When Should My Child See an Orthodontist for the First Time?

Most parents assume orthodontics is something you think about once permanent teeth are mostly in and a dentist mentions it. In reality, the American Association of Orthodontists recommends a first evaluation by age 7 — years before most kids get braces.

Why So Early?

At age 7, most kids still have a mix of baby and permanent teeth, and their jaw is still growing. That combination makes it the ideal window to catch developing issues — like crowding, bite misalignment, or jaw growth problems — while they’re still easy to influence, sometimes without full braces at all.

It Doesn’t Mean Immediate Treatment

This is the part that surprises most parents: an early evaluation almost never means immediate treatment. Most children we evaluate at 7 aren’t ready for braces yet, and won’t be for several more years. What the evaluation gives you is a clear answer and, if needed, a monitoring plan — not a sales pitch.

Signs Worth Watching For

• Losing baby teeth very early or very late
• Crowded or overlapping teeth coming in
• Difficulty chewing or noticeable jaw shifting
• Thumb or finger sucking that continues past age 5

The Bottom Line

An early evaluation costs you nothing and gives you real peace of mind — either confirming everything is developing normally, or catching something early enough to make future treatment simpler and shorter.