The American Association of Orthodontists recommends an orthodontic
exam be scheduled
by age 7. This is when permanent teeth begin to erupt
and some children already show signs of orthodontic problems. However, Dr. Bernardi
says that just because a child is seen and diagnosed does not mean
treatment should begin. He references many studies, including his own
research on facial growth that won the coveted Sicher Research Award
given annually by the American Association of Orthodontists, that show
early orthodontic treatment can interfere with facial growth and
development. That’s why Dr. Bernardi suggests young children put off
getting braces until age 11 or 12 for girls and 13 or 14 for boys.
Reasons for early intervention.
Just one crooked tooth can throw off the bite and cause functional problems as children grow older. These problems include gum disease, cavities and speech disorders. Dr. Bernardi will conduct a comprehensive exam to check for these and other disorders:- Overbite & underbite
- Severe teeth crowding
- Finger- or thumb-sucking
- Tongue posture (tongue thrusting)
- Crossbite of front & back teeth
- Eruption problems & space management
- Facial esthetic problems (buck teeth, gap teeth, overbite)
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