Orthodontics for Children
A frequently asked question is “what is the best age for a child to start orthodontic treatment?”
The best answer might be that it depends on the child’s needs and “dental age”. Treatment can and often should be started before the last baby tooth has fallen out.
Very often the family dentist or pedodontist will recommend that the child be seen by an orthodontist because they are concerned about something. The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) recommends that your child’s first check-up with an orthodontist be performed when an orthodontic problem is first recognized, ideally before the age of 7. Why age 7? By then, your child has enough permanent teeth for an orthodontist to evaluate the developing teeth and the jaws, which in turn can provide a wealth of information about prospective treatment. AAO orthodontists are trained to spot subtle problems even in very young children.
Early treatment addresses habits such as prolonged thumb sucking, tongue thrusting, and certain swallowing or breathing patterns that can open or distort the bite. Early treatment is also helpful when the top jaw is too narrow, not developing in harmony with the lower jaw, or if permanent top teeth are behind the lower ones when closing the jaws. If a young child’s front teeth protrude excessively or very severe crowding is present a first phase of orthodontic care can also be beneficial.
If your child did not receive early orthodontic treatment, and no longer has a lot of baby teeth, an orthodontic consultation can be beneficial at this time.
You are welcome to schedule a free consultation if you think your child can benefit from treatment.
Patient Stories
Tomo L. Very good managment. I don't need to wait for so long compare to other ortho clinic. Dr Robert is really kid friendly, efficient and detail oriented that patiently explained to me what the suituation is. I am really impressed as it is only the first visit. I didn't expect my daughter can able to do the model right away. He already knows what to do and shows me the picture and explained to me in my understanding knowledge. And Dr Robert is a funny man that made my daughter not scare it at all. Super recommended!!!
Hannah D. When I came to Dr Shpuntoff for treatment I was really desperate for help as my TMJ disorder had become severe. The pain was unbearable, making it hard to eat most foods and also making it hard to even talk without pain. You don’t realize how much you need your jaw for so many things until you can’t use it without horrible pain. I was also having terrible migraine headaches almost every day, and even earaches. When I lived in Florida, my dentist had told me they could not fix my jaw problems and “it’ll only get worse as you get... Read More
Ms 222 Excellent service! About two years ago I transferred orthodontists, since my old one told me I was done, even though I had gaps everywhere in my mouth. Upon my consultation, Dr.Shpuntoff made models of my teeth and explained all the issues that I had. During my treatment, he took the time to fix all the spaces and other issues, meanwhile my previous orthodontist told me it was not possible to fix it. The end result along with the steps and time that he took to correct everything was worth the wait and is why I would highly recommend Dr.Shpuntoff.
Debbie D. Dr Shpuntoff is my favorite dentist! I used to have horrible pain with tmj and under his care I don't have pain anymore! Highly recommend!!
Fabiola M. Excellent orthodontist. The best. My patients are happy with his services and so am I.
Joy S. My daughter Jillian C. had her braces done here and the whole experience was wonderful from the start to finally getting them all off. The staffs are great and what a beautiful clinic!
Matt L. Dr. Shpuntoff is an amazing orthodontist. I'm a mediocre patient who didn't wear their retainer after wearing braces in my early adolescence. I've been seeing Dr. Shpuntoff since I was about 12 years old. Treatment ended with perfect teeth. I went to college, got lazy with my retainers and ended coming back to get invisalign as an adult. The wait times have always been minimal during non-peak hours, and the receptionists are always friendly. The office is clean, the equipment is new and the office is aesthetically kid and adult friendly. Dr. Shpuntoff is knowledgeable of the field and accommodating in every sense, truly a 5 star orthodontist.
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