The 6-7 fad may be fading but at Hughes Orthodontics we’re actually always focused on this age set! That’s because we firmly believe that age 7 is the right time for your kiddo to receive their first orthodontic consultation. The American Association of Orthodontists (AAO) agrees: “Your child should have a check-up with an orthodontist by age 7”.
Why so early? It’s not actually all that early! This is the perfect time to get a baseline and assess your child’s jaw growth – when a few baby teeth have come out and a few adult teeth have come in. Now is the time we can spot big deal problems while they’re still small and now is the time we can get a jump start on helping your child achieve a confident smile.
Does an early appointment mean early orthodontic treatment? Not necessarily. Often, Dr. Justin will take a quick peek (including 3D scans) and say, “Nope, not yet!” When this happens we add your child to our observation program. We’ll ping you once or twice a year to see if there have been any major changes in their smile, bite or jaw growth. During that time we get to start building a relationship with your child so that when the time comes, they feel confident coming to our office and working with our awesome team. Plus, those visits (along with your initial consultation) are always free – so you’ve got nothing to lose.
What are we looking for? At Hughes Orthodontics, early evaluations allow us to assess:
- Crowding or spacing issues
- Crossbites, underbites, overbites
- Jaw growth discrepancies
- Prolonged thumb-sucking effects
- Early or late loss of baby teeth
- Airway or breathing concerns
Because Drs. Justin and Herbert Hughes combine decades of expertise with advanced 3D digital imaging, we can identify concerns precisely, without guesswork.
The Confidence Factor. At Hughes Orthodontics we care deeply about confidence. If your child does present with the need for early orthodontics, we will come up with a unique treatment plan and walk you through every step. We want you, as the parent, to feel confident in this treatment plan and we know that early correction can have a number of confidence benefits for your child as well. Like…
- Improved speech clarity
- Reduced teasing or self-consciousness
- Helping kids smile more freely
- Supporting better oral hygiene habits
When kids feel good about their smile, they carry themselves differently. That confidence compounds over time. Just take a look at some of our social posts to see our happy and confident patients.
The Hughes Difference. With a proud history of three generations serving Alexandria, since 1958, and personalized treatment planning, you are in great hands with Hughes Orthodontics. Our cutting-edge technology allows for efficient treatment and our team can’t be beat.
Find out if your child is ready for early orthodontics today – click here to schedule a free consultation. You can be confident that with our history, we’ll only recommend what we think will bring them, and you, the most confident smile for years to come.
