Early Treatment

By age 7, most children have a combination of baby and adult teeth. For this reason, it is

important to bring your child for an orthodontic check at around 7 years of age. Early detection of orthodontic problems is important, even if there is a decision not to begin treatment. Monitoring from a young age may prevent more serious problem from developing, and may make treatment at a later stage shorter and less complicated.

What are the possible signs of orthodontic problems? Here’s what you need to look out for:

• Difficulty in chewing or biting

• Breathing through the mouth

• Thumb sucking

• Crowded teeth

• Jaw that seems too far forward or back

• Biting the cheek or roof of the mouth

• Protruding teeth

• Upper and lower teeth that don’t meet, or meet in an abnormal way

• Unbalanced facial appearance

• Grinding or clenching the teeth