Orthodontics for Children

Although there is no exact age for children to begin orthodontic treatment, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends a visit to an orthodontist around age seven.

By this age, most children have a mix of baby teeth and adult teeth, making it easier for Dr. Bally to diagnose and correct tooth and jaw problems sooner and without surgery.

Early treatment allows our office to:

Correct and guide the growth of your child’s jaw to help the permanent teeth come in straight
Regulate the width of the upper and lower arches
Create more space for crowded teeth
Avoid the need for permanent tooth extractions later in life
Correct thumb sucking and help improve minor speech problems

For parents, it's not always easy to know if your child may need orthodontic treatment.

Here are a few things to look for that may mean your child needs to see us:

Early or late loss of baby teeth
A hard time chewing or biting food
Mouth breathing
Finger or thumb sucking
Crowded, misplaced, or blocked teeth
Jaws that pop or make sounds when opening and closing
Teeth that come together abnormally, or do not come together at all
Jaws and teeth that are not proportionate to the rest of the face
Crowded front teeth around age seven or eight

Please contact our practice to schedule an appointment for an orthodontic evaluation. Early treatment now will give your son or daughter a healthy, beautiful smile for the future.