Early Orthodontic Treatment for Children
Reviewed by Dr. Brent E. Sexton
Children should have a first orthodontic check by age 7. That’s the American Association of Orthodontists’ recommendation, and it isn’t because 7-year-olds need braces. By that age, enough permanent teeth have come in for an orthodontist to see how the bite and the jaws are developing. Most children need nothing done at that visit. The small number who do need help are far easier to treat now than later.
At Delta Smiles, that first check is complimentary at both our Antioch and Brentwood offices, and no referral is needed.
What a First Check Looks For
We’re looking at four things: how the upper and lower jaws relate to each other, whether there’s room for the permanent teeth still to come, whether any teeth are erupting in the wrong place, and whether habits like thumb sucking or mouth breathing are affecting development.
Three outcomes are possible:
- Nothing to do. Development is on track. We’ll see you in a year to be sure.
- Watch and wait. Something is worth monitoring, but treating it now would be premature. This is where most children land.
- Treat now. A specific problem exists that is easier to correct while the jaw is still growing.
When Early Treatment Helps
Early treatment, sometimes called Phase One, works with a child’s growth rather than against it. Growth is a window, and it closes, which is what makes timing matter. It’s worth doing when it can:
- Make room for permanent teeth that would otherwise come in crowded or blocked
- Correct a crossbite before it pulls jaw growth off-center
- Correct an underbite while the upper jaw can still be guided forward
- Reduce protruding front teeth that are at real risk of being knocked in a fall
- Stop a thumb-sucking or tongue habit that’s reshaping the bite
- Improve chewing, and sometimes speech, where the bite is interfering
When early treatment is done well, later treatment is usually shorter, simpler, and more predictable. Occasionally it removes the need for extractions altogether.
Signs Worth Getting Checked
Every child develops differently, so none of these mean something is wrong. Any of them is a good reason to book an exam:
- Baby teeth lost noticeably early or late
- Difficulty biting or chewing
- Breathing through the mouth habitually
- Thumb sucking past about age 5
- Speech difficulties
- Front teeth that protrude
- Teeth that don’t meet properly when the mouth closes
- The jaw shifting or clicking when opening and closing
- Crowding that’s already visible in the front teeth
- A crossbite or underbite
Does Every Child Need Early Treatment?
No. Every child benefits from being looked at; most don’t need anything done. If your child doesn’t need treatment, we’ll tell you.
Children who aren’t ready for treatment join our complimentary Orthodontic Growth Observation Program. We check them periodically as they grow, watch eruption and jaw development, coordinate with your family dentist, and start treatment when it does the most good. That timing is the difference between an easy course of treatment and a hard one.
What Phase One Treatment Looks Like
When treatment is warranted, Phase One is usually short and usually limited. It might be an expander to widen a narrow upper jaw, a partial set of braces on the front teeth, a space maintainer holding room for a permanent tooth, or an appliance to break a habit. In most cases that means months, not years.
There’s often a resting period afterward while the remaining permanent teeth come in. A second phase, if needed, comes in the early teens and is the treatment most people picture when they think of braces. More on two-phase treatment.
Not every Phase One child needs a Phase Two, and we won’t pretend to know at age 7 which ones will. We quote each phase when it’s needed; we don’t estimate a whole course years in advance.
Working With Your Family Dentist
Orthodontic care doesn’t replace regular dental care. Children should keep seeing their dentist every six months during and after treatment, and cleanings matter more once there are brackets to clean around. We share records and coordinate with your dentist throughout.
Book Your Child's Free Check
Call (925) 754-3197 in Antioch or (925) 513-9320 in Brentwood, or request an appointment. If your child needs nothing, we’ll say so and see you next year.
See also: two-phase treatment · treatment for teens · airway and breathing · what treatment costs
Frequently Asked Questions
Wondering if your child may benefit from early orthodontic care? Below are answers to some of the most common questions parents ask about timing, treatment options, costs, and what to expect during their child’s orthodontic journey at Delta Smiles.
My child still has mostly baby teeth. Isn't age 7 too early?
It’s a great time for a first look. We’re not looking at the baby teeth. We’re looking at the jaws and where the permanent teeth sit in the bone, which an X-ray shows well before they erupt.
What happens if we wait?
Some problems get harder. Growth-related issues, crossbites and underbites in particular, are far simpler to correct while a child is still growing, and once that growth is finished the options narrow to longer treatment or, occasionally, surgery. Waiting is harmless in many cases and costly in a few, and an exam is how you tell which yours is.
How do I know if my child's thumb sucking is affecting their teeth?
Past about age 5, persistent thumb sucking can push the front teeth forward and narrow the upper jaw. Whether it has, is visible on an exam. If it has, treatment usually starts with helping the child stop, not with an appliance.
Will early treatment mean my child wears braces twice?
Sometimes, and that’s worth knowing up front. Phase One and Phase Two are separate treatment phases. The trade is that a well-timed first phase often makes the second phase shorter and simpler, and occasionally removes the need for extractions. We’ll be straight with you about which applies.
Our dentist hasn't mentioned orthodontics. Should we still come in to the Antioch or Brentwood Office?
Yes. Dentists spot a great deal, but growth-related problems aren’t always obvious at a cleaning, and the exam here is free. Bringing a 7-year-old in for a look costs you nothing but the hour, and it rules a lot out.