When is the first visit to the orthodontist recommended?
Ideally, the child should be seen by the orthodontist around 6 or 7 years of age, coinciding with the beginning of tooth replacement. This is the best time to detect, early on, any anomaly that may affect their development.
At DEN, we believe that prevention is the best treatment. Therefore, we make observation visits to children systematically from the age of 6 years, and if there is any problem, we detect it early.
At this age we can detect harmful habits, growth problems or asymmetries, among others. They are usually easily treated during childhood and more complicated treatments are avoided during adulthood.
What can we look for to think that a child needs orthodontics?
There are signs that indicate the need to see an orthodontist to determine if treatment is necessary:
- Teeth are crowded or crooked.
- Upper or lower teeth protrude too far
- Habitual thumb sucking
- Mouth breathing or difficulty eating.
When is the best time to start orthodontic treatment?
Tooth position problems can begin to be noticed when baby teeth erupt. Childhood and adolescence are the ideal time to correct certain dental and growth problems, so early detection is important.
Does the pacifier cause dental problems?
In case of pacifier use, we should not worry if it ends around 2 years of age, since the effects on the dentition are reversible until this age.
However, it should be removed between 2 and 3 years of age to avoid serious malocclusions that may persist over time.
What are palatal expanders?
The palatal expander is an appliance used by the orthodontist to correct a transversal problem which is a narrow palate.
This alteration causes the palate to be narrower than normal, preventing a correct relationship with the jaw.