Parents are busier now than ever before, we understand. So why are kids getting braces earlier and is it worth carving out time in a parent’s busy schedule to see an orthodontist?

The truth is MOST kids ages 7-10 do NOT benefit from early treatment. The numbers in our practice fall within the 10-15% range for patients who benefit from early treatment. These early treatments can potentially eliminate future surgery or extraction of permanent teeth in the future. So while most kids don’t need early treatment, those that do benefit greatly in the long run. Our practice will show you the specific criteria we’re looking for including crossbites, severe crowding, speech difficulties, thumb sucking habits, jaw misalignments, and early loss of baby teeth.

The bottom line: it is DEFINITELY worth your time to see an orthodontic specialist by age 7. Years of research backs this recommendation made by the AAO (American Association of Orthodontists). Remember most kids will not need early treatment, but the free orthodontic exam (less than 1 hour) will provide peace of mind that your smile is being mindfully watched by your orthodontist. If the patient is not ready for braces, we will continue to monitor their growth with checkpoints every 6-12 months (sometimes virtually with simple photo submissions).

Schedule your FREE consultation with Apex Orthodontics today at 734-392-8288 or [email protected]. We’ll take exceptional care of you and your family!