The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child have their first orthodontic check-up by age 7. At this age, we can get a clear read on jaw growth and how the permanent teeth are coming in. Most kids won't need treatment until their teenage years — but a smaller number have something worth addressing early.
How It Works
At your child's first visit, Dr. Singh will do a complete evaluation of jaw growth and tooth eruption. A handful of orthodontic issues, if caught now, are far easier to manage than if we wait. When we see one of these, we'll recommend starting early — before all the permanent teeth arrive. Most of the time, though, we simply keep an eye on things at no cost, through our Vivid Beginnings Club, until the timing is right — usually once all the adult teeth have come in.
The Vivid Beginnings Club
Not quite ready for treatment? Your child joins our complimentary monitoring program. We'll see them periodically to track growth, take updated photos, x-rays, and measurements, and work with you to find the ideal moment to begin. It's our way of staying close without asking you to commit to anything before it's needed.
When We Recommend Early Treatment
Between about ages 7 and 10, a few specific situations make early treatment worth it — the outcome tends to be easier to achieve, and easier on your child, than waiting. What we watch for:
- Significant overjet — raises the risk of injury to the upper front teeth
- Crossbites, front or back — can push the lower jaw into an uneven, asymmetrical position
- Thumb or finger sucking — can interfere with normal jaw development
- Not enough room for incoming adult teeth — increases the odds of needing extractions later
What Early Treatment Looks Like
Early intervention usually starts with a functional or expansion appliance, sometimes followed by braces or Invisalign®. During this phase, we typically see your child every 4 to 10 weeks, depending on the goals we've set. Once it's done, we fit a retainer to hold the results and reduce the chance of relapse until your child is ready for the next phase of full treatment.