Do you know what the best age is to bring your child to their first orthodontic evaluation? We can guess that most people would think it is in their early teens. One of the things we hear all the time in our office is: “I can’t schedule my child yet because they haven’t lost all their baby teeth.” However, the recommended age for a child’s first orthodontic checkup is seven years old. Even if your child’s teeth seem straight, there may be an underlying issue that only the orthodontist can detect.

This is why Pierson & Saunders Orthodontics is starting our 7 and Up campaign in San Antonio, Texas. We want to make sure everyone from the dentist to the parents understands the importance of these early evaluations.

According to the American Association of Orthodontist, there are many reasons why your child should be seen by age seven. First of all, Dr. Bradley Pierson can spot subtle problems with jaw growth and emerging teeth while some baby teeth are still present. Your child’s check-up may reveal that your child’s bite is fine. On the other hand, our orthodontist may identify a developing problem that can be monitored with your child’s growth and development and then, if indicated, begin treatment at the appropriate time for your child. In other cases, they might find a problem that can benefit from early treatment and be able to achieve results that may not be possible once the face and jaws have finished growing. Early treatment may prevent more serious problems from developing and may make treatment at a later age shorter and less complicated. It also allows Dr. Bradley Pierson to:

– guide jaw growth
– lower the risk of trauma to protruded front teeth
– correct harmful oral habits
– improve appearance
– guide permanent teeth into a more favorable position
– improve the way lips meet

Our consultations are always complimentary, so you don’t have to worry about any cost or insurance claims taking anything away from your benefits. We just want to make sure we are doing what is best for your child. Have no fear, if your child doesn’t need braces we DO NOT put braces on. Dr. Bradley Pierson is a very conservative orthodontist. In fact, we have a fun program called the Pierson Pack that is filled with patients who aren’t quite ready for braces. In this program, patients get a t-shirt and a reward card that they collect points on to earn cool prizes! We monitor their growth through set appointments ranging from 6-month to 12-month intervals. When they are ready for braces, we give you and your child all the information needed about their treatment.

Please feel free to call our office at 210-695-1116 with any questions you may have. We will be happy to answer those questions and look forward to giving you and your family “Something to Smile About.”