Dr. Gary L. Carlson

The American Association of Orthodontists recommends that "every child should have an orthodontic screening examination no later than age seven." Most usually, treatment will not be necessary at that time. However, if signs of a problem are noted, you will be better able to plan for treatment later. Some patients can benefit from "interceptive" treatment. Early intervention, which takes advantage of facial growth and tooth eruption, can lessen the severity of some problems and facilitate later treatment.

Dr. Carlson recommends that girls be examined by age nine at the very latest, and boys by age eleven at the very latest. This timing assures that sufficient growth of the bones will be available for treatment of those problems that require growing bones. Each orthodontic problem has its own best starting age. Most problems are best treated when the patients are young and growing rapidly. We do not wait until all of the primary teeth have been lost, because growth of the bones and eruption of the permanent teeth are not age related. Treatment of other problems should be delayed until growth has been completed.