If you’re a parent wondering “Does my child need braces?” or “When should my child see an orthodontist?”, you’re not alone. Many parents aren't sure when orthodontic treatment should begin—or what signs they should be looking for as their child's permanent teeth start to come in.

Some orthodontic problems, such as crowded or crooked teeth, are easy to notice. Others involve your child’s bite, jaw growth, or the position of permanent teeth developing beneath the gums and may be much harder to spot at home.

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children have their first orthodontic evaluation around age 7. However, seeing an orthodontist at age 7 does not mean your child needs braces at age 7.

At Alex Orthodontics in Huntington, NY, we believe that early orthodontic evaluation should be exactly that—an evaluation. Our goal is to identify developing orthodontic problems, monitor your child's growth, and recommend Phase I orthodontic treatment only when there is a meaningful advantage to treating early.

Here are seven common signs that it may be time to schedule an orthodontic evaluation for your child.

1. Crowded, Crooked, or Overlapping Teeth

Crowded teeth are one of the most common reasons parents bring their children to an orthodontist.

You may notice permanent teeth erupting at an angle, overlapping neighboring teeth, or coming in behind or in front of other teeth. Sometimes a permanent tooth may seem to have no room to erupt at all.

Dental crowding occurs when there isn't enough space in the jaws for the permanent teeth to fit properly. However, crowding does not automatically mean your child needs early braces.

A children's orthodontic evaluation allows us to assess the amount of available space, your child's dental development, and how the permanent teeth are erupting. In some cases, early orthodontic treatment may be beneficial. In many others, we can simply monitor your child's growth and wait until more permanent teeth have erupted before beginning treatment.

2. An Overbite, Underbite, or Crossbite

Orthodontic treatment isn't only about making teeth straight. An important part of orthodontics is making sure the upper and lower teeth—and the jaws supporting them—fit together properly. Common bite problems in children include overbites, underbites, crossbites, and open bites.

An overbite occurs when the upper front teeth overlap the lower front teeth excessively. An underbite occurs when the lower teeth sit in front of the upper teeth. A crossbite occurs when one or more upper teeth bite inside the lower teeth instead of outside them.

Certain bite problems are especially important to identify while a child is still growing. Depending on the type and severity of the problem, early orthodontic treatment may help guide dental or jaw development.

If you've noticed that your child's teeth don't seem to fit together properly, an orthodontic evaluation can determine whether treatment is needed now or whether the bite can safely be monitored.

3. Early or Late Loss of Baby Teeth

Children develop at different rates, so there is a normal range for when baby teeth fall out and permanent teeth erupt. However, losing baby teeth significantly earlier or later than expected can sometimes affect the position of the permanent teeth.

If a baby tooth is lost too early, neighboring teeth may shift into the empty space. If baby teeth remain longer than expected, they may sometimes interfere with the normal eruption of permanent teeth.

An orthodontist can evaluate your child's tooth eruption pattern, dental development, and available space for permanent teeth to determine whether everything is progressing normally.

If your child seems much earlier or later than their friends when it comes to losing baby teeth, or if a permanent tooth doesn't seem to be coming in, it's worth having it evaluated.

4. Difficulty Biting or Chewing

Does your child have trouble biting into certain foods? Do they chew predominantly on one side? Do their front teeth have difficulty meeting when they bite?

Problems biting or chewing can sometimes be a sign of an underlying malocclusion, which simply means the upper and lower teeth aren't fitting together ideally.

Children may not complain about their bite because they don't realize anything is unusual—it may be the only bite they've ever known. An orthodontic examination allows us to evaluate how your child's teeth come together and whether their bite is affecting normal function.

5. Protruding Front Teeth

If your child's upper front teeth stick out noticeably, an orthodontic evaluation may be helpful. Protruding front teeth can be associated with the position of the teeth, differences in jaw growth, or oral habits. Teeth that protrude significantly may also be more vulnerable to injury during falls, sports, or everyday activities.

The best time to address protruding teeth varies from child to child. An orthodontist can evaluate your child's bite, jaw growth, facial development, and remaining growth to determine the most appropriate timing for treatment.

6. Mouth Breathing, Thumb Sucking, or Other Oral Habits

Persistent oral habits can sometimes affect the way a child's teeth and jaws develop. These may include prolonged thumb or finger sucking, tongue habits, or chronic mouth breathing. For example, prolonged thumb sucking can contribute to changes in the position of the front teeth or development of an open bite. Other habits may also influence tooth position and bite development.

Not every child with one of these habits will need orthodontic treatment. However, mentioning them during your child's orthodontic evaluation allows us to assess whether the habit appears to be affecting their dental development.

7. Your Child's Teeth Look Straight—but You Still Aren't Sure

Straight-looking teeth don't necessarily mean there isn't an orthodontic problem. Some orthodontic concerns aren't easily visible when your child smiles. An orthodontist also evaluates your child's bite, jaw growth, eruption of permanent teeth, available space, missing teeth, impacted teeth, and overall dental development.

For example, a permanent tooth can be developing in an abnormal position beneath the gums even though the visible teeth appear relatively straight. That's one reason an orthodontic evaluation around age 7 can be useful. It gives us an opportunity to identify developing problems and decide whether anything needs to be done—or whether the best option is simply to watch your child grow.

Children's Orthodontist in Huntington, NY

If you're wondering whether your child needs braces or if it's time for their first orthodontic evaluation, we'd be happy to meet you.

At Alex Orthodontics in Huntington, New York, we provide orthodontic care for children, teens, and adults from Huntington and surrounding Long Island communities.

During your child's orthodontic evaluation, we'll look at their teeth, bite, jaw growth, and dental development. Most importantly, we'll explain what we're seeing and whether we recommend treatment now, treatment later, or simply monitoring their growth.

We believe parents should understand why orthodontic treatment is being recommended and why the timing is right for their child.

Sometimes the best orthodontic treatment plan is treatment now.

And sometimes, the best plan is to wait.

If you've noticed any of these seven signs—or simply want to make sure your child's smile is developing properly—schedule an orthodontic consultation with Alex Orthodontics in Huntington, NY.