When Should Your Child See an Orthodontist?
Expert lists signs your child might need braces
(Issued Fall 2019) — So when does your child need to see an orthodontist? How can you tell if your child is heading toward needing braces?
Dr. Andrew Chase of ARCH Orthodontics, practicing since 1998 and a former President of the Massachusetts Association of Orthodontics, recommends children should have a checkup with an Orthodontist before age seven: “The regular dentist is an excellent resource who can tell whether your child would benefit from seeing an Orthodontist,” he says.
Here are signs to look for:
- Early, late, or irregular loss of baby teeth
- Difficulty in chewing or biting
- Mouth breathing
- Thumb or finger sucking
- Crowded, misplaced, or blocked-out teeth
- Jaws that shift, make sounds, protrude or are recessed
- Biting the cheek or roof of the mouth
- Teeth that meet abnormally or not at all
- Jaws and teeth that are out of proportion to the rest of the face
ARCH also offers a range of Pediatric Dentistry services at its Stoughton location.
ARCH, now in its 46th year, operates nine offices between Boston and Hyannis. The practice offers free initial consultations and interest-free financing. Courtest discounts are offered to anyone serving in the military and their families and veterans, and to municipal employees and their families in towns served by the practice. Dr. Chase strongly urges people of any age who wish to safely and professionally improve their smile, bite, and self-confidence to make an appointment at any ARCH office in Bridgewater, Brockton, Canton, Hyannis, Hyde Park, Orleans, Randolph, Stoughton, and Westwood.
