Early orthodontic treatment means fixing a problem while a child’s jaw is still growing. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends every child have an orthodontic evaluation by about age seven. Most seven-year-olds need nothing at all, and that is a perfectly good outcome. A small number have a problem that is far easier to correct while the jaw is still growing, and the point of the visit is to find those children before the window closes. Evaluations at The Orthodontic Gallery in Riverview are free.
A first visit at seven is simply a check-up for the bite: most children who come in at seven leave with a recheck appointment and nothing else. We will happily see your child once a year for free, for several years, and start treatment at the right moment rather than the convenient one.
Why Age Seven
By seven, most children have a mix of baby teeth and permanent teeth. The first permanent molars and the front incisors are usually in, which is the first point at which an orthodontist can see how the bite is developing, whether the upper and lower jaws are relating to each other correctly, and whether there will be room for the teeth still to come.
It is also the age at which the upper jaw is still two halves joined by a growth suture. That matters enormously, because it is what makes non-surgical widening possible in a child and difficult in an adult.
What Early Treatment Can Fix
Not every orthodontic problem benefits from early intervention. These do:
- Crossbite. When the upper teeth sit inside the lower ones, the jaw often shifts sideways to close. Left alone through years of growth, that shift can become built into the face.
- A narrow upper jaw. A palatal expander widens it gradually while the suture is still open. It takes months in a child. In an adult the same correction needs bone anchors or surgery.
- Severe crowding. Creating space early can sometimes prevent extractions later.
- Protruding front teeth. Upper front teeth that stick out well beyond the lower ones are considerably more likely to be broken in a fall or a collision, and Riverview has a lot of children in youth sports. A custom mouthguard is worth arranging before the season.
- Habits. Thumb sucking and prolonged pacifier use past a certain age reshape the developing arch. Stopping the habit early lets growth correct much of it on its own.
- Teeth that are not erupting. Some permanent teeth get stuck or come in badly angled, and catching that early is far simpler than dealing with it at fourteen.
How Two-Phase Treatment Works
Phase one usually runs six to twelve months, somewhere between ages seven and ten, and it addresses a specific structural problem rather than straightening everything. Expanders and partial braces are the usual tools.
Then there is a resting period, often two or three years, while the remaining permanent teeth come in. Your child comes in for periodic checks and wears a retainer or holding appliance.
Phase two is comprehensive treatment, usually starting around twelve or thirteen once all the permanent teeth are present. It is shorter and simpler than it would have been without phase one, and in some cases it avoids extractions or jaw surgery entirely.
Not every child needs both phases. Many need only one course of treatment as a teenager, and telling you that honestly is part of the job.
What a Child’s First Visit Is Like
It is short, it is friendly, and nothing at this visit involves drilling, needles, or anything being fitted. Dr. Abdulrazzaq counts teeth, looks at how the bite closes, and takes photographs and a scan if the child is comfortable with it. Our scanner is a small wand rather than a tray of putty, which makes an enormous difference to a seven-year-old.
Children who are anxious, or who have sensory or behavioral needs, get more time and a private room. See special-needs orthodontics and what happens at a first visit.
Frequently Asked Questions About Early Orthodontic Treatment
What is Phase 1 orthodontic treatment?
A short course of early treatment, typically six to twelve months between ages seven and ten, aimed at one specific structural problem such as a crossbite or a narrow upper jaw. It is not full braces, and it is followed by a resting period before comprehensive treatment as a teenager.
Is early orthodontic treatment really necessary?
For most children, no. For a minority it prevents a much harder problem later, and the only way to know which group your child is in is an examination. The evaluation is free, so there is no cost to finding out.
Is 10 too late for a palate expander?
No. Ten is well within the usual window, and expansion often works into the early teens because the palatal suture typically has not fully fused. It is harder after that, though adult expansion is still possible using bone-anchored techniques. See adult palatal expansion.
Will my child need braces twice if we start early?
Sometimes, and that is worth understanding before you begin. Phase one solves a structural problem; it does not straighten every tooth. Most children who complete phase one still need a shorter course of comprehensive treatment as a teenager. What early treatment buys is a simpler second phase, and in some cases the avoidance of extractions or surgery.
Book a Free Evaluation for Your Child
No referral needed and no cost, whether treatment turns out to be needed now, later, or not at all. Call 813-867-0414 or request an appointment. We are at 10061 Beach Verbena Drive in Riverview, near Kid’s Community College Riverview South.