Put quite simply, early. When children are around 7 years old, they generally have a mix of baby and adult teeth, and some common problems can be treated early. Children have a lot of things that are still being developed, like the spacing between their teeth, protruding teeth, and crowding of the teeth. A lot of this is simply genetics.
While a lot of these issues are in fact genetic, many are developed over time. Things like thumb sucking, not brushing or caring for their teeth, or accidents can all result in the need to see a dental professional early in life.
Orthodontists are trained to spot these at an early age, and if corrected early enough, can make the difference between early, easy corrective action and many years of braces.
The AAO recommends that all children get a check-up before they are 7 years old. Even if your child's teeth seem normal as of now, there could be an underlying issue within the gums that only a trained professional can detect.
Even if a problem is detected, many times the appropriate course of action is to "Wait it out" and see if the problem corrects itself. Only once we see an issue is going to become permanent will we take evasive maneuvers.
While a lot of these issues are in fact genetic, many are developed over time. Things like thumb sucking, not brushing or caring for their teeth, or accidents can all result in the need to see a dental professional early in life.
Orthodontists are trained to spot these at an early age, and if corrected early enough, can make the difference between early, easy corrective action and many years of braces.
The AAO recommends that all children get a check-up before they are 7 years old. Even if your child's teeth seem normal as of now, there could be an underlying issue within the gums that only a trained professional can detect.
Even if a problem is detected, many times the appropriate course of action is to "Wait it out" and see if the problem corrects itself. Only once we see an issue is going to become permanent will we take evasive maneuvers.