Many parents assume they must wait until their child has all of his or her permanent teeth to see
Dr. Scott Smith for a consultation, only to discover treatment would have been much easier if started earlier. Did you know the
American Association of Orthodontists recommends that every child have an orthodontic check-up no later than age seven?
That’s right—
seven. Ok, so what’s so great about age seven, you ask? Enough permanent teeth have arrived for Dr. Scott Smith to make a determination about whether any problems are present. The first molars have come in, providing an opportunity to check for malocclusion, or “bad bite.” Also, the incisors have begun to come in, and problems such as crowding, deep bites and open bites can be detected.
Orthodontic evaluation at an early age provides one of two positive outcomes: For some, early identification or problems will lead to easier or shorter orthodontic treatment in the future. For others, a healthy prognosis will provide immediate peace of mind.
Early evaluation, of course, may signal a need for early treatment. For some children, early treatment can prevent physical and emotional trauma. Aside from spurring on years of harmful teasing, misaligned teeth are also prone to injury and are detrimental to good oral hygiene. So, if your child is nearing his or her seventh birthday,
give us a call at R. Scott Smith Orthodontics to schedule an appointment.
Our West Springfield, Massachusetts community is gearing up for the annual Big E - Eastern States Exposition. Our team at R. Scott Smith Orthodontics is excited for this very popular country fair, which runs for several weeks. People come from far and wide to see the animals, rides, the New England state buildings, unusual products being demonstrated and sold, and the craziest fair food! The country fair is famous for Cream Puffs, Baked Potatoes, the CrazE Burger (cheeseburg on a glazed donut!), and Fried Jellybeans! 
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