Just as your child's first trip to the dentist should occur by age two, the first visit to the orthodontist should take place no later than age seven. An early exam assures maximum dental health for your child.

     The following will allow you to evaluate your child's teeth alignment and make a preliminary assessment of potential problems.

     Early orthodontic treatment can help minimize the need for more extensive treatment at a later date, such as extraction of permanent teeth. Early treatment may also help your child's self-esteem-- a fragile asset that's so important in growing up.

SIX warning signs for children

     An orthodontist answers the following questions when making a first evaluation. These answers are based on visual observation of the mouth and teeth. When you know what to look for, you can answer these questions, too.

	1) How is spacing between teeth?      Crowded or overlapping teeth...
	...or noticleable large gaps between teeth.
	2) Is there an open bite?      The child can stick his or her tongue between the upper and lower front teeth when the back teeth are together.
	3) Do the upper teeth protrude?      Excessive protrusion of the upper front teeth -"buck teeth"- by far the most common orthodontic problem.
	4) Is there a deep bite?      The upper front teeth cover the lower front teeth too much.
	5) Is there an underbite?      The lower teeth are in front of the upper teeth.
	6) Do the midlines line up?      The spaces between the two upper front teeth and the two lower front lower teeth should line up with each other and both should line up with the bridge of the nose. When they do not, the probable cause is drifted teeth or a shifted lower jaw, resulting in an improper bite.

When to seek earlier treatment

     There are also some behaviors indicative of bite problems that can occur much earlier than age seven. They warrant an orthodontic exam as soon as possible. These include:

  difficulty chewing

  open-mouth breathing

  thumb or finger sucking

  overlapping or crowding of erupting permanent teeth

  jaws that click or pop

  obvious abnormal bite development of any kind