Orthodontics is a dentistry area that specializes in the diagnosis, prevention, and correction of mal-positioned teeth and jaws and misaligned bite patterns. The first dental visit is recommended by 12 months of age or six months when the first tooth comes in. The visit could include a complete exam of jaws, teeth, bites, gums, and oral tissues to check growth and development.

Prevention is always better than cure, and that is why it is recommended that all kids between the ages of seven and ten years old have a preventative orthodontic assessment. That age is perfect because children have a mix of adult and baby teeth which help the dentist determine if there are any developing problems. The commonly known development problems include misalignment of the jaws, crowding, or overbite. 

Common signs that show a child should have early screening for orthodontics

It is crucial to visit an orthodontist for early screening because crowded and crooked teeth are hard to clean and maintain. In addition, a bad bite causes difficulty in chewing, abnormal wear on tooth surfaces, and stress on gums. Below are several signs to watch out for in a child that requires early screening for orthodontics:

• Look out for early or late tooth loss.
• Look out if the jaw shifts when your child opens or closes the mouth.
• Difficulty in chewing and biting.
• The child continues to suck the thumb after the age of five.
• Protrusion of front teeth.
• Teeth that do not meet correctly.
• Crowded front teeth.
• Hesitant speech.
• Breathing through the mouth and snoring.

Benefits for early screening for orthodontics

Certain dental milestones occur in a child within time frames expected to ensure normal skeletal and dental development. An orthodontist can recognize an interruption in this developmental cycle and get involved to correct that untypical development. Early intervention gives a better chance of avoiding more complex treatment needs later in the future. It can prevent permanent tooth extraction, impaction of permanent canines, or asymmetric jaw growth.

Orthodontic intervention stage care recommends using palatal expanders and limited braces to correct growth and development discrepancies for children with severe developmental issues. The most common intervention that does not require braces is the strategic removal of certain primary teeth to give room for the development of erupting permanent teeth.

In addition, there is a series of removable aligners designed to be worn in developing years to help out in the guidance of erupting adult teeth. Early screening for orthodontics comes along with so many benefits, to mention but a few:

• Ability to maintain better oral hygiene, which prevents the risk of cavities and gum inflammation.
• Helps in guiding jaw growth.
• Improves appearance.
• Provides a more favorable position for permanent teeth.
• Prevents protruded front teeth hence lowering the risk of trauma.

It is usually good to visit an orthodontist for early screening, even though you might not need early orthodontic treatment. The benefits of early screening are significant, especially in cases where early orthodontic treatment will be required. Orthodontic procedures performed later in life are expensive, and they take longer.