At what age should I take my son or daughter to the orthodontist?
We explain why the Spanish Society of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics (SEDO) recommends doing it, at the latest, at the age of 6. When we are parents, we worry a lot about anticipating any problem or difficulty that our son or daughter may have.
Also in your oral health.
That’s why, when we see a tooth that is starting to come out crooked or we notice some anomaly, we wonder if it’s time to take it to the orthodontist, or if we should even do it before this happens.
At what age should I take my son or daughter to the orthodontist for the first time?
Is there an ideal time?
The most appropriate age to take your child to the orthodontist will depend on the type of problem and its severity.
Therefore, the right time is when you detect any anomaly.
However, as recommended by the Spanish Society of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics (SEDO), whether or not a problem is detected, it is advisable to take your child to the orthodontist, at the latest, at the age of six.
Although we tend to associate orthodontic treatments with adolescence, it is important to carry out an initial check-up to guarantee your child’s dental health. This does not mean that it is necessary to start treatment at a young age.
Why at the age of six?
This is a transitional age for our teeth: the milk teeth begin to give way to the permanent teeth.
That is, at the age of six, the first permanent molars begin to erupt, thus beginning what dentists call “mixed dentition”.
These first molars are of great importance because, apart from being definitive teeth that will accompany you – or should accompany you – throughout your life, they will serve as guides for the correct placement of the rest of the teeth that are about to erupt.
We are talking, therefore, about a transcendental period for the correct development of occlusion, which is why a visit to the orthodontist is so recommended.
In this way, we will ensure that, later on, when our child turns 12 and his second permanent molars erupt, all the teeth fit perfectly, in the right place and shape.
As always when we talk about health, a timely visit to the orthodontist will save us major problems, discomfort and money.