Around age 7, children have a mix of baby (primary) and permanent teeth. A check-up as permanent teeth take the place of baby teeth, and as the face and jaws are growing, gives the orthodontist a wealth of information.

If a problem exists, or if one is developing, your orthodontist is able to advise you on whether treatment is recommended, when it should begin, what form treatment will take, and estimate its length.  Remember, there is a difference between an orthodontic check-up and actually starting orthodontic treatment.

Teeth that are crooked or not in the right place can also detract from one's appearance. The benefits of orthodontic treatment include a healthier mouth, a more pleasing appearance, and teeth that are more likely to last a lifetime.

 Orthodontic treatment helps ensure proper function of teeth and create healthy smiles. A good bite makes it easier for you to bite, chew and speak. Teeth that are misaligned are harder to clean and can cause abnormal wearing of tooth enamel which can lead to extensive and expensive dental procedures.

If you have any of the following, you may be a candidate for orthodontic treatment:  

• Overbite, sometimes called "buck teeth" — where the upper front teeth lie too far forward (stick out) over the lower teeth
• Underbite — a "bulldog" appearance where the lower teeth are too far forward or the upper teeth too far back
• Crossbite — when the upper teeth do not come down slightly in front of the lower teeth when biting together normally
• Open bite — space between the biting surfaces of the front and/or side teeth when the back teeth bite together
• Misplaced Midline— when the center of your upper front teeth does not line up with the center of your lower front teeth
• Spacing — gaps, or spaces, between the teeth as a result of missing teeth or teeth that do not "fill up" the mouth
• Crowding — when there are too many teeth for the dental ridge to accommodate

The purpose of orthodontic treatment is to create a healthy, functional “bite,” which is part tooth alignment and part jaw position. When jaws and teeth line up correctly, they are able to function as nature intended. This promotes oral health and general physical health. Here are some of the possible treatment tools we use: 

• Braces
• Special Fixed Appliances — Used to control thumb sucking or tongue thrusting
• Fixed Space Maintainers — if a baby tooth is lost prematurely, a space maintainer is used to keep the space open until the permanent tooth erupts.
• Jaw Repositioning Appliances —  these devices are worn on either the top or lower jaw, and help train the jaw to close in a more favorable position.
• Lip and Cheek Bumpers — designed to keep the lips or cheeks away from the teeth.
• Palatal Expander — a device used to widen the arch of the upper jaw.
• Removable Retainers — worn on the roof of the mouth, these devices prevent shifting of the teeth to their previous position.
• Headgear — slows the growth of the upper jaw, and holds the back teeth where they are while the front teeth are pulled back.