Orthodontics for Children in Phoenix, Arizona
Starting orthodontic care early can pave the way for long-term oral health and a confident smile. Our personalized early orthodontic treatment plans and kids’ orthodontic services are designed to support your child's dental development, ensuring a healthy and beautiful smile for years to come.
When to Visit a Pediatric Orthodontist in Phoenix
Early orthodontic evaluations allow us to identify potential issues and guide growth for a healthier smile. The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that children visit a pediatric orthodontist by age seven to ensure their teeth and jaws are aligned and developing properly.
Our Phoenix pediatric orthodontist will assess your child’s orthodontic needs during your child’s free evaluation. By seven years old, the teeth have developed enough for subtle problems with jaw growth and emerging teeth to be spotted, while some baby teeth are still present. However, early orthodontics is not always necessary, and getting an orthodontic evaluation doesn’t necessarily mean your child will need braces at a young age. This check-up may reveal that your child’s bite is fine and braces for kids aren’t necessary.
In some cases, Dr. Jones, our Phoenix kids’ orthodontist, may identify a developing problem but recommend monitoring your child’s growth and development, and then, if indicated, begin kids’ orthodontic treatment in Phoenix at the appropriate time. In other cases, such as if your child has crowded teeth, significant gaps, or severe misalignment, we may recommend early orthodontics with kids’ braces, a palatal expander, or another orthodontic device, to prevent or intercept more serious problems from developing.
When Should Kids Get Braces?
While the age at which kids get braces in Phoenix may vary, orthodontic treatment most often begins between 9 and 14 years old. Some orthodontic problems are easier to correct if they are treated early.
Catching and addressing an orthodontic issue early can make all the difference in treatment time and outcome. With early orthodontic treatment, our pediatric orthodontist can achieve results that may not be possible once the face and jaws have finished growing, and make treatment at a later age shorter and less complicated.
If our pediatric orthodontist thinks your child will need treatment, they will let you know when it will be best to begin treatment. This gives Dr. Jones the best chance to:
- Guide jaw growth
- Lower the risk of trauma to protruding front teeth
- Correct harmful oral habits
- Improve appearance and self-esteem in your child
- Guide permanent teeth into a more favorable position
- Create a more pleasing arrangement of teeth, lips, and face
Signs Your Kid May Need Braces
It’s not always easy to tell when your child may need braces for kids or has an orthodontic problem. Even teeth that look straight may have a bite issue that could become problematic later on. Here are some clues that may indicate the need for orthodontic attention:
- Early or late loss of baby teeth
- Difficulty chewing or biting
- Breathing through the mouth
- Thumb-sucking
- Crowded, misplaced, or blocked-out teeth
- Jaws that are too far forward or back
- Biting the cheek or biting into the roof of the mouth
- Protruding teeth
- Upper and lower teeth that don’t meet, or meet in an abnormal way
- An unbalanced facial appearance
- Grinding or clenching of the teeth
Schedule a Free Pediatric Orthodontic Consultation in Phoenix
Give your child the best start to a healthy, confident smile with expert pediatric orthodontics in Phoenix, Arizona. Early evaluations can help prevent future dental issues and ensure proper jaw and tooth development.
Schedule a free consultation with our children’s orthodontist in Phoenix to discuss your child’s orthodontic needs. We’ll develop a customized treatment plan to help your child achieve a beautiful smile for a lifetime.