There is nothing more fulfilling than watching your child grow, hitting milestones and learning new things every day. As your child’s teeth come in, however, you may be wondering if they will one day need braces—how will you know when and if that time comes? Kids should begin seeing a dentist within six months of their first tooth erupting, so they will likely tell you when they think it’s time to get an orthodontic evaluation. But what does that mean? Are there any set times to get started or signs to watch out for? What if you want to be sure?
If your child’s dentist recommends you visit an orthodontist, don’t panic—we’re here to make sure your child gets the best treatment possible at the lowest cost to you. That’s one of the reasons we offer free consultations. We’ll evaluate your child’s unique spacing, bite, or jaw problems and recommend the best course of treatment. Sometimes, that means starting as soon as possible, while in other cases, it means waiting until most or all of the baby teeth have fallen out. At Birmingham Orthodontics, we want to make sure you are fully informed about your treatment, payment, and scheduling options.
Though your dentist can help you decide when to come for an evaluation, there are a few signs that child your child is likely to benefit from braces outside of obvious crowding, misplacement, or crookedness problems. Keep an eye on notably early, late, or irregular loss of baby teeth, as this can be an early indicator of potential issues down the road. If your child has difficulty chewing or biting, this could be a sign of a misaligned bite, and might also lead to or occur alongside cheek biting. These issues aren’t causes for alarm; they are simply early alerts that your child could benefit from braces.
Usually, the problems best suited for early intervention are those related to the bite, where the jaws don’t line up properly. It is much easier to correct a misaligned bite when the jaw is still growing, and success is far more predictable. Take a look at our previous posts about overbites, underbites, and crossbites for more information on these conditions, including which require early intervention. Other issues, such as crowded, crooked, or abnormally spaced teeth, can often wait until your child’s permanent teeth come in.
For any concerns you may have, it is best to be sure, and a complimentary consultation at Birmingham Orthodontics will set your mind at ease at no cost to you. When you don’t have to worry about the cost of the consultation, you can have peace of mind knowing you are doing the right thing for your child and your family’s budget! Whether we book your first appointment that day or we won’t be seeing you for another few years, you’ll leave with a full understanding of your child’s orthodontic needs. You can even enroll in our prepay program, created especially for kids who aren’t ready for braces quite yet. This option lets you begin paying a partial monthly payment for the braces your child will need in one to two years, lowering the monthly payment when treatment begins—plus you’re guaranteed no risk, as the program is fully refundable for any reason if things don’t go as planned.
Parenting is stressful, but deciding whether or not to get braces shouldn’t be part of that. You’ve got plenty on your hands already! Let us help you give your child the best possible start and call us today to set up your free consultation.
At Birmingham Orthodontics, our mission is simple: we create smiles. Not only do we straighten the crooked grin, fix the bite, and adjust the jaw, we also brighten yearbooks, help young people come to like their looks, and give adults the confidence they have wanted for a long, long time. We also believe in our staff. Our culture of continuous learning has allowed us to host monthly training sessions for each team and bring in leading industry consultants to help keep us ahead of the curve. Contact us for a free consultation, or any questions you might have.
