09/10/2015 12:16
Safety guidelines enacted by the American Association of Orthodontists do not sanction the treatment of children below the age of 7. This is the consensus age at which a child has enough of a dental map to be seen by a dental professional.
Typically a 7-year-old will have a mix of baby and adult teeth. Naturally, a 7-year-old will also have something unorthodox about his bite or tooth placement that the doctor will be able to mark as either a harmless anomaly or a trend that bears watching. Eliminating childhood bad-habits, such as thumb sucking and mouth breathing, would be priorities at this early stage. However, treatment will almost exclusively start much later, between the ages of nine and 14.
Our expert in orthodontic treatments in Beverly Hills will tell you that your 7-year-old will ideally have four permanent incisors and four permanent molars. Any deviation from this number will likely have resulted in preliminary crowding or spacing issues. As stated before, these abnormalities are normal, but early diagnosis is the primary reason to seek a pediatric orthodontist. Specially trained in tooth movement, the pediatric orthodontist is exceptionally qualified to predict orthodontic problems for your child later in their adolescence.
If you have questions about your child and their orthodontic treatment, contact our cosmetic dentist in Beverly Hills.
