Early Orthodontic Treatment for Children in Northbrook
The American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first orthodontic evaluation by age seven. Most children who come in at that age need nothing done yet. The value of the visit is knowing whether a problem is developing, and if so, when to act on it. At Janzen & Chwa Orthodontics the first evaluation is complimentary and no dentist referral is needed.
Seven feels early to a lot of parents, and the instinct is understandable. Your child still has most of their baby teeth. But that is exactly the point: at seven, an orthodontist can see how the permanent teeth and the jaws are developing while there is still growth left to work with. A handful of problems are far easier to steer at eight than to correct at fourteen, and the rest can safely wait. The exam tells you which group your child is in.
What Is the Rule of 7 in Orthodontics?
The rule of seven is shorthand for the AAO’s recommendation that every child have an orthodontic evaluation by age seven. It is not a rule that says treatment starts at seven.
Seven is chosen because it is roughly when the first permanent molars and incisors come in. That gives an orthodontist enough of the adult bite to assess how the rest will follow: whether there is room for the teeth still to come, whether the jaws are growing into a good relationship, and whether a habit or a crossbite is starting to push development off course.
Most children who are evaluated at seven leave with a plan to watch. A minority need something small and timely. A very small number need something more involved, and those are precisely the children for whom finding out at seven rather than twelve makes a real difference.
What Can Early Treatment Achieve?
When a first phase is warranted, it is usually aimed at the structural work that is only possible while a child is growing:
- Guiding erupting permanent teeth into better positions
- Creating or preserving space so the permanent teeth have somewhere to go
- Correcting a crossbite before it drives the jaw to shift when the child bites
- Expanding a narrow upper jaw while the palate is still receptive to it
- Reducing the risk of injury to front teeth that stick out
- Stopping a thumb sucking or tongue thrust habit that is reshaping the bite
- Lowering the likelihood that permanent teeth will need to be removed later
None of this is about a straight smile at eight. A first phase is about the foundation. Alignment is usually finished in the teen years, and it goes faster when the foundation is right.
Signs Your Child Should Be Seen
Book an evaluation if you notice any of these, whatever your child’s age:
Baby teeth lost unusually early or unusually late. Difficulty chewing or biting into food. Mouth breathing, particularly at night. Thumb sucking that has continued past about age five. Speech difficulties. Front teeth that protrude noticeably. Teeth that do not meet properly when the back teeth are closed. A jaw that shifts to one side when your child opens or closes, which often signals a crossbite. Crowded front teeth around seven or eight.
Your family dentist may also spot something at a routine cleaning and suggest a look. Dentists are good at catching these early, and we work with them closely.
Does Every Child Need Phase 1 Treatment?
No, and we will tell you so.
Many bite problems are better handled in one go during the teen years, once all the permanent teeth have arrived. Treating early when early treatment is not needed just means a longer total time in appliances for the same result.
If your child does not need treatment yet, they go into our Orthodontic Supervisory Program. We see them every six to eight months to track how the teeth and jaws are developing, tell you if a baby tooth should come out to let a permanent tooth through, and coordinate with your family dentist. There is no fee for the program. When the right moment arrives, we will know, and so will you.
Health Benefits Beyond a Straight Smile
Alignment is not only cosmetic. A bite that fits together properly is easier to brush and floss, which means fewer cavities in the places children miss anyway. It wears more evenly, so enamel lasts. It chews more efficiently. And where breathing or speech is being affected by jaw position, correcting the structure can help with both.
Should My Child Keep Seeing Their Dentist?
Yes, every six months, throughout any orthodontic treatment. Braces and appliances make thorough cleaning harder, not easier, which raises rather than lowers the value of professional cleanings. We coordinate with your dentist so both sides know what the other is doing.
Our page on living with braces covers the brushing and flossing routine in detail, and it is worth reading with your child rather than at them.
What Happens Next
If your child is around seven or eight, or your dentist has suggested a look, book the evaluation. We will examine the bite, take the records we need, and give you one of three answers: nothing is needed, something is needed now, or something will be needed later and here is when. You will get that in plain language, in writing, at no cost.
When treatment is recommended, our guide to what braces cost explains how a first phase is quoted separately from later treatment, and our payment plans page covers the monthly side.
Frequently Asked Questions About Early Orthodontic Treatment
How long does Phase 1 treatment usually last?
Typically twelve to eighteen months, depending on what is being corrected and how your child’s growth responds. A resting period usually follows, sometimes for several years, before any second phase is considered.
Will an appliance affect my child's sports and activities?
Very little. Children adapt to expanders and partial braces within a week or two and carry on with school, sports and instruments as normal. For contact sports we will recommend a mouthguard that fits over the appliance.
What kinds of appliances are used in early treatment?
Most often a palatal expander, partial braces on a few teeth, a space maintainer, or a habit appliance for thumb sucking or tongue thrusting. Which one depends on the specific problem, and we explain the choice before anything is fitted. Our page on orthodontic appliances describes each in detail.
Will my child need a retainer after Phase 1?
Usually, yes. A retainer holds the corrected position while your child keeps growing and the remaining permanent teeth come in. We’ll tell you which type and how long it should be worn before the second phase, if a second phase is needed at all.
Book Your Child's Complimentary Evaluation
No referral is needed and there is no charge, whether treatment turns out to be necessary or not. Call or text (847) 272-0600 or request an appointment online. We are at 1220 Meadow Rd, Ste 300 in Northbrook, and we see families from across the north suburbs.