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The Importance of Early Orthodontic Treatment
Orthodontics can correct issues with the alignment and spacing of teeth and jaws at any age. However, there are real benefits to beginning treatment while the teeth and jaws are still developing. That is why the American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children have an orthodontic evaluation by age 7.
At Broadway Dental of Millbrae, Dr. Donald Yang uses early evaluations to guide your child's smile as it grows. Even if treatment is not needed right away, an early start gives us the chance to spot potential issues at the ideal time, when they are often easier and more efficient to address.
Schedule Your Child's Evaluation
Why Age 7 Is the Right Time to Start
Even if treatment may not be needed now, early intervention allows Dr. Yang to monitor your child's teeth as they grow, ensuring the timely detection of any orthodontic issues. Early detection allows for more efficient and effective treatment down the road.
There is a specific reason age 7 matters. Around this age, your child's first adult molars begin to erupt, establishing the back of the bite and the proper alignment for the teeth. This provides a framework for evaluating the relationships between the front and back teeth, and between the left and right sides. By screening at age 7, Dr. Yang can watch for potential problems as the teeth develop and plan the best timing for any care.
Orthodontic Issues We Watch For
An early evaluation lets us identify a range of developing concerns before they become more complicated. Some of the issues Dr. Yang looks for include:
- Overbite: the top teeth sit substantially further forward than the bottom teeth when the teeth are closed
- Underbite: the bottom teeth sit further forward than the top teeth when the teeth are closed
- Open bite: the front teeth do not come together when the back teeth are closed
- Crossbite: the top teeth do not properly align with the bottom teeth
- Crowding: the teeth overlap and become crooked due to a lack of space
What to Expect at Your Child’s Consultation
An early orthodontic evaluation is relaxed, gentle, and informative for both you and your child. Here is what a visit typically involves:
1
A friendly welcome
We help your child feel comfortable and at ease from the start.
2
A thorough examination
Dr. Yang evaluates your child's teeth, jaw development, and bite as the adult teeth come in.
3
Imaging if needed
Digital X-rays may be taken to see how the teeth and jaws are developing beneath the surface.
4
A clear explanation
Dr. Yang discusses what he sees, whether any action is needed now, and what to watch for going forward.
5
A personalized plan
If treatment is not needed yet, we simply monitor your child's growth over time so we can act at the ideal moment.
The Benefits of Early Intervention
Addressing orthodontic concerns early, sometimes called interceptive treatment, offers many immediate and long-term advantages. Early orthodontic intervention can:
- Correct teeth crowding
- Create facial symmetry by influencing jaw growth
- Minimize the risk of trauma by correcting protruding front teeth
- Provide sufficient space for newly erupting teeth
- Prevent the need for tooth removal
- Reduce the duration of orthodontic treatment during adolescence or adulthood
- Improve your child's self-esteem and confidence
By guiding growth at the right time, early treatment can make later orthodontic care simpler, shorter, or in some cases unnecessary.
Give Your Child’s Smile the Best Start
Early evaluation is one of the simplest ways to support your child's long-term oral health and confidence. Even if no treatment is needed today, keeping an eye on their development ensures nothing is missed. If you have a child aged 7 or older, we would love to see them.
We proudly welcome patients from Millbrae, San Bruno, Tanforan, San Mateo, Hillsborough, Burlingame, and Daly City.
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