Summer is a favorite time in my orthodontic office because many children are returning for their no-charge “wait and see” or “recall” appointments. I see children over a period of several years to monitor their growth and tooth development. Children often have their initial exams between the ages of 7 and 10 years. Often they do not need any initial treatment,but they need to be seen every 6-12 months to make sure their teeth are erupting on schedule and in proper position.

In the example above, the x-ray shows an upper right cuspid that did not erupt properly since the previous visit, even though the left cuspid did erupt. Since the root is fully formed and the patient is 11 1/2 years old, it is now important to start orthodontic braces to align the teeth properly.

The example just above shows a 7-year-old patient at an initial exam with gaps and malocclusion. If we started treating this patient immediately, we would be placing braces twice.  It is very often better to “wait and see” how the patients grows and teeth develop.

The goal is to be NOT TOO EARLY AND NOT TOO LATE. Perfect timing allows us to achieve successful results with the shortest amount of treatment time. It’s a win-win, and it’s possible with “wait and see” appointments every 6-12 months.

If you have been told your child needs some orthodontic treatment now and more later, it might actually be better to wait for the perfect time to do all the treatment at the same time. Come in to our office for a free initial exam, and return for free “wait and see” appointments until the timing is just right!