

To be sure there are definite pros and cons to both situations. The pros of waiting to get braces or make a visit to the orthodontist are financial and physical. Often times, waiting to get orthodontia procedures means getting your braces one time. This is not the case for those who get braces in earlier childhood. Often, these kids are getting braces on and off their teeth up to four times by the time they reach the age of fifteen. This can get very pricey and not to mention exhausting for some kids.

But on the other end of the spectrum there is also the case to be made for early application. Many parents like to just get the expense of orthodontia over with before the teenage years or even before middle school. Many parents believe that it is hard enough to be a preteen or teenager anyway. And since having braces on your teeth can be a difficult experience for preteens and teens alike, they believe that their children should be spared that dreadful time at an age that kids are so sensitive about their appearance.