When Should My Child be Evaluated for Braces?
Dr. Khara recommends that all children have an orthodontic evaluation by the time they’re seven years old. At this age, they’ve started losing their baby teeth, and the first primary teeth have started to come in. Their first molars appear around this time as well.
At this point, the orthodontist can get a better idea for how your child’s smile will develop. Using state-of-the-art technology, such as digital x-rays, Dr. Khara can examine the smile both visually and below the surface. This allows him to see how teeth are developing, whether there is a current health problem, or whether alignment will worsen in the future.
In some cases, an alignment issue may be severe enough that your child’s dentist will recommend you seek treatment earlier than age 7. It’s important to listen to these recommendations and have your child evaluated quickly to protect their teeth and their overall health.
Even if your child doesn’t need early orthodontics, monitoring their development is still an important part of their care. Dr. Khara keeps an eye on their teeth to ensure the process is going smoothly, and will be able to develop a better idea of what kind of future treatment they may need.