When to start an orthodontic treatment?
Children
With children, it is important to have an orthodontic evaluation while they still have both primary and permanent teeth. If during a regular checkup orthodontist identifies a problem, it doesn’t mean that treatment has to start right away. The doctor normally observes the growth of teeth in order to be able to establish the optimal time to start the treatment.
The orthodontic treatment process for children typically starts around the age of 6-7, when they loose the remaining primary teeth. In some cases, treatment may start earlier, when at least some of the permanent teeth have erupted. Although it is generally not necessary to wait for the eruption of all the permanent teeth, orthodontist usually plans the treatment process in a way, that assumes the eruption of all the permanent teeth by the end of treatment.
With severe cases, such as crossbites, teeth crowding, or jaw misalignment, the treatment generally starts when children either have the primary teeth only, or primary teeth and a few permanent teeth.
Pacifier or thumb sucking must be completely stopped by the time permanent teeth erupt. If the habit is not broken in time, a malocclusion (improper bite) is likely to develop.
Habits such as pacifier or thumb sucking by the age of 7 or once the permanent teeth erupt, may cause malocclusion or bite problems later in life.