At what age should a patient first be seen?

You can have a great smile, whatever your age!

Patients can successfully undergo orthodontic treatment to correct irregularity of their teeth regardless of their age. That’s not to say that the starting age for treatment is irrelevant, because it can affect the options available for treatment, treatment complexity and efficiency.

Every patient is different, so it is important that you book an orthodontic consultation with us as soon as possible so that we can best advise you when would be the best time for you to begin treatment.

When to visit

It is recommended that children see an orthodontist by the time they are 7 years old. At this age most children have a mixture of adult and baby teeth and an orthodontist will be able to spot any problems that may be occurring. A lot of growth-related problems are easier to correct when the facial bones are still developing, so identifying the problems as early as possible is beneficial.

Immediate treatment may not always be advised if a problem is found. In most cases the orthodontist will recommend check up appointments every 6-12 months to monitor the growth of the jaw and movement of the teeth.

Despite very few orthodontic problems needing to be corrected at such a young age, it is regarded as the perfect time to assess the condition of your children’s teeth and determine whether any treatment is needed.

At what age can you start orthodontic treatment?

Until recently, only teenagers undertook orthodontic treatment once their permanent teeth had erupted. But nowadays treatment can begin in:

Childhood – High quality research evidence suggests starting treatment at 8-10 years age for prominent teeth will reduce the risk of trauma. In addition treatment of reverse overjet, commonly known as “underbite” at 7-9years reduces risk of future jaw surgery by approximately 30%. Treatment at this age allows an orthodontist to guide your child’s teeth in to place while their jaw is still growing. Therefore Dr Panesar recommends an orthodontic consultation from 7 years of age.
Teenagers – Orthodontic treatment is most effective at this age because all of the permanent teeth will have erupted and favorable jaw growth can be harnessed.
Adults – There are no age limits to a great smile! The important thing is that you have healthy gums and teeth. Treatment times will vary on the type and goals of your treatment. Treatment in adults can be more complex, without growth of the jaws and teeth.

Benefits of early orthodontic treatment

Dr Panesar recommends an orthodontic evaluation from 7 years of age to assess if we need to take advantage of facial bone growth and guide teeth into their optimum position.

An early course of treatment can help prevent moreserious problems and make future treatment shorter and less complicated. It can also reduce trauma to the front teeth, or reduce the need for jaw surgery for in the future

Not all orthodontic problems require early treatment. But, there are numerous cases in which it can help to: