{"id":21,"date":"2020-11-07T16:40:00","date_gmt":"2020-11-07T16:40:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.simplyorthomilford.com\/blog\/?p=21"},"modified":"2021-02-05T16:43:18","modified_gmt":"2021-02-05T16:43:18","slug":"milford-pediatric-dentist-signs-your-child-needs-braces","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.simplyorthomilford.com\/blog\/2020\/11\/07\/milford-pediatric-dentist-signs-your-child-needs-braces\/","title":{"rendered":"Signs That Your Child Needs Braces"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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More than 3.5 million kids start braces every year, so you probably won\u2019t be all that surprised if your child\u2019s dentist tells you your little one needs them as well one day. However, they may recommend it much sooner than you think! In fact, your Milford pediatric dentist may encourage you to take your son or daughter to an orthodontist even while they still have some baby teeth! While this may seem too young, early detection and intervention for orthodontic issues can save you and your child a lot of time, money, and hassle in the long run. Read on to find out how as well as signs that could mean your little one needs braces.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

When Should Your Child See an Orthodontist?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The American Association of Orthodontists officially recommends that all children see an orthodontist at the age of seven. This doesn\u2019t mean this is when they need to be fitted with braces! The focus of this initial evaluation is to see how your child\u2019s mouth is developing, if they\u2019re on track, and identify any warning signs of orthodontic issues. Your child\u2019s first set of permanent molars will likely come in around the age of six or seven, which an orthodontist can look at to predict how your little one\u2019s bite will form over the coming years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Early Intervention Can Save You Time & Money<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Most children won\u2019t need any sort of treatment during this first orthodontic appointment. The primary focus will be on what you can expect as your child\u2019s mouth continues to grow, including what treatments they are likely to need and when. Typically, you\u2019ll come back for periodic checkups every six to 12 months to monitor your little one\u2019s development and talk about the possibility of orthodontic treatment like braces or Invisalign when they are 11-14 years old.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, there are some cases where your orthodontist will recommend an early treatment for your child during their initial evaluation. This is called \u201cphase one orthodontics.\u201d Their primary goal is to begin correcting serious orthodontic issues as early as possible, while the teeth are still growing and easier to adjust. This can potentially save you a tremendous amount of time and money on more complex orthodontic treatments for your child later on when the issue has gotten much worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Signs Your Child Needs Orthodontic Treatment<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

As your son or daughter grows, you should be on the lookout for warning signs that they need to see an orthodontist, like:<\/p>\n\n\n\n