Let’s talk about the Top Reasons Orthodontists Recommend or Don’t Recommend Orthodontic Treatment for your children ages 6-11 years old. As the first 12 permanent teeth erupt (6-8 years old), certain tooth problems can present that are easier and healthier to correct earlier at ages 7-11 rather than in teenage years. This method of doing some orthodontic correction at 7-11 years old and again at 12-16 years old is called Phase 1 and 2 Orthodontic Treatment.
Too much Horizontal Overlap. When the Upper teeth protrude forward too much (also called “Buck teeth”). There is usually an underlying bite issue associated with this.
Too Much Vertical Overlap (Deep Bite). How your child chews could be causing harm. This is when the lower front teeth are hidden behind the upper front teeth and can sometimes contact the palate. - UNDER BITE
: When the lower jaw and/or the lower teeth are in FRONT of the upper teeth. This usually involves longer and more extensive treatment to avoid a jaw surgery later on.
OPEN BITE: The upper and lower front teeth do not come together. There is an open space when biting. This is often the result of a finger habit, abnormal eruption of teeth, posturing positioning, or jaw growth issue. 
- SPACING: The spaces between teeth can be caused by jaw size differential or tooth size differential.
CROWDING. The upper or lower jaw may be too narrow or the teeth may be too large. This is the most common orthodontic problem that is usually solved with braces or Invisalign
.
CROSSBITE. The position of the teeth is dependent on the growth of the upper and lower jaws. The maxilla or mandibular jaw growth is abnormal, then the appearance of a tooth crossbite is usually seen. These are usually fixed with expanders.
These are the top 7 reasons why your child may need braces. While there is not an exact age for kids to start orthodontic treatment, the American Association of Orthodontists and Drs. Passamano recommend children have a routine orthodontic evaluation at 7-8 years of age or when their permanent incisors being to erupt.
Please message or call us if you have any questions or what to schedule an evaluation for your child. Thanks for reading! 🙂
Dr. Robert Passamano
