1. Seven is the Magic Number
Your child’s smile changes almost daily, but age 7 is the magic number. That’s when the American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first orthodontic evaluation. It doesn’t mean your child will get braces at 7, and in most cases they won’t. It simply lets us check how their jaws and teeth are growing, spot concerns early, and create a baseline, like a roadmap, so we can watch how things develop.
2. Straight Teeth Don’t Always Mean a Healthy Bite
A picture-perfect smile can still hide problems underneath, like crossbites, overbites, or underbites. A healthy bite is about how the jaws and teeth work together for chewing, speaking, jaw comfort, and long-term wear, which is why an evaluation looks at much more than whether the teeth line up.
3. Timing Matters and Every Child is Different
There’s no one-size-fits-all schedule. Some kids benefit from early guidance, while others do best to wait until most of their adult teeth are in. Starting at the right moment makes treatment smoother and more effective, and sometimes that moment is simply “let’s watch and wait.”
DJC Takeaway
We don’t wait for every adult tooth to come in to start asking questions. I prefer to begin comprehensive treatment once all the adult teeth are present, but a healthy smile starts early, with growth. Understanding how your child is developing lets us build a plan, so when the time is right, we’re ready.