Dr. Peter Lee and our team recommend that you bring your child into our office by the age of 7 for their initial orthodontic screening. Then, our orthodontist can monitor your child’s oral development and identify any issues or potential issues so that they can be treated early. Please contact OPDSF Orthodontics at (415) 681-8500 today to learn more about orthodontic monitoring in San Francisco, California, and to schedule a visit.
While your child’s teeth may appear straight, dental problems may develop that only a trained professional can accurately diagnose and treat. Interceptive orthodontic treatment is used to identify problems in your child’s oral development in order to provide preventive treatments as early as possible. Early preventive care can often reduce or eliminate entirely a number of potential problems that may worsen with time, including:
- Jaw misalignment or TMJ disorders
- Harmful oral habits (such as finger sucking or tongue thrusting)
- Trauma due to protruding front teeth
- Airway issues
- Speech issues
Additionally, interceptive orthodontics can help to guide your child’s teeth and jaws into the correct positions as they develop to ensure that they can enjoy proper oral function as well as a healthy and well-balanced smile that will boost his or her confidence. Early preventive care can make future orthodontic treatments shorter and less complicated, and in many cases will produce better results than treatments that are provided later on in your child’s life.
The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends that children receive their initial orthodontic screening no later than age 7. Some orthodontists recommend that children have their initial consultation even earlier.
